Community Events

Rothwell’s annual summer carnival returns to Springhead Park, held on the second Saturday of July each year.

Expect a classic community carnival day: stalls from local makers, community groups and businesses, fairground rides, food and drink, and family entertainment in one of the area’s nicest parks — about 10 minutes’ drive from Skelton Gate.

For stall bookings, timings and this year’s line-up, see the Rothwell & District Carnival Committee Facebook page.

In its 500-year history, Temple Newsam has some saucy stories to tell! This adults-only (18+) guided tour explores tales of love and heartbreak, sex and scandal from the house’s past.

Highlights include revealing love letters, scandalous cartoons of former owners, the estate’s collection of beds, and saucy postcards found hidden in an office.

The evening finishes in the Dining Room with an exclusive Lady Hertford cocktail (or mocktail) and nibbles.

The Leeds Steampunk Market takes over Middleton Railway — the world’s oldest continuously working railway — for a weekend of Victorian-futurist fun.

Browse a trade fair of steampunk makers, authors, artists and fashion suppliers, watch the Coffee Jousting, and on Saturday catch a birds of prey flying display. Heritage steam train rides run throughout the day at normal ticket prices.

Entry to the market itself is free. About 10-15 minutes’ drive from Skelton Gate.

Craft Market weekends with stalls from local makers and producers.

Join us as we host a selection of seasonal artisan makers markets across the year and add a little something additional to your trip. Little Hummingbird Events are working with our beautiful site to offer our visitors, something additional during their trip.

Make a day of it by exploring the estate, discover the history of the house, visit Home Farm and the animals, or just enjoy the parkland and have lunch whilst on site.

Join an RSPB guide for a summer wildflower walk around St Aidan’s Nature Park — the former opencast mine turned wetland reserve just across the River Aire from Skelton Gate.

Discover the wildflowers that carpet the reserve in mid-July and the butterflies, bees and other pollinators they support, with expert help identifying what you find along the way.

Booking is via the RSPB St Aidan’s events page, which also lists other one-off guided walks through the year (nocturnal wildlife walks, birding for beginners and more).

This summer, Temple Newsam House bursts into bloom with Plant Power! — a six-week programme of plant-themed family activities running from Wednesday 22 July to Sunday 30 August.

Highlights include:

• Giant paper-flower installations by artist Andy Singleton throughout the house
• An interactive plant-spotting trail with hidden clues in the rooms
• Hands-on crafts — make paper flowers and leafy crowns
• Seeds and leaves to explore up close under magnifiers
• “3D Still Life” creation inspired by artworks, flower-arch photo spots, and LEGO garden design
• Artist-led workshops on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Over on the estate, meet the farm plants and see the new wildflower meadows supporting pollinators.

Join Butterfly Conservation to learn about the Leeds Wild Spaces Project and take part in the Big Butterfly Count, the annual nationwide butterfly survey that anyone can join.

As part of the Leeds Wild Spaces Project, Butterfly Conservation — in collaboration with Leeds City Council — has established a one-hectare wildflower meadow at Temple Newsam.

You’ll learn how to identify butterflies (no prior knowledge needed) and how to complete the survey, then continue around the site to look for other wildlife.

A summer-evening 10K race around the trails of RSPB St Aidan’s Nature Park — flat, fast and scenic, with the reserve’s lakes, reedbeds and the famous Oddball dragline excavator as a backdrop.

The race starts at 7:00 PM on Friday 24 July. Entry is £21 for club-affiliated runners or £23 unaffiliated, with entry on the day available for an extra £3 if places remain.

Enter on RaceBest.

Join the Butterfly Conservation team to learn about moths and see the species that live at Temple Newsam.

As part of the Leeds Wild Spaces Project, Butterfly Conservation — in collaboration with Leeds City Council — has established a one-hectare wildflower meadow at Temple Newsam.

This session is all about moth trapping: a safe light and box are left out overnight to attract moths, which are viewed in the morning and then safely released back to the wild. You’ll hopefully see species you wouldn’t normally get the chance to, and learn about moths along the way.

A four-day summer bushcraft and nature playscheme for 8-12 year olds at Skelton Grange Environment Centre — right on Skelton Gate’s doorstep.

Rangers spend the week outdoors in the woods, ponds and meadows, with activities that have previously included shelter building, fire lighting, campfire cooking, hammock making, wild food, woodwork, nature study and tracking skills.

One parent’s verdict from a previous year: “My daughter says this was the best week of all the summer holidays!”

Give your growing space a vibrant boost and pot up a coleus!

Head to the walled garden at Temple Newsam, where friendly staff will help you pot up a coleus grown from seed, which you can then take home with you — a lovely reminder of a great day out.

Booking required, £3 per person. More details on the Leeds Museums & Galleries event page.

