It’s not that there’s a lack of days out to choose from in Yorkshire – far from it – but with a minimum of 42 days to tick off, you may need a small mortgage to cover the cost of keeping your kids entertained. Take into account the need for both energy-sapping outdoor activities as well as wet weather options, it’s no wonder many of us just reach for the remote and the biscuit barrel as a cheap childcare alternative.
However, there is one gem of a place that could tick all the boxes and offers a huge programme of events over the summer holidays – all from as little as £9 for the day for a whole family.
We’re talking about Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
First and foremost, let’s look at the pricing and it’s very simple. Anyone 25 years old or younger enjoys FREE entry. Anyone over that age pays just £9, with £6 for concessions, so grandparents can also take your little darlings for the cost of a large latte.
YSP is also just about to launch its Curiosity & Wonder summer programme, starting on Saturday July 15, with a six-week programme of daily events, activities and pop-up projects.
For those who want to run off some energy before bath time, there’s 500 acres of park, woodland, trails and gardens to enjoy, as well as the full range of daily activities from wax and clay sculpting and painting, right through to mindful walks and even a family rave.
There really is something for everyone to enjoy, whether that’s live painting sessions with artist Natasha Joseph.
(Live painting with Nat Joseph)
Or perhaps taking part in the Lost-Wax for Lost-Species where you can recreate your own version of endangered or vulnerable animals in wax.
(Abigail Burt’s Lost Wax for Lost Species – Hazel Dormouse)
For those who want to make the most of the great outdoors then look out for something like the Roger Hiorn’s A Retrospective View of the Pathway which temporarily transforms the YSP landscape with vast bubbles of foam. This interactive artwork will be activated twice daily and is foam-tastic fun for the whole family!
(Roger Hiorns’ A Retrospective View of the Pathways)
Making the most of both the sights and sounds at YSP, there’s also the Sound Wave Collider, a multi-sensory, immersive installation, that uses a huge range of resonating sounds involving sculptures, living organisms, plants, and even electronically processed birdsongs.
(*IOU Sound Wave Collider)
And if all that wasn’t enough to keep imaginations busy there’s also ICHI, a performance artist from Nagoya in Japan who takes the idea of the one-man band to new limits!
(Ichi one man band – and then some)
There’s simply too much going on to list every activity but look out for the interactive poetry reading for families, guerilla calligraphy or Cat Scott’s “Inner Horizons” that explores what it might sound and feel like to be within a bubble.
(Cath Scott’s Inner Horizons)
So how much is it?
All Curiosity & Wonder daytime activities and events are free and included with YSP admission (with the exception of the evening dining experiences at The Weston. Bookable in advance.). To book tickets and find out about the full programme visit: Curiosity & Wonder | Yorkshire Sculpture Park (ysp.org.uk)
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