Summer Events Guide 2023

30th June 2023 9:47 am Comments Off

Summer Events Guide 2023

Barely a day goes by without an exciting event taking place in Leeds. From arts and music, to food and live sport, ours is a city with plenty going on.

Now summer’s here, the local events calendar looks even busier than usual. But with so many excellent ways to fill your days, which are the events that you really can’t afford to miss? We take a look, with our guide to the best Yorkshire summer events 2023!

Sounds Of The City

West Yorkshire’s annual series of cracking musical events returns, with this year’s lineup among the best ever!

Taking place at Millennium Square from July 6th – 15th, acts confirmed for SOTC 2023 include Kasabian, Blossoms, Bastille, McFly, Shed Seven and more.

A family-friendly affair, Sounds Of The City is perfect for music-loving mums and dads, and energetic kids who just love to make some noise! Tickets are available here, with prices varying from show to show.

Millennium Square, Leeds. LS2 3AD.

All Creatures Great And Small

If your kids love everything to do with animals, add Temple Newsam to your list of places to visit this summer.

With All Creatures Great And Small, visitors can celebrate the animals of Temple Newsam, from the rare breed animals at the site’s Home Farm, to animal portraits inside the astonishing Tudor-Jacobean house itself.

There are a huge range of trails and activities for visitors to enjoy, as well as a legendary play area and mile after mile of gorgeous parkland, so pack a picnic and head on over from 22nd July until 3rd September (except Mondays).

Temple Newsam, Temple Newsam Rd, Leeds. LS15 0AE.

Behind The Scenes Tour of Leeds Discovery Centre

Anyone looking for a free day out can stop looking – Leeds Discovery Centre is hosting a series of guided tours around Leeds Museum & Galleries’ collection store!

A purpose-built display storage facility that houses more than one million objects in climate-controlled conditions, the store is a treasure trove of toys, taxidermy animals, skeletons, furniture, clothing, textiles, and archaeology from Leeds, Yorkshire and around the world.

The first tour begins at 1:00 pm on July 25th, with plenty more taking place over the summer holidays. Entry is free but booking is essential. Contact 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk to make a reservation.

Leeds Discovery Centre, Carlisle Rd, Leeds. LS10 1LB.

Outdoor Theatre: The Secret Garden

Taking place at Lotherton Hall – one of West Yorkshire’s most popular country houses – on August 5th, the Outdoor Theatre series is presented by the renowned Chapterhouse Theatre Company and does exactly what it says on the tin: enables you to watch a play outdoors!

A fantastic trip out for families in particular, Lotherton Hall’s beautiful gardens provide the perfect backdrop against which to watch this production of one of the most popular children’s books of all time – Frances Burnett Hodgson’s The Secret Garden. And if the sun’s out, it’ll be truly jaw-dropping!

The story centres around a young girl who is sent to live at her uncle’s house in the countryside, where mysteries, new friends and magical creatures lurk around every corner. Entry is free for children aged four and under and tickets are available here.

Lotherton Hall, Off Collier Lane, Aberford, Leeds. LS25 3EB.

Get budgeting help this summer

At Leeds Credit Union, we know that finding extra money to pay for days out over the summer holidays can be a stressful experience. We can help with budgeting and provide you with access to a range of loans and savings accounts. For more information, click here.

Best Picnic Spots in Leeds 2023

16th June 2023 2:54 pm Comments Off

Best Picnic Spots in Leeds 2023

Not only is summertime nearly here again, National Picnic Week 2023 is too!

Taking place from June 17th – 25th, National Picnic Week 2023 encourages everyone to take all the food, drink and blankets you can carry to the nearest, nicest park to meet up with friends and family and enjoy a bite to eat in the open air.

With a huge array of suitable outdoor venues in and around Leeds, the only question is: where should you go? We have some suggestions…

Yeadon Tarn

Located less than half an hour from Leeds city centre, Yeadon Tarn is one of Yorkshire’s best kept secrets.

Covering approximately 46 acres of land that includes a beautiful 7.5 hectare lake filled with wildlife and dedicated picnic spots for those who prefer tables to blankets, there’s plenty of Tarn to go around, even on busy days, meaning you won’t end up picnicking on top of another family.

And once you’ve finished eating, there’s plenty to do if you fancy burning a few calories, including sailing and other water sports, a playground, a BMX track and walks aplenty. It’s also dog-friendly, so your canine companions can enjoy the fun too.

Yeadon Tarn, Yeadon, Leeds. LS19 7UR.

Kirkstall Abbey

If you want a picnic spot next to a gorgeous river with plenty of open spaces and a dash of Yorkshire’s unbeatable history, Kirkstall Abbey is the place for you.

Set against the backdrop of the ruins of the titular abbey – a stunning 12th-century Cistercian monastery – Kirkstall Abbey not only provides the perfect setting for a riverside picnic, it also has lots of areas to explore, a cafe in case it rains, a play area for kids and access to plenty of shade for respite from the sun on hot days.

Chuck in some local tennis courts and the legendarily large beer garden at the nearby Kirkstall Bridge Inn pub and you’ve got a top picnic spot.

Kirkstall Abbey, Abbey Road, Leeds. LS5 3EH.

Park Square

Desperate for a picnic but don’t fancy travelling far to find the perfect spot? Just wander over to Leeds city centre!

