If you’re looking for the perfect family day out in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Swithens Farm is a must-visit destination. Packed full of opportunities for children to play, explore, and get hands-on with friendly farm animals, it’s a place where memories are made. Whether your little ones want to feed the goats, meet the pigs, or simply run wild in the outdoor play areas, Swithens Farm offers a fun, educational, and down-to-earth experience that kids—and parents—will love.
Opening Times and Tickets:
The farm is open from 10am till 4pm on weekdays and until 5pm on weekends. Children 1 and under are free, and discounts can be applied for MAX card and disabled blue badge holders. Tickets for the indoor soft play barn are an additional cost to the farm ticket.
Click here for more information on opening times and tickets.
Parking/ Travelling:
There is a large free car park at Swithens Farm. Follow the signs down bumpy farm tracks until you get there!
Various buses stop at Marsh Street Library, which is a 15 minute walk from the farm. These inlude the number 9 and 444, from Leeds City Centre or The White Rose Centre, and bus route 153 which travels between Morley and Castleford.
Leeds Train Station is just over a 20 minute drive to Swithens Farm.
Prams and Accessibility:
All paths at Swithens Farm are level and suitable for prams. It is wheelchair accessible and there are baby changing facilities in both the disabled toilet and in the women’s toilets.
Things to do at Swithens Farm
1. Feed and see the animals
At certain times of the day during the spring and summer months, visitors have the chance to bottle feed adorable calves and lambs—an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike. The fun doesn’t stop there; you can get up close to friendly rabbits and guinea pigs in the petting area, or offer carrots to a whole host of animals including goats, cows, pigs, llamas, alpacas, Shetland ponies, and donkeys. Don’t miss the cheeky meerkats and the impressive emus!
2. Play
Kids can let off steam in all kinds of exciting ways at Swithens Farm! They can climb, slide, and swing in the traditional play park, dig and build in the sandy beach area, and race around on little ride-on tractors along the fun outdoor course. The zip line adds a rush of adventure (and yes, grown-ups can have a go too)! When the weather turns, the indoor soft play area keeps the energy high with tunnels, slides, and climbing zones. With so many ways to play, explore, and burn off energy, Swithens Farm keeps children active and entertained from start to finish.
3. Dine
When it’s time to take a break, the spacious café at Swithens Farm is the perfect spot to relax. There’s plenty of room for prams beside the table. The menu offers a great selection of tasty meals and snacks, with the added bonus that any meat you order comes directly from the farm itself – fresh, local, and full of flavour. If something on your plate takes your fancy, you can pop into the on-site butcher’s shop and take some home with you. Whether you’re stopping for lunch or grabbing a coffee, dining at Swithens Farm is a delicious part of the day.
Things to do with kids nearby
A free museum like no other, the Royal Armouries has tons of weapons and armour from throughout history on display. There are many activities for children to interact with and daily events such as live sword fighting. In the school holidays then even host international jousting competitions.
A farm, historic house and extensive grounds, Temple Newsam Estate has something to offer everyone. Spring is an especially lovely time to visit as they have lots of baby animals.
3. Tropical World
Visit the desert, rainforest and mangroves at this zoo, a 13 minute drive from Leeds City Museum. Here you can see reptiles, meerkats, crocodiles and other wonderful animals. A highlight for me at Tropical World is the butterfly house. Just outside Tropical World are the beautiful Specialist Gardens and Canal Gardens too.
4. Discovery Centre
On Wednesdays and Thursdays, this museum has free tours where you can explore their collection of over one million objects. If you and your children have a particular interest, such as meteorites, insects, historical fashion or anything really, the tour guides will tailor the tour and make sure you get to see the objects that will be of most interest to you, and to hear the stories about them.
Located in the heart of Leeds City Centre, this is another free museum. There are exhibitions on the history of Leeds as well as on Ancient Greece and Egypt. You can even find the mummified body of a pharaoh here!
Nominated for the Most Family Friendly Museum, Abbey House Museum is packed with interactive exhibits and toys for children to explore and learn with. There is a Victorian street to explore, as well as lots of story themed play opportunities upstairs.
