Leeds Discovery Centre

02/09/2026

As part of Heritage Open Days, we have a special event at Leeds Discovery Centre on Saturday 12 September all about what we can learn from plants 🍃

In-character visual artist Jude Kershaw from Run of the Mill History will give visitors an insight into life as an early 20th century female botanist. Discover how people in this time period used plants for their medicinal properties and get an up-close look at century old herbarium sheets from the collection! Plus, fun botany arts and crafts activities all day in our education space.

It's fun, family-friendly, and FREE as part of Heritage Open Days.

Book now: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/whats-on/dead-plants-discovery-day-t6qc #

20/07/2026

Your Summer of Discovery has begun!

Head to Leeds' hidden gem to explore a world of science, adventure and history with our summer family store tour & workshop sessions. Taking place each Thursday (10am & 1pm) on a dazzling new theme:

23 July - Moth Week! 🦋
Join Assistant Curator of Natural Science, Amie to get close to the moth collection and be inspired by their hidden beauty during National Moth Week. Moth & Butterfly Conservation will have a pop up stall to talk all things moths and butterflies. Then, have a go at designing your own moth wing.

30 July - Festival of Archaeology: Floral tile crafts 🪷
Taking on the National Festival of Archaeology's theme of 'archaeology and nature', join in creating airdry clay tiles and decorating them with patterns seen in Leeds Discovery Centre’s Ancient Greek objects.

6 August - Champion Crafting: Sports family fun 🛼
Learn about Leeds sporting heritage with curator Catherine Robins. After a store tour, become a crafting champion! Can you engineer a pipe cleaner acrobat? Or turn cotton buds into an archery set?

13 August - Amazing Animals Week 🦁
This week plays host to World Lion Day, World Elephant Day and World Orangutan Day - and to recognise these important, vulnerable animals, our Natural Science Curators are coming together to look at all things amazing about them and the animal kingdom.

20 August - In the Frame: World Photography Week 🎥
Join us for a range of photography-inspired crafts and store tour. Make your own shadow puppets, create your own story with them or use your own silhouette to tell a story!

27 August - Music Around the World 🪗
Join World Cultures Curator, Adam, to explore the music collection, with objects from across the globe. Then, make your own paper, cardboard and 'found materials' musical instruments to take home.

And while you’re at Discovery Centre, why not pick up a family trail to find all the brightly coloured squids hiding in the store?!

Find out more about our Summer of Discovery sessions: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre-c7h1

04/06/2026

Help us measure our impact for a chance to win!🏛️

We're working with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to understand the value that Leeds Discovery Centre provides socially and economically.

Help us understand more about your visits by filling out this survey for the chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher.

Your contribution will also help shape new guidelines for valuing culture and heritage across the country.

The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete, we really appreciate your time. 🩷

Find the survey here https://bit.ly/LMGImpact

26/05/2026

How to go from 🫠🥵 to 😏😎 in three easy steps.

👉 Book to visit us this half term
👉 Chill in our mega museum store, set to a cool 16 degrees
👉 Have some down time with the kids at our activity stations

https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/whats-on/everyday-heroes-may-half-term-txtc

SURPRISE VISITORS TODAY - meet the fire service and practice your fire fighting skills in the fire engine! 👩‍🚒

Celebrate everyday heroes in this workshop and tour dedicated to the people who help us!

05/05/2026

As part of Dying Matters week, Leeds Discovery Centre will be hosting a free Grief Café tomorrow, 6 May at 3.30pm. Grief Cafés are an informal opportunity to discuss death, dying, and bereavement in a relaxed environment.

The aim is to increase awareness of death and help people make the most of their lives. A Grief Café is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives, or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

During this session curators will also be showing some Grief related objects from around the world from Leeds Discovery Centre's collection store.

Find out more and book: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/whats-on/grief-cafe-r6z7

04/05/2026

It's International Firefighter's Day!

Celebrate firefighters and other everyday heroes this May half term at Leeds Discovery Centre...

Join us for a family workshop and dedicated tour - see historical objects representing the people who help us, throughout history and in the present. Maybe even meet a real-life hero too!

Find out more and book: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/whats-on/everyday-heroes-may-half-term-txtc

02/04/2026