Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills
WHERE
Leeds
What it’s like
A former woollen mill where under-5s get seasonal crafts and drop-in play among the old machinery.
This is a museum built inside a genuine mill, and the seasonal crafts and drop-in play sessions for under 5s are the bit aimed squarely at younger children. It's a good option if you want somewhere with a bit of history rattling around it rather than another soft play or park visit, and the setting does a lot of the work without you having to explain much.
One thing to flag before you go: the engine shed and locomotives are currently off limits because of building and maintenance work. If that's the reason you were heading there, it's worth knowing that bit of the museum is out of action for now, and you'll be seeing the rest of the site instead.
There's parking on site, baby changing and toilets, so a trip with a pram or a toddler mid-potty-training isn't a logistical nightmare. Do get there sooner rather than later if you can, because the main car park is due to close from May 2026 for ten months while Yorkshire Water does sewage works nearby, which is the kind of closure that'll change how easy this place is to get to for a good while.
Facilities
Plan your visit
What do young kids actually do there?
There are seasonal crafts and drop-in play sessions aimed at under 5s, set among the old mill machinery.
Is the whole museum open?
Not quite. The engine shed and locomotives are currently closed off due to building and maintenance work.
Is there parking?
Yes, there's a car park on site, though it's due to close from May 2026 for around ten months for sewage works nearby.
Are there baby changing facilities?
There's baby changing and toilets on site.
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