South Yorkshire offers so many days out for famililes, from outdoor adventure to indoor activities. We’ve pulled together a list of our favourite things to do in South Yorkshire with kids.
Cycling the Transpennine Trail
Family-friendly cycling trails can be hard to come by, but the Transpennine trail offers an amazing traffic free-largely flat path to explore on two wheels. The trail runs the width of Britain but our favourite section runs from south of Barnsley to Sprotborough. Join the trail at Manvers Lake at Wath-upon-Dearne where parking is free if you need it. The trail then runs towards Doncaster with very minimal uphill sections. The entire trail is off road until you get to Harlington when there is around 1/2 mile on quiet village roads. On the way you’ll run alongside the River Don, under Conisborough viaduct, and through the countryside until you get to Sprotborough. The Boat Inn at Sprotborough is always a firm favourite of ours and provides a well earned pint and food if the mood takes you. The total distance from Wath-to-Sprotborough is around 10 miles so if there and back is too far for little legs, either stop at Mexborough and turn around, or ride back to Conisborough and get the train back to Swinton station around 2 miles back to the starting point (although this is on road).
Go Bird Spotting with the RSPB
You don’t have to be a member to enjoy a day out at RSPB Old Moor, although entry is free for RSPB members (minimum donation £5 per month). If you aren’t a member, adults are £6 and children £3 entrance. There’s even activity backpacks for children to use. Old Moor is a great place for exploring with the chance to search for insects and beasties, as well as spotting birds from the various hides around the site. There are bridges and lakes to wander around, the paths are largely pushchair friendly and the adventure playground at the end (or beginning) is one of the best in the area. There’s easily enough to do and see to spend a good few hours here.
Magna Science centre
Located on the outskirts of Rotherham, Magna Science Museum is an epic day out with kids in South Yorkshire. Admissions fees are £18 for adults, £15 for children and under 3’s go free, but your day ticket converts to an annual pass for no additional fee meaning you can come back again and again. The Science museum is located in the old steel works building which creates a formidable atmosphere when walking around. There is also sections on the history of the steel works including a video demo on each hour called ‘The Big Melt’ which takes place in the centre of the old warehouse. The Science elements have been split into 4 areas: Earth, Air, Water and Fire pavillions. All the exhibits are hands on or interactive from diggers to drive, to water spray pumps, wind blower mazes and fire tornados – our kids of 5 and 8 could not get enough of each area and they thoroughly enjoyed them all, and definitely learned something! Winner. There is a cafe and small shop inside as well.
Outside is the best splash park and adventure play ground which we have visited on our annual pass without even going inside. The splash park has jets, tumbling water, overflowing buckets and water mists over a huge area – you will get wet! Right next to the splash park is the extensive playground including trampolines, climbing frames and an enormous sand pit. There are seats, benches and a small refreshment stall outside as well. You do need to buy a ticket to the Science museum to enjoy the outdoor area, but well worth it. Opening hours during term time is shorter, closing around 3pm, but in the holidays you can stay until 5pm.
Langsett Reservoir
As you start to cross the Pennines, Langsett reservoir is a great walk for little legs. The car park as toilets, offers free parking, and gives two different routes to explore at 3 miles and 5 miles. The 5 mile trail is more difficult terrain and pushchairs wouldn’t make it, but the 3 mile trail is very family friendly. From the car park you walk through the amazing woodland alongside the water’s edge offering great views over the reservoir.
At the far west of Langsett, the path turns left or right – right being the shorter route, but this junction also provides a great stop for lunch and place to play right by the river. It has a stoney beach for pebble skimming and picnicking before continuing on the trail.
On returning to the car park, there is a sign towards a cafe and pub – both of which are a 2 minute walk away. The pub has a beer garden overlooking the reservoir and offers great view, cold drinks and home cooked food – again a great reward after the exercise.
Clifton Country Park
Clifton Park is a huge (free) day out for families in South Yorkshire. There are playgrounds to explore and walks to enjoy all for free on the outskirts of Rotherham. The whole day could be spent there with other (paid for) activities located in the same park. There’s mini golf (£6 per player), a funfair with rides (each ride £1.50 – £2 per person), and a museum (free). A small land train also runs around the park (£2) and there is another splash park here which runs on weekends and the school holidays during the summer. Keep an eye on their socials for opening hours or restricted opening of the splash park as they have a strict under 5s policy on some days.
Cannon Hall Farm
Cannon Hall Farm is a full day out for the family in South Yorkshire. We just visited last week and with a summer hols discount code our family of 4 visited for less than £50. Our kids love it here and there is so much to do. The parks alone provide several hours of entertainment with tower slides, climbing frames, obstacle courses, a rope forest, tube maze, zip lines and more. And if it does get a bit wet, the indoor soft play is bigger than most indoor soft play centres AND is included in your visit. In all parks there are areas for children under 4 making this is a great day out for younger children too.
The farm itself doesn’t disappoint with meerkats, goats, alpacas, pigs, cows, a reptile and mammal house and interactive sessions with talks, sheep racing, ferret racing and also tractor rides. Children can feed the pigs, sheep, goats and alpacas which are all in the barns (so again a good rainy day out) via chutes so no danger of fingers getting nibbled! There’s even reindeer in the bottom fields to really make this a magical day out for families. Throughout the year there are special events such as Christmas, BBC filming and farm days and a brilliant bonfire and fireworks event which we visited several years ago. We can’t recommend this place enough for a family day out in South Yorkshire.
Explore the National Coal Mining Museum
On the edge of Wakefield the National Coal Mining Museum is one of the best days out in Yorkshire day for families. There is a £5 per car parking fee but then entrance into the museum is free and includes an adventure playground (another very good one), a nature trail, mine train rides from the car park to the main colliery, exhibits on the history of mining, pony sanctuary, machinery exhibit and memorial and more. The only additional costs are for the cafe (picnic areas are available) and for the underground mine tour. We can’t recommend this enough.
For £7.50 per person you have the option to join an underground tour. The fee is refundable if you return your souvenir coin, but actually we felt it was such good value that we left the refund and let that money be invested in the future of the museum. £30 for a family of 4 for a full day out is very good value.
The tour takes you down in a real life miner’s cage 140m below the surface. Warning it is dark and claustrophobic and very young children would probably lose interest as you are there for over an hour. All the tour guides are ex-miners and their passion and knowledge is incredible. Our 5 and 9 year old enjoyed hearing the stories, seeing the tunnels and exploring mining through the years, carrying their own miners hat and torch. There are no phones allowed in the mine itself, but 100% a must-do activity.