That’s right, tucked away near the city’s business district, Park Square has everything you need for a meal out in the open. As well as being a natural sun-trap, this expertly landscaped spot has plenty of grassy areas to set up on, numerous benches and flowers and trees that add colour and make you believe you’re a million miles away from one of the UK’s busiest metropolitan areas.

And if you need any extra supplies or want something fun to do after you’ve eaten, you’ve got Leeds just a short stroll away. What could be better?

Park Square, Leeds. LS1 2NY.

Roundhay Park

One of the largest urban parks anywhere in Europe, we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Roundhay Park had actually been designed specifically for picnics.

Comprising 700 acres of incredible natural beauty, rolling parkland, floral displays, streams, secret paths, a gorge walk, two lakes woodlands and open spaces and wildlife in every direction, you could throw a picnic blanket on the ground almost anyway in Roundhay Park and find yourself surrounded by the perfect blend of greenery and tranquillity.

Just remember to set an alarm if you lie down to rest after eating – the park is so relaxing, you might just fall asleep.

Roundhay Park, Roundhay, Leeds. LS8 2ER.

Temple Newsam

The biggest location on our list by some distance, Temple Newsam’s 1,500 acres of parkland provide no shortage of both sunny spots and shaded spaces for picnickers who like landscaped grounds, natural beauty and no fewer than three lakes.

One of Yorkshire’s most popular tourist attractions, Temple Newsam also has plenty to offer once the food’s all gone, with walled gardens, woodland trails, several walks and a shop all worth a visit.

Temple Newsam, Temple Newsam Road, Selby Road, Leeds. LS15 0AE.

Your own garden!

When all’s said and done, there really is no place like home so, if you’re trying to keep your outgoings to a minimum at the moment, why not cut down on travel costs this National Picnic Week and have one in your own backyard?!

With its handy location close to vital amenities like running water, toilets and indoor seating if the weather takes a turn for the worse, your garden is convenient, unlikely to be overcrowded and best of all, admission is free!

Bon appétit!

With a huge number of superb outdoor spaces available nearby, picnickers in Leeds are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding where to go for a sandwich in the sun. If we’ve forgotten to mention your favourite picnic destination, let us know about it on our social channels!

Lastly, remember that whatever your dream plans are for National Picnic Week, we can help make them a reality with one of our affordable loans. Find out more here.

Gift Ideas For Mother’s Day 2023

13th March 2023 1:32 pm Comments Off

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, it’s time for any last-minute shoppers out there to get your thinking caps on and find your mum a little something to show your appreciation without breaking the bank.

Gift ideas

Aromatherapy set

This relaxing beauty and fragrance gift set from aromatherapy company Tisserand is guaranteed to help your mum find some inner peace after a busy weekend.

Containing two vegan-friendly bath and body oils made with a soothing blend of lavender, bergamot and patchouli, it’s the perfect gift for mums who don’t put their feet up often enough.

Crackling scented candle

With their tranquil aromas and comforting glow, there’s a reason most mums love a good candle and this one is an absolute beauty.

Presented with a stylish hourglass design, this linen-scented candle has a burn time of up to 130 hours, while its wick crackles as it burns, so your mum will feel as though she’s sitting next to a real fire.

RHS gardening book

Greenfingered mums across the UK are chomping at the bit to get back into their gardens now spring is nearly here, so why not help yours make her outdoor space the best it can be with this month-by-month gardening guide?

Filled with tips and advice from gardening experts, as well as numerous illustrative images, the book will make your mum’s garden the envy of her neighbours all year round.

Gin glasses

Mums love gin, almost without exception. It’s just one of those things.

If your mum falls into the ‘gin lover’ category, she’ll adore this cocktail glass gift set, which includes two elegant gin glasses, a recipe book, a rose gold cocktail spoon and a double-sided measuring cup. At just over £20, it’s likely to sell out fast, so get ordering!

Days out

Whitby Abbey

If your mum loves a good walk, why not take her to Whitby Abbey?

Perfect for short or long walks, Whitby offers views of the famous, Dracula-inspiring abbey, beautiful coastlines, a wide range of pubs and cafes and, of course, the chance to eat some of the best fish and chips the UK has to offer.

Brimham Rocks

For mums that love the great outdoors, there aren’t many better places to visit this Mother’s Day than Brimham Rocks.

Located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty a few miles outside of Harrogate, Brimham Rocks offers a huge array of wildlife, dramatic moorland views and scenic strolls, all among an amazing collection of natural rock formations that are the ideal spot for picnickers.

Restaurants

Brasserie Blanc

Boasting a menu full of local, seasonal produce and a sensational riverfront location inside a converted mill, Brasserie Blanc is one of the best, most reasonably priced French restaurants around and a great option for Mother’s Day.

Although the menu includes French classics like souffles and escargots, along with a good selection of other dishes, Sundays are for roasts and the grass-fed roast beef with cauliflower cheese, bottomless roast potatoes and gravy is sure to put a smile on the faces of even the most hard-to-please mums. Book a table here.

Bettys

If any restaurant anywhere screams ‘bring your mum here for Mother’s Day’ louder than Bettys, we’ve yet to hear it!

Famous for its Fat Rascals, afternoon teas, fish and chips, huge selection of cakes and pâtisseries, Bettys is one of Yorkshire’s most beloved chains. Your mum will love you forever if you surprise her with a trip to one of its restaurants in York or Harrogate.

Need a helping hand this Mother’s Day?

At Leeds Credit Union, we can help take the hassle out of Mother’s Day with one of our small loans. For more information or to make an application, click here.

Tag Archive: Lifestyle