Are you looking for inspiration for family fun over the school holidays?  Then why not dedicate a couple of days to exploring Halifax – there’s plenty of opportunities to make new family memories, or just keep the kids out of trouble!

Day One

You’ve got a jam-packed day ahead of you at the National Children’s Museum Eureka! With six unique zones to discover, and hundreds of interactive exhibits designed to inspire enquiring minds, you won’t find a better day out for kids aged 0 – 11.  Make some noise and explore how music is created, experience the world of work and take over a child-sized town, and step inside giant body parts. Each zone is full to the brim with equipment to explore, activities to do, and buttons to press.

Don’t miss out on Eureka’s hands-on tech adventure this May half term with their ‘Build, Code, Play!’ sessions. Build your own robots, code your own projects and play with interactive technology in a fun and engaging environment! No need to book, just drop in once you’ve bought your Eureka entry ticket.

After all that activity, you will all have worked up a bit of an appetite. Why not try gaming diner and bar ‘Next Level’ at Dean Clough? This cool, independent eatery offers gourmet food alongside free-to-play retro arcade games!

Or, check out one of the family friendly restaurants at Broad Street Plaza, where there’s something for everyone. Both Broad Street Plaza and Dean Clough have ample parking, and Dean Clough parking is free all weekend, on bank holidays and on weekdays after 5pm.

Day Two

You’ve got options for Day Two!

Just outside Halifax towncentre is Manor Heath Jungle Experience, where you’ll discover a tropical greenhouse filled with a wide range of plants from all over the world. Wooden walkways in the greenhouse take you over streams and past ponds containing fish and terrapin, and you can also visit Manor Heath Park’s beautiful Walled Garden, and recharge with a sandwich, cuppa and cake the Flutterbites Cafe.

If you’re in Halifax on a Thursday, we’d recommend a trip to the wonderful volunteer-run Calderdale Industrial Museum, open on Saturdays, and Thursdays in the school holidays. There you’ll find four fascinating floors of industrial and social history, extremely knowledgeable local guides and demonstrations of old machines still in working condition! Whilst you’re there, you can’t miss the stunning Piece Hall…a huge open-air courtyard surrounded by independent shops, bars, cafes and a restaurant.  Take a wander around their unique shops (try ‘Totally Awesome’ for high quality games, puzzles and toys, or retro gaming arcade ‘Blast from the Past’!) or grab a bite to eat (the icecream at Blondin’s has won awards!) The Piece Hall’s popular Easter Trail is also back again during the school holidays, with activities to complete around the building to earn a chocolate treat.

If you’ve still got energy to burn, you could make a last stop at the fantastic Bankfield Museum, which tells the story of Halifax and Calderdale, using its rich and diverse collections. Their collections contain objects from Ancient Egypt through to the 21st Century and cover local history, costume, art, toys, military history, jewellery and textiles from around the world! If you visit on Tuesday 27th May, don’t miss out on their Kite Making Workshop! In this arty session, you’ll get the chance to create your own colourful kites to take home with guidance from their workshop leaders. Entry is free, and there’s free parking – what’s not to love?