Early Years

To make sure that we are approaching our young visitors the best way, we are collaborating with early years experts from 50 Things to Do When You’re Five.
The core of the early years programs are free stay and play sessions for children 0-5 years old and their parents/carers, ‘Museums for Play and Growth’ sessions are organised in each of our venues once a month, offering up to two hours of free and quality play, learning and creative time for children and adults. Museums’ stay and play sessions can include messy play, loose parts play, simple craft activities, rhyme time or outdoor activities.
 
Sessions ‘Museums for Play and Growth’ are on every:
 
1st Saturday of the month in Bradford Industrial Museum (11 am – 1 pm)
2nd Friday of the month in Cartwright Hall (10.30 am – 12.30 pm)
3rd Wednesday of the month in Bolling Hall (10.30 am – 12.30 pm)
4th Thursday of the month in Cliffe Castle (10.30 am – 12.30 pm)
 
See all our upcoming early years events for this year as well as previous events held at all our venues.

Current Early Years Events

A large teddy bear in front of cave drawings
Cliffe Castle Museum

28 August 2025 10:30 am – 28 August 2025 12:30 pm

Small curly-hair child peering through a fabric tunnel, artwork in the background

3 September 2025 10:30 am – 3 September 2025 10:30 am

After two amazing play sessions in The Beacon, we decided to wrap up this summer with ‘Art and Play Family Day’ at The Beacon in Lister Park!

Bradford Industrial Museum

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”

Bolling Hall Museum

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”.

Cliffe Castle Museum

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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

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”.

Cliffe Castle Museum

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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

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”.

Cliffe Castle Museum

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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

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 Early Years Events

Bolling Hall Museum

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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

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”

A little girl in a museum holding a magnifying glass
Cliffe Castle Museum

30 July 2025 10:30 am – 30 July 2025 12:30 pm

We have also prepared fun for our youngest visitors during the Festival of Archaeology.

A large teddy bear in front of cave drawings
Cliffe Castle Museum

24 July 2025 10:30 am – 24 July 2025 12:30 pm

Bolling Hall Museum

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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

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”

A large teddy bear in front of cave drawings
Cliffe Castle Museum

26 June 2025 10:30 am – 26 June 2025 12:30 pm

Bolling Hall Museum

18 June 2025 10:30 am – 18 June 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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

7 June 2025 11:00 am – 7 June 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”

Cliffe Castle Museum

22 May 2025 – 22 May 2025

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

21 May 2025 10:30 am – 21 May 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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

3 May 2025 11:00 am – 3 May 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”

Cliffe Castle Museum

24 April 2025 – 24 April 2025

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

16 April 2025 10:30 am – 16 April 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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

5 April 2025 11:00 am – 5 April 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”

Cliffe Castle Museum

27 March 2025 – 27 March 2025

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

19 March 2025 10:30 am – 19 March 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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

1 March 2025 11:00 am – 1 March 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”

Cliffe Castle Museum

27 February 2025 – 27 February 2025

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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

19 February 2025 10:30 am – 19 February 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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

1 February 2025 11:00 am – 1 February 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”

Cliffe Castle Museum

23 January 2025 – 23 January 2025

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 performers - the Prince, Cinderella and Fairy Godmother. Corner of images shows Season of Music Logo
Cliffe Castle Museum

18 January 2025 12:30 pm – 18 January 2025 4:00 pm

Bolling Hall Museum

15 January 2025 10:30 am – 15 January 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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

4 January 2025 11:00 am – 4 January 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”

Bolling Hall Museum

18 December 2024 10:30 am – 18 December 2024 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”.

Bradford Industrial Museum

7 December 2024 11:00 am – 7 December 2024 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”

Cliffe Castle Museum

28 November 2024 10:30 am – 28 November 2024 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”.

Bolling Hall Museum

20 November 2024 10:30 am – 20 November 2024 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”.

Poster with event details and image of CLiffe Castle (all details repeated in text)
Cliffe Castle Museum

20 November 2024 10:30 am – 20 November 2024 2:30 am

On Wednesday, 20th November, Bradford District Museums and Galleries and Baby Week Bradford are inviting you on the musical adventure at Cliffe Castle Museum and Park to round off another Baby Week!

Bradford Industrial Museum

2 November 2024 11:00 am – 2 November 2024 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”

Bradford Industrial Museum

27 July 2024 11:00 am – 27 July 2024 3:00 pm

Come to build a tent and test your map-reading skills. You can expect great fun with the outdoor scout’s adventure, messy play, and mud kitchen for the youngest visitors.

Bolling Hall Museum

11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Join us to Deck the Halls! Make a traditional Peg Doll toy to take home, ice a gingerbread biscuit and decorate a wooden bauble to add to the beautiful Christmas tree. The Crickmore Crew will be singing traditional Christmas songs throughout the day, helping us enjoy the festive season atmosphere of this wonderful historic home! […]

Bolling Hall Museum

All Day –

New Programme for Early Years! Fossils in t’Hills: Paleo Play for Children Cliffe Castle Museum, Tuesday 24th October, 11am – 3pm Join us with your child for this exciting Dino adventure! Our youngest visitors will have the opportunity to play a Dino discovery game, see fossils, and do ammonite-moulding. Those who enjoy creative play will […]

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About Us

Bradford District is home to some of the most exciting museums and galleries in Yorkshire. Come and see for yourself.

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