Family Learning
When visiting our venues, families will discover interactive activities for children of all ages, along with exciting family trails to explore. Each museum features cozy seating areas for families to relax, as well as diverse activities inspired by the museums’ collections. At Bradford Industrial Museum and Cliffe Castle Museum, families with young children can enhance their visits by borrowing interactive backpacks and child-friendly maps.
During school holidays, our museums offer an enriching mix of family activities, including crafts, open play, tinkering, storytelling, and role play—celebrating the vibrant heritage of Bradford. Each family workshop is designed to inspire creativity, play, and family bonding, making it a special experience for families.
For families with children 0-5 we offer regular play sessions ‘Museums for Play and Growth’. On each month in every museum, you can enjoy up to two hours of fun for families with children under five. More about our early years programmes find here.
Current Family Events
5 July 2025 11:00 am – 5 July 2025 1:00 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”
11 July 2025 10:30 am – 11 July 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
12 July 2025 – 12 July 2025 3:00 pm
Listen to the witnesses and our Witch Expert and decide is Mary guilty or not guilty?
16 July 2025 10:30 am – 16 July 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
24 July 2025 10:30 am – 24 July 2025 12:30 pm
24 July 2025 11:00 am – 24 July 2025 3:00 pm
Making portable art using pieces of clay, inspired by Ice Age Art Now
30 July 2025 11:00 am – 30 July 2025 2:00 pm
In this session, you will become archaeology detectives as you put climate change under the microscope.
1 August 2025 11:00 am – 1 August 2025 3:00 pm
Join us at Bradford Industrial Museum to celebrate Yorkshire Day!
2 August 2025 11:00 am – 2 August 2025 1:00 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”
5 August 2025 10:30 am – 5 August 2025 3:40 pm
By blending history, technology, and imagination, Families can explore the world of the Ice Age using AI.
8 August 2025 10:30 am – 8 August 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
12 August 2025 11:00 am – 12 August 2025 3:00 pm
13 August 2025 11:00 am – 13 August 2025 3:00 pm
Make your own creepy clay mask...
13 August 2025 11:00 am – 13 August 2025 3:00 pm
Explore the Ice Age Art now exhibition and make your own cave paintings using natural pigments.
17 August 2025 11:00 am – 17 August 2025 3:00 pm
Making Ice Age inspired jewellery.
20 August 2025 10:30 am – 20 August 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
20 August 2025 11:00 am – 20 August 2025 3:00 pm
Find out what Tudor remedies were used to treat people that were sick
28 August 2025 10:30 am – 28 August 2025 12:30 pm
6 September 2025 11:00 am – 6 September 2025 1:00 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”
17 September 2025 10:30 am – 17 September 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
25 September 2025 10:30 am – 25 September 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
4 October 2025 11:00 am – 4 October 2025 1:00 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”
10 October 2025 10:30 am – 10 October 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
15 October 2025 10:30 am – 15 October 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
23 October 2025 10:30 am – 23 October 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
1 November 2025 11:00 am – 1 November 2025 1:00 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”
14 November 2025 10:30 am – 14 November 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
19 November 2025 10:30 am – 19 November 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
27 November 2025 10:30 am – 27 November 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
6 December 2025 11:00 am – 6 December 2025 1:00 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”
12 December 2025 10:30 am – 12 December 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
17 December 2025 10:30 am – 17 December 2025 12:30 pm
Museums for Play and Growth are FREE drop-in sessions for children 0–5 years old inspired by “50 Things to Do Before You’re Five”.
Past Family Events
26 June 2025 10:30 am – 26 June 2025 12:30 pm
1 June 2025 11:00 am – 1 June 2025 3:00 pm
Come along to experience living in the 1640’s and find out how Royalists at Bolling Hall planned to ransack Parliamentarian Bradford
29 May 2025 11:00 am – 29 May 2025 3:00 pm
To celebrate the arrival of the Portrait of Mai from the National Portrait Gallery
27 May 2025 11:00 am – 27 May 2025 3:00 pm
Become a Dinosaur Detective
25 May 2025 11:00 am – 25 May 2025 3:00 pm
24 May 2025 11:00 am – 24 May 2025 3:00 pm
10 May 2025 11:00 am – 10 May 2025 3:00 pm
Join in with the Bowling Beacon leg of events in partnership with the City of Culture 2025. This
27 April 2025 11:00 am – 27 April 2025 3:00 pm
Beautiful volunteer led Cherry Blossom Festival comes to Bradford’s Bolling Hall Museum.
16 April 2025 11:00 am – 16 April 2025 3:00 pm
Join us for a fun filled adventure outside, be prepared for messy play building dens, ball runs and mud kitchens
15 April 2025 11:00 am – 15 April 2025 3:00 pm
Explore the past
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All opportunities have flexible commitment requirements and aim to provide a rewarding and enriching experience for all.
About Us
Bradford District is home to some of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire. Come and see for yourself.
