Quick answer
Hull has soft play, a hands-on art space for under 5s, free museums and two free animal collections in its parks. Explore Art at Ferens Art Gallery is designed for children aged 0 to 5. Hull Central Library runs free term-time sessions for babies and toddlers. The Animal Education Centre in East Park and the Pickering Park aviary are both free. Check days first: the library is closed on Sundays, and its under 5s sessions run in term time only.
Soft play and swimming
- Little Astronauts, top floor of the Prospect Shopping Centre. This space-themed soft play has an under 4s zone with ball pools, tunnels and toys. On 13 November 2026 under 2s paid £8.95 off-peak or £10.75 peak, under 12 months £3 or £3.75, and under 6 months went free. Adults paid £2.50 or £3.75. Off-peak means Monday to Friday in term time. It opens Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 6pm and Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm. On 13 November the booking shop’s first play slot on Saturdays 5, 12 and 19 December was 11.30am, so follow your booking. Socks must be worn at all times, and an adult aged 16 or over must supervise. It often reaches capacity at weekends and in school holidays, so book online. Baby Social, for babies up to 12 months, runs on term-time Wednesdays from 9.30am to 11.30am and costs £6 for a parent and baby. The official pages do not mention baby changing or how to reach the top floor.
- East Riding Leisure Haltemprice, Anlaby. The small pool is 0.6 to 0.9 metres deep, with steps in. On 13 November 2026 under 3s swam free, and an off-peak child swim cost £3.90. You cannot book general swimming, and the timetable often changes at short notice, so check it on the day. Children under 8 must have an adult in the water. In the main pool, one adult aged 16 or over can supervise one child under 4, or two children aged 4 to 7. Under 3s and children not fully toilet trained need a purpose-designed swim nappy. The pool changing rooms have family cubicles and baby changing, and parking is free. On 13 November the passenger lift was listed as closed until 1 December.
Museums, galleries and an aquarium
Ferens Art Gallery and Streetlife Museum are free, and normal visits need no booking, though groups of 15 or more should book. Both open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm, with last admission 30 minutes before closing.
- Ferens Art Gallery, Queen Victoria Square. Explore Art (Gallery 10), on the ground floor, is designed for children aged 0 to 5. It has toys, a drawing corner and books, but also real paintings, so stay close. There is a ramp at the entrance, level access to Explore Art and a lift to the first floor. Hull Museums lists baby changing.
- Streetlife Museum, High Street, in the Old Town. Families can step aboard a static tram, climb into a Victorian carriage and play retro arcade games. The car ride costs £1, and arcade games take 20p or 50p coins. There is step-free access at the front, a lift to the first floor and a buggy park. High Street and part of the indoor street scene are cobbled. The access page puts baby changing in the toilets nearest the entrance. Some upstairs galleries are darker. There is no café, and you cannot eat or drink in the museum. On 13 November 2026 a banner said the Streetlife entrance to the Museums Quarter was closed for Hull Heat Network works. It asked visitors to use the main entrance opposite Chapel Lane.
- The Deep, Tower Street. On 13 November 2026 adults paid £24 and children aged 3 to 15 paid £18. Under 3s go free and need no booking. It opens 10am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm, and closes on 24 and 25 December. Toddlers can try the interactive floor in Dylan’s Discovery Corner. Ramps and lifts run throughout, but there is no pram storage. Several zones are dark, and noise echoes in open areas. The official pages we checked do not mention baby changing. Booking is highly recommended for weekends and school holidays.
Free baby and toddler sessions
- Hull Central Library, Albion Street. Its under 5s sessions are free, run in term time only and need no booking at this library. Toddler Time is Monday 10am to 10.45am, and Baby Bounce is Monday 1.30pm to 2.15pm. Storytime is Thursday 9.45am to 10.30am, and Toddler Tunes is Thursday 11am to 11.45am. The listing for these sessions runs up to Friday 18 December. The library is closed on Sundays, opens at 1pm on Wednesdays and closes at 1pm on Fridays. Its own pages do not describe step-free access, lifts or baby changing, so call 01482 210 000 if you need these.
Animals and playgrounds for drier days
- East Park, Holderness Road. The Animal Education Centre is a free zoo with domestic, farm and exotic animals. It opens daily 10.30am to 3.45pm, with last entry at 3pm, and under 16s must be with an adult. There is a large play area. The council’s provisional table gives park hours of 8am to 4pm for each week ending 8 November to 27 December 2026. There is a boating lake, a model yacht pond and a waterfall, so keep toddlers close. Toilets at the rear of the boathouse are open daily. The council page does not mention baby changing. Only assistance dogs are welcome in the play area.
- Pickering Park, west Hull. The free aviary holds African birds, meerkats, porcupines and tortoises. Live It Hull lists it as open every day, 10.30am to 3.45pm, with last admission 45 minutes before closing. School groups get exclusive access during their visits, so ring 01482 300 300 before a weekday trip. The Friends of Pickering Park, a volunteer group, describe a toddlers’ play area. The fishing lake is a real hazard for toddlers. Toilets by the paddling pool are open daily, with baby changing in the disabled toilet. The official pages mention no café. Only assistance dogs are welcome in the play area.
Water play at both parks opens only in summer, so do not plan on it in November or December.
Christmas and New Year
Ferens Art Gallery and Streetlife Museum close from 24 to 28 December and on 1 January. Little Astronauts closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. The library’s Christmas hours were not published on 13 November.
Pushchairs, toilets and baby changing
- Baby changing listed: Streetlife Museum, Ferens Art Gallery, Haltemprice’s pool changing rooms and Pickering Park’s disabled toilet.
- Not mentioned: the official pages for Little Astronauts, The Deep, the library and East Park do not mention baby changing. Pack a changing mat.
Money tips for families with under 5s
- Free for the youngest: under 3s at The Deep, under 3s swimming at Haltemprice and under 6 months at Little Astronauts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hull good for toddlers?
Yes, if you plan around closed days and term-time sessions. Soft play, Explore Art and free library sessions all suit young children.
Where can toddlers play indoors in Hull on a rainy day?
Try the under 4s zone at Little Astronauts or Explore Art at Ferens Art Gallery. Streetlife Museum is free, with a tram and a carriage to climb into.
Is there free baby and toddler time in Hull?
Yes. Hull Central Library runs free Toddler Time, Baby Bounce, Storytime and Toddler Tunes in term time, with no booking at this library.
Where can toddlers see animals for free in Hull?
Try the Animal Education Centre in East Park or the Pickering Park aviary.
Is The Deep free for toddlers?
Under 3s go free and need no booking. On 13 November 2026, children aged 3 to 15 paid £18.
Checked on 13 November 2026 against the official websites, through our Hull venue pages. Prices and opening times change, so check before you travel.
Main photo: the Victorian Conservatory and lake in Pearson Park, Hull, in late November. Photo: Bernard Sharp, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.