As you know, Dave and I love making the most of our weekends
with Alice. It’s so nice to spend time together as a family and we love
exploring new places. We have a few train tickets to use this year and would
love to go somewhere we haven’t been before. A lot of my friends went to
university in Leeds and loved it. Leeds really does have so many attractions to
offer, and booking with Hotel Direct would offer
more choice to the centre of town.
I love discovering hidden gems when I go somewhere new. I
think every City has its fair share of unusual and quirky sights and so I
thought I would list some of the places I have found in Leeds.
Charlotte’s Ice Cream Parlour is
a real gem and perfect for taking young children. There are animals, a giant
inflatable slide and plenty of home-made ice-cream to enjoy. Alice LOVES her
ice-cream and has a little bit of an obsession with farms at the moment, so I
know she would really enjoy visiting here!
In the heart of Leeds is a beautiful little bakery called, “Love Rouge”. With freshly baked cupcakes, brownies and
cakes, it is such a pretty place to eat! They also offer afternoon tea, one of
my favourite meals of the day… haha! I love how central the location of this
bakery is, perfect for a mid-shopping pit stop.
Jungle Kids is a fantastic
indoor play centre for young children. It also has a lovely Jungle themed café
which offers a variety of hot and cold foods and an extensive children’s menu
(of course!). It’s not expensive and would be perfect to visit on those rainy
summer days!
Near the centre of Leeds is the JackrabbitsPottery studio where young children can enjoy making and decorating
their own pots, plates and cups! It’s such a pretty studio and a fantastic
activity to do with children who enjoy arts and crafts. For younger children
and babies, you can print their hand or foot prints on the pots, a lovely
memento to take away from your trip.
For shopping, check out the Grand Arcade, which is full of
independent Retailers. It’s right in the heart of the City and offers something
totally different, perfect if you enjoy finding things that are not available
of the tradition highstreet. However, if traditional high street is your thing,
then the Victoria Quarter’s Grade ll arcades contains over 75 of the World’s
leading fashion and lifestyle brands including Vivienne Westwood, Louis Vuitton
and Mulberry!
Leeds is also full of beautiful parks, perfect for taking a
stroll round on those hot summer days. I love the look of Roundhay Park, which
has tropical garden’s, streams and bridges to explore. I have heard it can get
quite busy on especially hot day’s so best to take a picnic and get there early
so you can enjoy your day to the full!
If you’re after an unusual place to eat, try the FairytailCastle. It’s situated just outside of Leeds, in the town of Tadcaster. It has
an extensive menu, with most of the ingredients local to the area. I mean, how
amazing to be able to dine in an actual castle, I am sure any young child would
love it!
Or if you would prefer to stay local to the City Centre,
there is a charming little restaurant called Little Tokyo. It is intimate and
decorated beautifully with low lightening and tinted windows. If you love
Japanese food then you will love it here! It also has it’s very own bridge
which makes it stand out from the crowd.
Leeds is one of those towns that has something for everyone!
I love how most of the unusual attractions are local to the town centre,
definitely a bonus when travelling and exploring with young children. The one
thing I haven’t mentioned is the beautiful views. The Chevin is the ridge
overlooking to the south of Leeds and boasts some beautiful panoramic views
Otley and the surrounding countryside. Perfect if you feel like getting out of
the city centre for a walk!
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