Leeds is a great place to do Guiding, with lots of places to visit with your unit. Here, we’ve listed a few ideas to get you started, but if you have any great ideas to share with other leaders please contact us and we’ll add it to the list:
Bricktopia – Lego Workshops
Lego Workshops with different activities with each section and the couple who run it are Cub and Scout leaders.
If you are interested in booking them for a session with your unit please click HERE for more information.
Unit Adventures
Out and About – outside unit meetings
Please ensure you check the Girlguiding website for guidance about what you require when taking your girls away from the unit meeting place (risk assessments, consent forms etc)
Clip & Climb (Leeds or Ilkley)
A tried and tested favourite with our County’s units. A range of colourful and fun climbing walls for all ages.
https://leeds.clipnclimb.co.uk/
https://clipnclimbilkley.co.uk/
The Depot, Pudsey
Bouldering, a fun alternative to climbing.
https://www.depotclimbing.co.uk/leeds/
Yeadon Tarn
Kayaking, sailing and raft building. Packages can be tailored to your group.
https://active.leeds.gov.uk/findacentre/LeedsSailingandActivityCentre
Middleton Railway
The oldest continuously working railway in the UK (1758 to present), steam trains will take you to Middleton Park and back. Discounted tickets available with the ever popular Santa train heavily discounted in early December.
https://middletonrailway.org.uk/
Nell Bank Activity Centre
Fantastic day trips or residentials for all ages. Facilities include adventure playground, pond dipping, habitat trail, assault course etc. Activities led by centre staff. Excellent indoor accommodations. Day trips from £14pp and residentials from £40pp (2021)
https://www.nellbank.org/
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
A working farm with an aim of reconnecting urban people with their food. They have a wide variety of animals and gardens. Evening visits can be arranged for just £1 per child with leaders going free. Contact education@mvuf.org.uk
https://www.mvuf.org.uk/
LCC Park Rangers
The park rangers can visit green spaces such as Otley Chevin with your unit. Contact
Countrysiderangers@leeds.gov.uk for more details and to book a session.
Horse Riding
Kelcliffe Riding Stables in Guiseley will offer riding for Brownie, Guide and Ranger groups.
Parks and Walks
Leeds leaders recommend orienteering at Bramley Fall Park. The Hollies, Middleton Park, Horsforth Park, Meanwood Park and Spring Wood at Esholt are also leader recommended!
Museums:
Thackray Medical Museum
https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/
Abbey House
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/abbey-house-museum/
Thwaite Mill
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/thwaite-watermill/
Armley Mills Industrial Museum
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-industrial-museum/
The Donkey Sanctuary, Eccup
Open limited weekend hours but a great place to visit rescue donkeys.
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/visit-us/leeds
West Leeds Activity Centre
Water sports, pedal go-karts, climbing, crafts, assault course, orienteering, water slide and more!
www.westleedsactivitycentre.co.uk
Gravity Leeds trampoline park, Kirkstall
Let loose as the girls jump, bounce and dance on the extreme trampolines
https://www.gravity-uk.com/cardigan-fields-leeds
Leeds Brownie Owl Trail [Free. Cost for badges]
If you look around you while you’re in Leeds, you will notice that owls are a recurring theme. Owls are actually part of the city’s heritage dating back centuries to the city’s first alderman.
If you are seeking a fun and physical activity to pass a couple of hours, and as owls form such an important part of the Brownie story, you could follow the Leeds Owl Trail to twenty-five locations around the city.
You can order badges at a cost of £1 each, including postage, from the County Administrator at admin@girlguidingleeds.org.uk.
Visit the website here.
Leeds City Museum [Free]
Get close to amazing animals, uncover buried archaeological treasures and discover the incredible story of Leeds’ history, at Leeds City Museum.
Visit the website here.
Royal Armouries [Free]
Explore arms and armour from across the world and through time at the Royal Armouries.
Visit the website here.
Kirkstall Abbey [Free]
Grade 1 listed Kirkstall Abbey is one of the best preserved monasteries in the country and sits in leafy grounds besides the River Aire.
Visit the website here.
Temple Newsam [Group rates available, grounds free]
Discover Temple Newsam and explore the Tudor-Jacobean mansion filled with hidden treasures, encounter rare breed farm animals in the historic farm and stroll through the impressive grounds and gardens.
Visit the website here.
GO APE [Discounts available for groups]
Muster your courage and summon your strength for the challenging courses at GO APE, set in the grounds of Temple Newsam.
Visit the website here.
Ice Cube [Prior booking required. Charity rates available]
Yorkshire’s coolest wintertime attraction, Ice Cube (ice skating), is situated in Millennium Square, usually open during January and February each year.
Visit the website here.
Tropical World [Entry fee]
Home to the largest collection of tropical plants outside Kew Gardens, Tropical World provides the opportunity to explore the plants, animals and insect life from exotic places across the world.
Visit the website here.
Fairburn Ings [Parking fee for non-RSPB members]
Shaped by a long history of coal mining, Fairburn Ings is an RSPB reserve that protects a mixture of habitats. At Fairburn Ings there are facilities to do pond dipping and also winding trails through woodland, wetland and grassland, offering the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife. Charges for some activities.
Visit the website here.
Staying in – unit meetings
Funky Jives
On line or in person Funky Jives will get little ones moving and dancing!
https://funky-jives.class4kids.co.uk/
Host Guide Dogs [Free. Merchandising available to purchase, donations welcome]
The charity Guide Dogs will visit unit meetings to talk about how they train their dogs and what it’s like to be visually impaired. They already regularly visit units across Leeds and the girls learn a lot, as well as being able to make a fuss of the dogs!
Visit the website here. Please contact speakers@guidedogs.org.uk for further information.
Langlands Garden Centre
Have visited Brownie meetings to do bulb planting with them (providing all the materials and equipment free of charge in exchange for a photo for their social media). Willing to visit any section units, but has talked to Brownies about garden design as inspiration for the Grow your Own badge.
General Email: sales@langlandsgardencentre.co.uk
Website/Online Shop: www.langlandsgardencentre.co.uk
Bee happy kids (Leeds)
Events and activities, with special offers available to local community groups within Leeds. They run team building baking, build a bear and own a bouncy castle and mascot, as well as a number of fun activities from nerf wars, bake off, slime making and much more all at discount prices to suit local community groups budgets. All staff are enhanced dbs holders as well as fully qualified and trained to high standards.
Contact Emma on 07557553992, beehappykidsleeds@gmail.com or visit their website beehappykids.uk
Planet Ice, Leeds
Ice Skating Venue – find out more here.