Fun things to do with kids in Yorkshire

There are nearly 100 sculptures dotting the landscape at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which combines a sprawling, 500-acre estate with indoor galleries. Jaw-dropping in scale and creativity, kids will be hard pushed not to be wowed by the works on show here – and they can blow off some steam while exploring too. Better still, children visit for free, and there is a wide range of family facilities on site to support your visit. Head to the Little Wild Wood to get creative at Yorkshire Sculpture Park's natural creative play space.

Kids can engage with the works of art at the Hepworth Wakefield on a different level using the gallery's Explore and Draw kits. These encourage young ones to look differently at what's on show, as well as create their own drawings inspired by the exhibitions. Get stuck into a range of different creative activities in the Art Pod, or explore the Hepworth Wakefield's stunning garden with the 'What's in our Garden?' sketchbook – and check ahead for this year's series of summer holidays events.

There's a wide range of fun family things to do at this 18th-century Baroque estate, from exploring the sweeping parklands to navigating the rope bridges and treetop nests at the award-winning Skelf Island adventure playground. The house's interiors are pretty staggering, as is the Atlas Fountain in front of it. And, there are several woodland trails to explore, as well as regular family-friendly programming over the school holidays.

Whether you stop by the Servants’ Hall Family Fun Space while discovering the Renaissance masterpieces that dot the rooms of this sprawling country house, or get lost exploring the winding willow maze in the 140-acre grounds, a visit to Harewood House is guaranteed to make a memorable day for all. There's a circular treehouse hidden in the woods, an adventure playscape complete with zip wire and regular family-focused programming. And, don't miss the family-friendly activities taking place here over the summer as part of the Kids Aloud campaign – from a house hunt for Simba the pug, to the Curtains Up! programme of outdoor play and some hands-on gardening.

Leeds Art Gallery has a relaxed, family-friendly creative space at its centre – as well as an interactive art trail that will take you in search of three highlight works in the gallery. This is a great way for children to explore works by exceptional artists. Over the summer, you're also invited to take part in creating a collaborative collage, or go on a Loud Gallery Tour where children are encouraged to be as noisy and energetic as they like as they discover key works of art.

Dedicated to the history of policing, ambulance, fire and coastguard services, the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield is housed in a historic fire, police and ambulance station – complete with original Victorian prison cells. Home to 50 service-related vehicles and interactive displays across three floors, the museum brings the stories behind the emergency services to life for all ages. Over the summer, kids can become Victorian crime investigators to unravel a whodunnit, or take part in relaxed and fun Little Heroes Play Days.

As well as housing a collection that spans more than 600 years, York Art Gallery offers several inroads for getting kids interested in art. Whether they're better suited to some quiet reflection in the Burton Gallery with a specially designed sensory toolkit by artist Sarah Marsh, or hosting an imaginary dinner inspired by the beautiful ceramics in the Ismay Kitchen, there are lots of different ways to get young ones engaged. During the school holidays, look out for the gallery's interactive storytelling sessions on Wednesdays and artist-run creative workshops on Thursdays.

Don a hard hat and discover two century years of mining history in the National Coal Mining Museum's multisensory Time Tunnel Tours. Suitable for all ages, these new tours offer an immersive experience that tells the story of coal mining with cutting-edge technology, bringing this important part of our shared history to life. Over the summer holidays, families can also take part in special events, including craft workshops, a pop-up beach event with music, creative trails, and much more.