Making the most of a dry day....

Well after all the horrid weather we have been recently today was the opportunity to get out there and enjoy a sunny winters day.

Our trip took us to Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey House Museum.  This is the first time that we have visited Kirkstall Abbey so we didn't know how close you could get or what to expect.

After some convincing we got the girls away from wanting to just go on the play park and over to the Abbey.  At first it looked you couldn't get near but once we found you go through the little shop, the girls were happy to explore. B has an general interest in history so wanted to find out as much as she could but they both also enjoyed exploring what they could.

After the walk we went into the museum,  the downstairs part is set up as a Victorian Street and you can dress up as a Victorian to explore the streets

It is deceptive how much there is to explore in the small space, the street of shops, examples of Victorian houses and Sunday school. The girls spent a good while exploring.  On a Sunday afternoon and some days in the holidays they have craft activities on which the girls loved...

Dragging them away we entered the upstairs area of the museum, part of which is all about Yorkshire, interesting for us Yorkshire folk, and the second part all about Victorian toys with plenty of opportunities for children to play and explore different toys and exhibits.

We would definatly visit again.

Coal Mining Museum of England

Yesterday we were undecided where to go to make the most of OH having a weekend off work, but also not wanting to spend too much with half term being upon us too.  After a bit of looking around we decided to give the coal mining museum a look. 
We were a little unsure of what to expect, its isn't a subject we know much about even with me being the grand daughter of a miner.  Before we set off we had spoken to the girls about there being a trip down the mine which lasted an hour, B was happy to go for it but H was very reluctant.  
On arrival it was decided that we would go down the mine and we purchased our "checks"

Waiting to go down H was more than a little nervous, but we entered the "cage" and travelled the 140 metres below the surface with our hard hats and lamps.
We had a brilliant guide who was good with the kids and soon even H was up the front with the other children.  The tour was very informative and B didn't even to notice we were down there an hour.

Our next stop was to see the pit ponies

and the bit baths, before heading back to the main part of the museum.  
The girls did really seem to enjoy it and have been talking about the trip down the mine since we got home.

We do feel that if you didn't want to go down the mine on a wet day like yesterday there really isn't that much to see or do, maybe on a dry day it may be better but it is free (can refund the cost of the checks or donate to support the running) as there is a nature trail and small train ride.  Overall we would visit again.

Introduction

Welcome to my new blog, please bear with me I am a true beginner to this but wanted to make it to in one instance have a memory of things me and family have been doing.
I'm Clare mum to my two beautiful girls Isabel (Bel) and Hannah. We are from West Yorkshire, hence the title.