Best Nature and Wildlife Areas in The Foss

"One of the largest parks in Europe, Roundhay Park – not far from the city centre – stretches over a whopping 700 acres. With lakes and woodland in the park, as well as activities galore and some open-air theatre in summer, you can also visit Tropical World, the largest collection of tropical plants outside Kew Gardens. There are also a string of walking routes, including past the castle ruins and around the lake, and several play areas to entertain younger kids."

"Finally, this indoor attraction is home to one of the largest collections of tropical plants anywhere in the UK, and a whole host of exotic creatures including crocodiles, butterflies, piranhas, and meerkats. The different areas will take you on a thrilling journey through mangroves, desert and rainforest, exploring the habitats of some amazing animals. The rainforest canopy and waterfall areas are a particular highlight."

"Tropical World at Roundhay Park is one of Leeds’ most popular family attractions which offers a unique opportunity to explore the habitats of the Tropics and other hot places from around the world. It includes jungle, desert, nocturnal and aquatic habitats with plants and animals such as crocodiles, lemurs, butterflies, bats, snakes and a gorgeous family of meerkats complete with babies!"

"This fabulous wetland, surrounded on three sides by the River Aire, can be found west of Leeds. The car park is located off the A657."

"Here’s one of the best farms in Leeds for kids, but with a difference. Hope Pastures is all about rescuing and rehabilitating horses, ponies and donkeys. After they’ve managed to do that, they let people come and visit the animals seven days a week, learning all about them and how tp look after them as you go."

"A survivor of Yorkshire’s ancient fenlands, dating back 15,000 years, Askham Bog is considered one of the most ecologically diverse sites in the UK. The bog itself is made of boulder clay and fen peat, while the land around it is home to roe deer, foxes, newts and frogs. Plants include royal ferns, rare gingerbread sedge and whole rivers of water violets."

"Take a stroll along the Leeds Liverpool canal, and perched on the edge of the River Aire, you will find Kirkstall Bridge Inn. Easily one of the best beer gardens in Leeds, and adored by locals and visitors alike, the Inn has all the charm of a proper old school boozer, with open fireplaces, flagstone floors, and embossed mirrors advertising ales from back in the day. Head out back to the idyllic beer garden when the sun shines, and while away the hours riverside with a pint of Kirkstall pale."

"Kirkstall Bridge Inn has one of the best beer gardens in Leeds and it just got bigger. They’ve added more tables and a tipi bar to their riverside spot, complete with covered seating and heat lamps. They’re serving a new menu of pub classics, so you can tuck into everything from fish and chips to chicken wings, beef burgers and braised beef bordelaise."

"Northwest of the city, Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park is a great location if you want to kill lots of birds with one stone. Want some new furniture to take home?"

"Stately homes may be two a penny in England, but you'll have to try pretty damn hard to find one as breathtakingly stately as Castle Howard, a work of theatrical grandeur and audacity set in the rolling Howardian Hills. This is one of the world's most beautiful buildings, instantly recognisable from its starring role in the 1980s TV series Brideshead Revisited and in the 2008 film of the same name (both based on Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel of nostalgia for the English aristocracy)."

"Standing in the Howardian Hills to the west of Malton, Castle Howard is an outstanding example of English baroque, with a distinctive…"

"In the galleries at Abbey House Museum, you’ll be transported back to life in Victorian Leeds, strolling recreated 19th century streets. There are shops, a pub and houses, where you can peer inside and see how people lived a century or so ago, as well as regular new exhibitions. You can also discover a whole area on classic toys, including traditional games and Victorian dolls – you can even play some of the original penny slot machines (and buy an old-fashioned penny from the vending machine to do it)."

"Abbey House Museum, Abbey Walk, Leeds, LS5 3EH - Visit now. If your children struggle to imagine life without tablets, iPhone games or a PlayStation to keep them entertained, then a trip to Abbey House Museum should prove an eye-opening experience."

"Are you looking to view an estate house with both a history and a twist?. That’s exactly what Harewood House has to offer to you, while constantly striving to stay relevant it also manages to keep a firm grip on the past, with some of the finest art collections in England. The short trip out of the city centre shouldn’t put you off, buses run directly to and from Leeds City Centre every 15 minutes, and you’ll even get the chance to see penguins, flamingos and parrots."

"Harewood House was built in the 18th century and is one of the Treasure Houses of England. Located just outside Leeds in the heart of Yorkshire, visitors of Harewood House can enjoy art exhibitions, the Rare Bird Garden, Farm Experience and over 100 acres of well-manicured gardens. It is a must on the places to visit in Leeds."

"The Milton Rooms is an arts centre and hub for cultural and community lead activities located in Malton, North Yorkshire, a market town in England. Photo: Roger Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0."

"Harrogate has two main theatres which both stage regular performances of plays, concerts and stand-up comedy. Both the Royal Hall and Harrogate Theatre were built in the early 1900s but have undergone regeneration projects to make them suitable for modern performances. Harrogate Theatre is situated at and Royal Hall is at Ripon Rd, Harrogate HG1 2SY. For show listings and ticket information for both venues visit www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk."