The Great Northern Giant Sandpit

Shekina Rose, Families Editor

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Great Northern Sandpit

13 July 2023-31 August 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Great Northern Sandpit
The Great Northern
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Are you looking for a fun and free day out with your family? Want a trip to the beach but it’s just a bit too far to travel? Or perhaps you have shopping to do in the city centre and you also want to find an activity to keep the kids happy?

Head to the Great Northern Playhouse this summer, where you’ll find a family-friendly space providing a creative, safe environment for young people to enjoy. Completely outdoors, the Playhouse is a perfect place to go on a sunny day.

One of the main features at the Great Northern is the popular Great Northern Sandpit, located in the basin of the amphitheatre. With its 50 tonnes of soft sand, wooden logs, buckets and spades for digging and building amazing sandcastles, here, you can expect hours and hours of free entertainment for children.

What’s even better, is while your child plays and has fun in the Great Northern Sandpit, it’s time for you to sit back and relax in the sun. Bring your tastiest sandwiches, crisps, biscuits (and fruit if you’re feeling healthy), and find a comfortable seat on one of the many colourful picnic benches dotted around the amphitheatre. Alternatively, you could also book onto one of Great Northern’s popular cafes and restaurants, including Almost Famous, All Star Lanes and Evuna.

After a long day of digging and playing in the sand, you could also head to the Great Northern cinema and see what family friendly films are available to watch with your little ones.

The Great Northern Sandpit is free and booking is not required.  Simply turn up, get your spades out, and have fun!

Where to go near The Great Northern Giant Sandpit

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
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Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
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The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

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The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
Leeds
Restaurant
Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

Manchester
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Black Redstart Gallery

Black Redstart Gallery is located in the Northern Quarter and runs a busy programme of exhibitions from emerging and established artists.

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RJC Dance

RJC Dance, based in Chapeltown, Leeds, champions youth and education, leading inclusive Black dance in the North through national partnerships.

Manchester
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texture mcr

Possibly one of the city’s most mysterious art galleries, texture is a small and perfectly-formed independent space in Ardwick.

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