Leeds with my little one – Exploring local baby & tots groups

When I was on Maternity leave a lot of my time was spent out and about going to groups to keep my little one stimulated. It got me out of the house and kept me busy for my own sanity too. These groups were a lifeline for us both and a great opportunity to meet others also on MAT.

Now that I work in the local community I meet a lot of new mums. Most of them don’t know where to go and what to do with their days. It reminds me of exactly how I felt at the start of my journey and it makes me wonder why this isn’t all listed in one place somewhere!

So I thought I’d list some of the groups local to the Pudsey/Bramley/Farsley area of Leeds.

These are all the activities I enjoy/ed taking my baby (now toddler) to. I know there are far more but these were my personal favourites and some of the places we visited together most often.

Days and times correct at the time of writing in January 2025. I have tried to include links for more information. Please do check with the provider to ensure the activities or groups are still running.

Monday

Pudsey Wellbeing Centre – 1pm-3pm – Stay & Play – A small group with toys, books and activities aimed at children under 5 and their parents. Run by charity, donations welcome and refreshments provided. (As of 2025 this is no longer running due to low numbers which is a shame)

Pudsey Library – 10.30am – Story & Rhyme Time – Songs, nursery rhymes and stories read to children followed by a chance for playtime with a collection of toys.

Bossom Buddies at Pudsey Wellbeing Centre – 9:30am-11:30am – Breastfeeding Support Group – This super popular group is perfect for anyone who needs support with their breastfeeding. I used to head here if I had any problems to talk through but a lot of mums use it as a social group. There are toys out for the babies to play with and any aged children are welcome. They even allow pregnant ladies and dads to attend should they wish!

Tuesday

Pudsey Leisure Centre – 10.20am – Active Parents Legs, bums and tums – A fitness class you can take your kids to! You can pop your little one down whilst you exercise. Playpen and toys provided.

Swinnow Community Centre – 9.30am – Baby stay and play – A fun play session aimed at children under 5 with lots of toys and free snacks provided. £1 per child and these guys have even brought in Little Movers before too. (This is a great local independently run class)

Bramley Library – 1.30pm-2.30pm – Rhyme Time – My favourite of all the libraries, this session is particularly great as the man who leads it is really passionate about the stories. With stuffed animals and a suitcase full of songs this is a really great interactive session!

Pudsey Parish Church – 9:30am-11:15am – ABC Baby & Toddler Group – A group run by friendly volunteers I only went to once before my daughter turned 1 and it was wild. They had a bouncy castle and everything! It looks to be amazing for little ones with a baby area and a whole section for miniture vehicles that the kids can just drive around. I’ve never seen anything like it and if I didn’t work Monday’s and Tuesday’s i’d definitely go again! This runs both days term-time only.

Wednesday

This was always my tricky day as I didn’t find much to do with myself. I tended to have my days in on Wednesday’s or go to the park. Since heading back to work I have Wednesday’s off and have found some groups. I will mention them below so you have options but I can’t comment on how good they are because I haven’t always visited when she was a baby.

Oak Church Farsley – 09:30am-11:00am – Coffee & Chaos – Another group run by volunteers. I went to this once when my daughter had started walking and there was tons of space for her to run around. We actually loved this group because not only does it have tiny vehicles, slides and crafting tables but it also had free cake! Who can say no to free cake? At the end of the session they sing some songs and tell stories and I found it to be a really welcoming group. I will definitely revisit!

Swinnow Children’s Centre – 1pm-2pm – Baby Weigh & Play – Aimed at baby’s under 12 months old, I went to this all the time on MAT leave. It used to be on a Monday but I imagine it’s the same group. They have a large area full of lovely toys, an outdoor bit for summer and the option to weigh your baby too.

Two others I have heard about but not yet had the chance to visit yet:

Farnley Children’s Centre – 10:00-11:30am – Stay & Play
Bramley Baptist Church – 09:00-11:30am – Stay & Play

Thursday

Everyman Leeds – Various times – Baby Cinema – An amazing opportunity to watch all the latest releases with your little one in your arms. Take full advantage of this whilst your baby is young – The cinema sounds will send them to sleep too!

Swinnow Children’s Centre – 9am-10:45am – Tot’s Time – Creative and messy play aimed at toddlers. I’ve done this group a few times and for just a £1 donation the kids are given snacks and opportunity for singing and story time at the end too.

The Open Door – 11.30am-12:45pm – Parents Pit Stop – Toys, books and play space set up within a cafe setting so parents can enjoy a drink and a natter whilst children play. Aimed at 0-5s. Bring your own food for lunch and enjoy a break whilst the kids can stretch their legs. Suitable for babies too and always breastfeeding friendly with comfy sofas.

Friday

Farsley Library – 1:30pm-2:30pm – Story & Rhyme Time – Songs, nursery rhymes and stories read to children followed by a chance for playtime with a collection of toys.

Some other things that are absolutely great for little ones in the Leeds area:

Leeds Central Library – If you find yourself in the city centre and need somewhere to let your kiddo let off some steam head to the library. Previously found in the Tetley, The Tiny Totley Studio has plenty of children’s books, a dedicated space to play, ball pits and a giant slide!

Tong Garden Centre – Definitely the best soft play centre I have found so far. If you go here in winter they sometimes have offers on that make playing midweek super cheap. They also have a massive outdoor area that I’ve not seen open yet but I can’t wait to use it in Summer!

Jackaboos Farsley – I love this soft play centre as it is clean and quiet. It has a big enough area for the kids to get lots of exercise and climbing in but also not overwhelming. You can pre-book a session here and the place even has trampolines! My daughter loves it and she even takes part in Little Movers here on a Thursday morning. It’s brilliant that the venue offers this option and I love that they have an area full of toys to play with too.

Thackray Museum of Medicine – One of my favourite museums to visit with my little one. Brilliant role play area for 0-5s.

Over in North West Leeds there is so much to do. I don’t doubt this is similar all over the country but I am lucky I get to live in such a great city.