Kids & Family

A free playground has opened at a Grade II Listed building in Huddersfield

If you go down in the woods today... there's a brand-new playground.

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 31st July 2026

A brand-new playground has opened this Summer at a Grade II Listed building in Huddersfield where kids can play out for free.

With the Summer holidays in full swing, what better way to keep the kids occupied than to let them spend a few hours at this all-new playground just in Huddersfield.

And what makes this wooden play area even more exciting is the fact that it's located within the 11 acres of land at Cliffe House in Shepley, meaning its in the perfect spot for families from Holmfirth, Meltham, Honley and Huddersfield town centre.

This Grade II Listed building is recognised for providing children across West Yorkshire with some exciting school trips where they can get involved with outdoor art workshops, buggy building, archery, bushcraft and more.

Now Cliffe House has a brand-new addition courtesy of its a free playground where kids can roam, climb, glide, skip, hop, jump and everything in between, and you don't have to spend a single penny.

That's because, this rustic-style adventure area features everything from rope climbing frames and raised plank bridges to tyre parkour and ziplines with no entry free whatsoever.

And, if that wasn't enough to convince you to make the journey over to this Shepley outdoor park, there's even an on-site café that offers a children's lunch box meal for only £4 - What are you waiting for?

The menu also features all your on-the-go food favourites like sandwiches, toasties and choc ices so the kids can jump right back into all the fun this West Yorkshire playground has to offer.

So, if you're after a day out that incorporates fresh air, full tummies and a whole load of adventure, then this brand-new and completely free play area at Cliffe House is ideal for you.

If you're looking to find out more about Cliffe House and its opening hours throughout the Summer holidays, as well as a full calendar of events its running throughout the year, visit the Grade II Listed building's website HERE.

Read more: 15 places kids can eat for £1 or FREE throughout the summer holidays

Featured Images - Wikimedia Commons (via supplied)

Kids & Family

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is opening Health and Social Care North in Leeds

Danny Jones Danny Jones New health and social care north office in leeds

Newly-appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham has shared plans for a brand-new Health and Social Care 'North' in Leeds as one of his first big plans as leader.

Set to be based right here in the city centre, the new Yorkshire base for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will serve as a Northern hub for the crucial cog in the public sector.

This comes not long after Andy Burnham announced and opened 'No. 10 North' at his previous base over in Greater Manchester, which took barely a week to get up and running.

Headed up by current Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, the initiative will be building on the vision outlined not only by Burnham but on the groundwork laid by her predecessor and now Defence Minister, Wes Streeting.

As per a report by LBC, an insider close to Cooper - the Labour MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley - told the outlet that this big step for the North "will help bring decision-making closer to the communities we serve and strengthen our ability to improve health outcomes across the country."

"She has asked the Department to draw up plans that would complement the plans for Number 10 North on the other side of the Pennines", they continued, "allowing  Ministers to work from Quarry House [in LS2] in the North, and strengthening DHSC operations in other parts of the country."

With confirmation now coming that the old 'Quarry on the Hill' has been chosen as the satellite station for the soon-to-be-overhauled Department, the selection makes sense given its current government operations.

As well as being a major headquarters for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), it also has offices reporting to DHSC, NHS staff and other parts of the civil service.

In addition, it's also worth noting that the PM has just announced another big change to the education sector, too, essentially trying to redress the balance between "academic and technical" training.

Great news for everyone looking to seek out solid and hopefully more stable careers across the nation.

https://thehootleeds.com/news/the-government-has-announced-fundamental-changes-to-the-uks-education-system/
Well worth a read through.

Building on Leeds' existing offices, the idea is that this will ensure more considered development across more regions and specific communities, West Yorkshire being just one of them.

Many localities still understandably feel like they fall foul of being somewhat overlooked, especially up in this part of the country.

But, as alluded to above, the hope is that this continued sense of devolution and efforts to work more directly with local governments should help bridge the gap between Whitehall, Westminster and the rest.

As the PM said in his first speech at his new Northern premises, he said a big part of his ethos is about "putting power in every postcode" and making a change from things just feeling "like an argument with people in the centre of government and people having a to and from all of the time."

While official opening dates etc for Health and Social Care North are still yet to be revealed, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester has insisted that he will be working from No.10 North at least once a week. What do you make of it all, Leeds?

Read more:

Featured Images — r44flyer (via Flickr)/Samantha Cheverton (via Geograph)/Mtaylor848 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Kids & Family

Leeds has been transformed into a huge interactive game of Trivial Pursuit

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

Leeds is set to become a giant board game this summer as Trivial Pursuit arrives in the city centre to celebrate a landmark moment in its history.

The famous board game is being brought to life as LeedsBID transforms the city centre into a live version of Hasbro’s iconic Trivial Pursuit board game, marking 400 years since Leeds was granted its royal charter.

And a few famous Leeds faces are helping to make it happen.

Running from this Saturday 25 July to Sunday 30 August 2026 and is completely free, players embark on journey across the city centre, travelling from category to category and testing their knowledge of Leeds.

Correct answers earn wedges, and once all six are collected, players face a final question to complete the game.

Key locations represent the six traditional Trivial Pursuit categories: Entertainment, Geography, Sports and Leisure, Science and Nature, History, and Art and Literature.

Central to the game will be the stories and achievements that have shaped Leeds over four centuries, from the origins of Marks & Spencer to a connection with the first British internet provider.

An array of well-known personalities are involved, appearing digitally to look back and look ahead at the city’s notable events.

Famous faces appear across the Trivial Pursuit trail
Famous faces appear across the Trivial Pursuit trail
Trivial Pursuit in the Merrion Centre
Trivial Pursuit in the Merrion Centre
Playing the Culture category in the Corn Exchange
Playing the Culture category in the Corn Exchange
Look out for the Trivial Pursuit hosts all over Leeds
Look out for the Trivial Pursuit hosts all over Leeds
There's a chance to play a golden buzzer question at Leeds City Museum
There's a chance to play a golden buzzer question at Leeds City Museum

Leeds-born presenter and podcaster Alex Zane, historian Ruth Goodman, and commentator Daniel Norcross each take on Entertainment, History, and Sports & Leisure, telling the stories behind the people, places, and moments that define Leeds.

Angela Griffin says: “LeedsBID have come up with a fun and engaging way to introduce visitors to the Leeds story through Trivial Pursuit, and I was happy to play a part in some of this trivia this summer, which is a real honour as a Loiner.”

Sara Merritt, Principal Keeper, Leeds City Museum and Leeds Discovery Centre. “Leeds City Museum is excited to host TRIVIAL PURSUIT as part of Leeds400 this summer, offering visitors a fun and interactive way to celebrate knowledge, curiosity, and everything that makes Leeds unique.”

You can find out more here.

Read more: Restoration of beloved Leeds mural preserves a piece of the city’s cultural heritage

Featured image - Supplied

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