Celebrate Yorkshire Day with a special tour that puts the heart of God’s Own County at the centre of Temple Newsam’s story.

Yorkshire Connections uncovers the people, places, and powerful regional ties that have shaped this historic estate for over five centuries. From local craftsmen and celebrated Yorkshire families to artists, innovators, and workers whose lives intertwined with the house, this tour reveals how Temple Newsam’s history is inseparable from the wider story of the county around it.

Join us for a family-friendly walk to detect bats on the Temple Newsam estate.

Meet in the courtyard for tea and biscuits. There is a 30-minute natural history slide talk followed by a quiz and some videos. After an introduction to the use of bat detectors, gear up for a guided walk approximately 2 miles in length.

The route is reasonably accessible, mostly on tarmac paths, and covers a variety of roosting and feeding habitats. In the past, about five species of bat have been encountered engaged in a variety of natural behaviour.

Skelton lake Services monthly meet (second Saturday of every month)

• Everyone is welcome
• American
• European
• Japanese
• Cars, vans, trucks, and bikes
• Any age
• Free entry, No Typical Asbo behaviour
• Reg plates taken on Entrance

Craft Market weekends with stalls from local makers and producers.

Join us as we host a selection of seasonal artisan makers markets across the year and add a little something additional to your trip. Little Hummingbird Events are working with our beautiful site to offer our visitors, something additional during their trip.

Make a day of it by exploring the estate, discover the history of the house, visit Home Farm and the animals, or just enjoy the parkland and have lunch whilst on site.

Gather in the Stable Courtyard before heading out into the centuries-old parkland for a gentle guided walk through the Temple Newsam landscape in summer.

Discover the estate’s rich history as you admire Capability Brown’s signature flowing vistas.

All welcome, but some parts of the walk might be challenging for pushchairs or wheelchairs.

Booking essential — book on Leeds Ticket Hub. More details on the Leeds Museums & Galleries event page.

What to expect?

International Street Food – Take a walk through the lush green fields of Temple Newsam Park and enjoy the many aromas tempting you into tastes from around the world. Pick from some of the best Street Food traders in the UK!

Independent Drink – Lounge on a colourful striped deck chair in the sun. Take a sip on a Cold Beer, a glass of Champagne or a Cocktail loaded with fresh Strawberries. With 8 Independent Bars at the festival, we have you covered – whatever your tipple. Want something non-alcoholic? No problem, we have a specialist bar squeezing fresh lemonade and juices on the spot for you.

What to expect?

International Street Food – Take a walk through the lush green fields of Temple Newsam Park and enjoy the many aromas tempting you into tastes from around the world. Pick from some of the best Street Food traders in the UK!

Independent Drink – Lounge on a colourful striped deck chair in the sun. Take a sip on a Cold Beer, a glass of Champagne or a Cocktail loaded with fresh Strawberries. With 8 Independent Bars at the festival, we have you covered – whatever your tipple. Want something non-alcoholic? No problem, we have a specialist bar squeezing fresh lemonade and juices on the spot for you.

The first written mention of tea in England is on a bill of sale for Temple Newsam dating to 1642. Discover the history of tea in relation to Temple Newsam in this fascinating hands-on experience.

A knowledgeable tour guide will introduce you to collections and stories with links to tea throughout history. Highlights include Earl Grey’s table, a pineapple tea pot, room settings where tea was enjoyed, and a magnificent silver tea set.

Join a guided walk to discover the history of John Smeaton at Temple Newsam.

John Smeaton was the greatest civil engineer of the 18th century and the founder of the profession in Britain.

This tour explores the grounds of Temple Newsam for remaining evidence of Smeaton’s pump, and ventures inside the house to view the surviving well — not normally on view to the public.

Booking essential. Tickets were not yet on sale at the time of listing — check the Leeds Museums & Galleries event page for booking.

Step inside Temple Newsam House for a day of movement, music and mesmerising performances, as dancers take over the grand halls and galleries.

From elegant historical steps to high-energy contemporary styles, Steps Through Time invites you to explore the house in a completely new way. Enjoy performances, workshops and demonstrations from an exciting mix of local dance groups, each bringing their own flair to this impressive historic mansion.

Groups performing across the day include Arbeau Dancers (Temple Newsam’s resident historical dance group, covering some 600 years of dance), Patrick Miller Ballroom Dancing (Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep and Waltz — no partner needed), The Dance Studio jazz dancers, Leeds Chinese Community School dance group, and Halifax Historical Dance with Regency-era dances from the time of Jane Austen and Anne Lister.

