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
4 July 2026 11:00 am – 4 July 2026 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 July 2026 10:30 am – 10 July 2026 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 July 2026 10:30 am – 15 July 2026 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 July 2026 10:30 am – 23 July 2026 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”.
29 July 2026 11:00 am – 29 July 2026 3:00 pm
Become a little archaeologist. Put the gloves on, take the tool and magnifier, and dig into…Poo!
1 August 2026 11:00 am – 1 August 2026 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”
1 August 2026 11:00 am – 1 August 2026 3:00 pm
Join us to celebrate Yorkshire Day 2026
5 August 2026 11:00 am – 5 August 2026 3:00 pm
Discover things you maybe didn’t know about the inspiring Brontë sisters.
7 August 2026 11:00 am – 7 August 2026 3:00 pm
Discover the art of wet felting.
8 August 2026 11:00 am – 8 August 2026 3:00 pm
Explore family activities featuring Jowett Cars.
11 August 2026 11:00 am – 11 August 2026 3:00 pm
Join our upcycling clothes workshop for families to inspire creativity and sustainability.
12 August 2026 11:00 am – 12 August 2026 3:00 pm
Come to discover medications of the past.
12 August 2026 11:00 am – 12 August 2026 3:00 pm
Solve the Moorside Mill Mystery at Bradford Industrial Museum with live suspects, clue‑hunting and family activities.
14 August 2026 10:30 am – 14 August 2026 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”.
18 August 2026 11:00 am – 18 August 2026 3:00 pm
Join us for Savages, a free family film and engaging activities at Cliffe Castle.
19 August 2026 10:30 am – 19 August 2026 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 August 2026 11:00 am – 19 August 2026 3:00 pm
21 August 2026 11:00 am – 21 August 2026 3:00 pm
Join our workshop to experience the magic of storytelling with your family.
27 August 2026 10:30 am – 27 August 2026 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”.
5 September 2026 11:00 am – 5 September 2026 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 September 2026 10:30 am – 11 September 2026 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”.
16 September 2026 10:30 am – 16 September 2026 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 September 2026 10:30 am – 24 September 2026 10:30 am
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”.
3 October 2026 11:00 am – 3 October 2026 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”
9 October 2026 10:30 am – 9 October 2026 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”.
21 October 2026 10:30 am – 21 October 2026 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”.
22 October 2026 10:30 am – 22 October 2026 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”.
7 November 2026 11:00 am – 7 November 2026 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”
13 November 2026 10:30 am – 13 November 2026 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”.
18 November 2026 10:30 am – 18 November 2026 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”.
26 November 2026 10:30 am – 26 November 2026 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”.
5 December 2026 11:00 am – 5 December 2026 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 December 2026 10:30 am – 11 December 2026 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”.
16 December 2026 10:30 am – 16 December 2026 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 January 2027 10:30 am – 20 January 2027 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
6 June 2026 1:00 pm – 6 June 2026 3:00 pm
Bring your child/ren, enjoy more play, and bring some food to share with other families
31 May 2026 11:00 am – 31 May 2026 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
28 May 2026 12:00 pm – 28 May 2026 4:00 pm
Join us for an activity inspired by the New Global Perspectives and Islamic Calligraphy Exhibition.
26 May 2026 1:00 pm – 26 May 2026 4:00 pm
Free Family Drop in Event
26 May 2026 11:00 am – 26 May 2026 3:00 pm
Find out more about these fascinating birds
4 May 2026 11:00 am – 4 May 2026 4:00 pm
Join us to celebrate a new exhibition focusing on heritage Crafts with a local connection
26 April 2026 11:00 am – 26 April 2026 3:00 pm
Beautiful Blossom Festival Comes to Bolling Hall Museum
25 April 2026 11:00 am – 25 April 2026 3:00 pm
Join Cliffe Castle Support Group and artist Louise Garrett for family friendly creative blossom activities!
25 April 2026 10:30 am – 25 April 2026 11:30 am
Connect with nature, blossom trees and heritage features
10 April 2026 11:00 am – 10 April 2026 3:00 pm
9 April 2026 11:00 pm – 9 April 2026 3:00 pm
Explore An Industrial Landscape by LS Lowry
8 April 2026 11:00 am – 8 April 2026 3:00 pm
Learn about food journeys across the globe
Donate
Could you support our work by sponsoring, donating or volunteering?
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.