Free or cheap things to do in Bradford this Easter half term

Schools under Bradford Council are closed between Monday, April 3, and Friday, April 14, 2023.

From Easter egg trails to events at museums, parks and cathedrals, there’s no need to spend a fortune when it comes to having fun. 

Here’s a list of free or low cost activities, workshops and events this half term.

Easter Egg trails in Bradford parks 

Myrtle Park, Bingley, 11am to 2pm on Sunday, April 2: Free Easter trail run by Friends of Myrtle Park including an egg hunt and craft activities.

Harold Park, Low Moor, 11am to 1pm, Monday, April 10: Friends of Harold Park is holding an Easter Hunt, games and music with plenty of refreshments and a BBQ.

Easter at Bradford Council Museums

Be inspired by the Victorians (who loved Easter) and take part in some free fun packed activities suitable for all the family.

There'll be an indoor and outdoor Easter Egg trail from April 1 at each site.

For more fun, there'll be other events including:

• April 1: Bradford Industrial Museum
• April 4: Cliffe Castle
• April 5: Cartwright Hall
• April 12: Bolling Hall

The Easter Bunny will be popping up throughout the day – come and say hello and grab a selfie. Fancy dress and Easter bonnet wearing is encouraged. 

Augmented Reality Easter Egg Hunt - Ilkley

Ilkley BID has partnered with the LoyalFree App to launch an exciting Easter Egg Hunt running from March 31 to April 16.

The free family-friendly trail is sure to delight visitors of all ages as they explore Ilkley to hunt for ‘eggstra-ordinary’ Easter eggs.

Find the posters and scan the AR markers using on your smartphone camera and witness an Easter egg appearing right before you eyes! And one lucky winner who completes the trail can win a £25 Ilkley Gift Card.

Markets at Easter

April 2, Ilkley Real Food Market: Produce from fresh bread, cakes and gluten free bakes to curry sauces, cheeses, condiments and crepes. Stalls also include organic meat and veg, brownies, truffles and herbs from local producers and independent retailers.

April 2, 8 and 15, Bingley Artisan Market: Fantastic array of good quality, predominantly hand made produce/products/crafts, talented and friendly stallholders, set in a beautiful location that also has many amazing shops and interesting places to visit locally. 

Easter at Bradford Libraries 

Bradford's Libraries Service has a host of free fun, family friendly activities to encourage book-sharing and reading during the Easter School Holidays.

Library staff will be telling stories involving bunnies, fluffy chicks and of course Easter eggs.

Along with the story time, libraries will be helping children and families to make Easter Baskets, chicks-on-sticks, Easter hats and crowns and finger puppets.

Highlights include crafts and stories for under 12s at Burley Library, a reading session, bunny trail and Easter card making session at Eccleshill Library and stories and Easter themed finger puppet making at Menston Library and Manningham Library.

• Monday, March 27, 9.30am, Idle Library: Story and Easter baskets
• Thursday, March 30, 3.40pm, Menston Library: Hoppity skip little chick puppets and story
• Friday, March 31, 1.30pm, Manningham Library: Story and Easter themed finger puppets
• Saturday, April 1, 10am to 12noon, Burley Library: Stories and Easter crafts
• Monday, April 3, 10am, Wibsey Library: If I were the Easter bunny story and crafts
• Monday, April 3 April, 10.30am to 11.30am, Holme Wood Library: Easter stories and crafts
• Monday, April 3, 4.30pm, Manningham Library: Story and Easter chicks On sticks
• Tuesday, April 4, 10.30am to 11.30am, Holme Wood Library: Easter stories and crafts
• Wednesday, April 5, 1.30pm Silsden Library: Story and Easter crafts
• Thursday, April 6, 2pm to 3.30pm, City Library: Stories & rabbit hunt
• Thursday, April 6, 11am to 12.30pm, Great Horton Library: Easter stay and play, stories and crafts
• Thursday April 6, 11am to 12.30pm, Great Horton Library: Easter stay and play, stories and crafts
• Thursday, April 6, 10.30am to 12.30pm, Heaton Hub Library: Spring begins story and crafts
• Thursday April 6, 2pm to 3.30pm, City Library: Stories and rabbit hunt
• Thursday April 6, 2pm to 4pm, Heaton Hub Library: Spring begins craft activity
• Thursday, April 6, 10.30am to 11.30am, Holme Wood Library: Stories and crafts
• Saturday, April 8, 10.30am to 12noon, Thornton Library: Story and rhymes
• Saturday, April 8, 11am to 12noon, Keighley Library: Story and Easter crafts
• Saturday April 8, 11am to 12noon, Laisterdyke Library: Story and Easter crafts
• Saturday, April 8, 1pm to 3pm, Eccleshill Library: Read and create bunnies and bunny trail
• Tuesday, April 11, 1pm to 2pm, Eccleshill Library: Play and learn session - Ticket only on Eventbrite
• Tuesday, April 11, 10.30am to 11.30am, Holme Wood Library: Stories and crafts
• Wednesday April 12, 11am to 12noon, Thornton Library: Story and crafts
• Thursday, April 13, 1pm to 2.30pm, Manningham Library: Play and learn session

Messy Easter - Bradford Cathedral

Saturday, April 8, 1pm-2.30pm, Bradford Cathedral: Learn about the Easter Story. Come and journey through the interactive story of Holy Week in one afternoon.

Join the crowd who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem. Sit at the table with Jesus and his friends at their last supper together. Stand at the foot of the cross and hear Jesus’s final words. Then approach the tomb in preparation for the crux the Easter story.

'Messy Easter' is aimed towards families with younger children but all are welcome. 

Kite Making Workshop - Thornton

Saturday, April 15, 11am–3pm, South Square Saturday: Free drop-in session where families can use repurposed materials that would otherwise go to landfill to create their own kite. This free session is open to families and children of all ages. Booking not required. 

Music at the Museum - Keighley

A season of free, monthly Sunday afternoon concerts – enjoy music from Bradford Festival Choral Society at Bracewell Smith Hall from 2pm on Sunday, April 16.

Public Running at Marley Model Railway Track - Keighley

Keighley and District Model Engineering Society - Railway Event, Sunday, April 16: Miniature railway track open to the public for rides behind steam and electric locomotives. All ages welcome. Trains run approx 1.30pm to 5pm.

Train tickets cost £1 each, giving a ride of nearly 1/2 mile. Club house will be open for the sale of refreshments.