Join us for our fun-filled Open Day on Saturday 5th September! Help us squeeze the last drops of sunshine out of the summer! Come along and play, explore the site, have a go at natural crafts. There will be craft activities for all ages, woodland play and outdoor games. The cafe will be open, selling homemade cakes and savoury treats, or enjoy a pizza from our wood-fired pizza oven. There will be vegan and gluten-free options available. Entry is free but we’d love you to enjoy a snack in our cafe, explore the site, or simply make a donation - all the funds raised will support the charitable work of The Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange Environment Centre.

Drop in and explore a delicious selection of locally sourced produce and handcrafted treats at our artisan food fayres.

You’ll find a wide range of stalls offering food and drink to taste and take home, perfect for indulging yourself or picking up a thoughtful gift.

Located in the Amphitheatre, you can’t miss it!

In its 500-year history, Temple Newsam has some saucy stories to tell! This adults-only (18+) guided tour explores tales of love and heartbreak, sex and scandal from the house’s past.

Highlights include revealing love letters, scandalous cartoons of former owners, the estate’s collection of beds, and saucy postcards found hidden in an office.

The evening finishes in the Dining Room with an exclusive Lady Hertford cocktail (or mocktail) and nibbles.

Hidden beneath the grand Georgian facades and elegant interiors of Temple Newsam lies an extraordinary Tudor past waiting to be rediscovered.

Step back to the 1500s as this captivating guided tour peels away the later centuries to uncover the Tudor mansion that once stood at the heart of Temple Newsam. Explore surviving architectural traces, hear stories of the families who shaped the estate during one of the most dramatic periods in English history, and imagine the bustle, intrigue, and transformation that unfolded within these walls.

Craft Market weekends with stalls from local makers and producers.

Join us as we host a selection of seasonal artisan makers markets across the year and add a little something additional to your trip. Little Hummingbird Events are working with our beautiful site to offer our visitors, something additional during their trip.

Make a day of it by exploring the estate, discover the history of the house, visit Home Farm and the animals, or just enjoy the parkland and have lunch whilst on site.

Where history haunts the halls: step into the shadows of one of England’s most haunted historic houses.

Temple Newsam might seem like a grand mansion steeped in centuries of art, architecture, and aristocracy — but look behind the scenes and the veil lifts, and the spirits stir.

Join an unforgettable ghost tour through creaking corridors and spooky chambers, where chilling tales of restless souls, mysterious whispers, and unexplained happenings await. From the infamous Blue Lady to the spectral footsteps on the stairs, every corner holds a secret.

Drop in and explore a delicious selection of locally sourced produce and handcrafted treats at our artisan food fayres.

You’ll find a wide range of stalls offering food and drink to taste and take home, perfect for indulging yourself or picking up a thoughtful gift.

Located in the Amphitheatre, you can’t miss it!

Where history haunts the halls: step into the shadows of one of England’s most haunted historic houses.

Temple Newsam might seem like a grand mansion steeped in centuries of art, architecture, and aristocracy — but look behind the scenes and the veil lifts, and the spirits stir.

Join an unforgettable ghost tour through creaking corridors and spooky chambers, where chilling tales of restless souls, mysterious whispers, and unexplained happenings await. From the infamous Blue Lady to the spectral footsteps on the stairs, every corner holds a secret.

Where history haunts the halls: step into the shadows of one of England’s most haunted historic houses.

Temple Newsam might seem like a grand mansion steeped in centuries of art, architecture, and aristocracy — but look behind the scenes and the veil lifts, and the spirits stir.

Join an unforgettable ghost tour through creaking corridors and spooky chambers, where chilling tales of restless souls, mysterious whispers, and unexplained happenings await. From the infamous Blue Lady to the spectral footsteps on the stairs, every corner holds a secret.

A magical, spooky (but not-too-scary) Halloween steam train adventure for young witches and wizards at Middleton Railway.

Board the Spell Train behind a Sentinel steam locomotive and search the decorated carriage for Halloween ingredients — red-backed spiders, yellow-winged bats and more — then discover the magic words and recite the spell as the train passes through a tunnel erupting with flashing lights. Back at the station, toss your ingredients into the cauldron and collect a treat.

This trail event begins right behind the services and heads into the scenic Rothwell Country Park, a beautiful blend of woodland, riverside paths, grass trail, and a touch of road. Expect one friendly undulation that rewards you with an incredible view of Leeds City Centre — it’s a highlight past runners rave about!

Whether you’re chasing a medal, a personal best, or just a day outdoors, the variety of terrain makes this one of our favourite courses. With multiple distances and a generous 6.5-hour cut-off, both walkers and runners are welcome.

Craft Market weekends with stalls from local makers and producers.

Join us as we host a selection of seasonal artisan makers markets across the year and add a little something additional to your trip. Little Hummingbird Events are working with our beautiful site to offer our visitors, something additional during their trip.

Make a day of it by exploring the estate, discover the history of the house, visit Home Farm and the animals, or just enjoy the parkland and have lunch whilst on site.