As Doncaster moves in to Tier 3, you might be wondering where is open, what you can do as a household over half term.
I’ve compiled 15 of the best Covid Secure places in Doncaster, which are OPEN and safe to go as a family provided everyone sticks to the rules. See the latest guidance from the Government here
1. Boston Park Farm: Halloween Shriek Week. Bawtry Road, Hatfield Woodhouse, DN7 6DS
We visited Boston Park Farm for their Big Little Farmers session recently and the amount of space that they have makes it a great outdoor place to take the kids to safely run off some steam!
Open each day from the 17th October to the 29th October, 10am-4pm the children can hunt around the maze (when we went everyone was respectful of distancing and it’s huge so we barely saw anyone). You can pick a pumpkin from the patch and carve it there (less mess at home!) and also enjoy seeing the animals and playing in the outdoor play areas.
Toilet facilities available inside and out and there is a handy outside hand washing station. Remember your mask!
Book tickets here
2. YWT Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, Mallard Way, Doncaster, DN4 8DB
A brilliant place to enjoy a circular walk with the kids….on the promise of a hot chocolate at the end from the cafe!
We recently did the blue route (not sure why we have never taken this route before, but it was great. They will give you a map on arrival. Lots to see including birds and mini beasts, plus we found some friendly goats, sheep and cows. We took a picnic and found benches to sit on. It’s all mainly paths that are suitable for pushchairs if you have them too. Took us a good few hours, stopping in a few bird hides along the way as we had the kids binoculars with us (we did parts of the shorter routes too and spread it out across several hours…walked around 8 miles).
They have a family friendly funghi foray at 10.15am on Tuesday 27th October which has to be booked, but otherwise you can just turn up.
Toilets available inside the visitor centre (remember your mask)
3. Lakeside Village, Monsters Ball Halloween Trail
Lakeside is an outdoor shopping centre and have great safety measures in place if you’re visiting this half term. The indoor play area remains closed, but there is an outdoor play area that is open and they also have a Halloween Trail on Saturday 31 October from 11:00am – 3:30pm.
This frightful event will take guests around four spooky themed areas of the shopping centre which will range from an eerie, smoky gravestone corner with friendly Draculas to kick start the trail, through to a pumpkin party where guests will make their own paper pumpkins.
Free pumpkins will be available to collect on the day with carving kits.
The Monster’s Ball Halloween trail will run from 11am to 3.30pm, beginning at the Lakeside Lawn. Each activity will run for 15 minutes and start times will be 11am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
Find out more here
Toilets, baby change and changing places facilities available (remember your mask!)
4. Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Fantastical Enchanted Tales, DN4 6TB
This Halloween half-term explore a world of mystical realms at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Take a walk through the enormous Mushroom Forest and a visit to an evil Queen’s Castle, if you dare! Experience the magical realm of unicorns and roam the colourful Rainbow Woods. Braver adventurers can take a trip to the Evil Dungeon.
You can then explore the park where you might see Lions, Tigers, Polar Bears, mischievous Lemurs plus spotted Hyenas and their very own Red Panda princesses, Ariel, Alice and Aurora.
These spooky happenings will be taking place between Saturday 24th and Wednesday 28th October 2020.
The park is open daily from 9am ‘til 6pm with advance tickets only, limited capacities and timed entry slots to ensure all our visitors enjoy a safe and fun family day out.
PLUS! If you book our later timed entry slots of 14:30 and 15:30 you will receive £5 off each admission ticket and enjoy the park as it gets dark…get tickets here.
5. Doncaster Dome Leisure Centre : Swim, Skate or Cycle safely this half term. DN4 7PD
You can still enjoy Swimming, Skating and Cycling at the Dome, but only with people from your own household or bubble.
The Covid safety measures already in place enable the Dome to continue to offer leisure facilities to you and your family to keep you active during this umprecedented time.
6. The Wool Market Doncaster, Market Place, Doncaster, DN1 1BN
The Wool Market is a great option if you fancy a break from cooking over half term and it is somewhere that can be enjoyed safely, with food to suit everyone, provided you visit as a single household for a meal.
You might have seen their competition to name their spooky pumpkin man recently…pop along to meet Haunted Hank whilst you’re there!
Toilets available.
7. The Point, Home of darts, Holiday Family Workshops. 16 South Parade, Doncaster, DN1 2DR
Half term family fun in a safe environment. Their family workshops are designed for children and young people with disabilities of various ages.
Tickets are £2.50 per child and need to be booked here
Toilets, baby change and changing places facilities available.
Cusworth Hall is open to the public and the car park is open from 7.30am-9pm every day. It has just been awarded Green Flag Status for 2020/21 which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces!
Although the museum remains closed, the park remains open and is a great space to let the kids run around (we LOVE rolling down the huge hill and enjoy walking around the lake at the bottom).
Toilet facilities are available 10am-4pm in the Bothy (the out building just beyond the tea rooms). One toilet is accessible and will be reserved for disabled people and baby changing. (Information provided 16th October)
One of the largest parks in Doncaster, there is lots of open space and lots to keep children entertained including toddler and junior play areas with zipwire, climbing frame, plus the woodland adventure play area. (Lots of people miss this one as it is tucked away behind hedges, but from the car park, it’s to the left and worth a visit).
Pop and see their Covid memorial – a nail art storyboard which is still being completed.
10. Sandall Beat Wood, Leger Way, DN2 5QB
Autumn is one of the best seasons for funghi spotting, with mushrooms and toadstools enjoying the damper weather…see how many you can see around the wood!
There is a lovely sensory garden too.
11. Spooky Brodsworth Hall, DN5 7XJ
Saturday October 24th – Sunday 1st November 2020
Gather your little monsters for a ghoulishly good day out at Brodsworth Hall this half term. Follow the trail to solve creepy clues and gather round to listen to spooky stories. There’s a frighteningly fun fancy dress competition every day – just come in your scariest outfits to be in with a chance of winning. Entry to the event is included in the standard admission ticket price.
12. Enigma? Live Escape Rooms, Hallgate, Doncaster, DN1 3NR
Enjoy as a household group this half term. All covid secure, you can choose from various Escape Rooms including The Heist and Mafia.
13. Eastfield Farm, PYO Pumpkins. DN11 9JD
Update 24th October – there are no pumpkins left! The farm is now closed for the season.
14. Flip Out: Apocaflips, A spooktacular Halloween Half Term Experience, Frenchgate Centre, DN1 1SW
Starting October 24th! Freaky fun for the whole family.
15. Sprotbrough Flash Nature Reserve (Don Gorge, and Sprotbrough Falls )
Half a mile south of Sprotbrough village…a great place to take kids walking, you can see the waterfall, canal (if you’re lucky maybe the locks in action). There are bird hides too.
