Armley Window Wanderland 2026
Armley
Took place on 6 Feb‑28 Mar 2026
Armley Window Wanderland 2026: Lighting up Armley, one window at a time…
You are invited to take part in the first Armley Window Wanderland – a community-led creative project designed to bring colour and connection to our neighbourhood during some of the darkest months of the year.
Create simple window displays using everyday materials – from paper and card to lights, messages and artwork – and share them with neighbours and passers-by.
You can put up your displays as soon as you’ve made them! You are invited to light up your window displays (if you choose to include lights) on Thursdays and Saturdays only, between 5–8pm, from Thursday 26 February to Saturday 28 March 2026, so you don’t need to light up your displays all the time.
Armley Wanderland Walk
Two guided community walks will take place:
Thursday March 5, from 5pm until 7pm
MEET 5pm Charlie Cake Park, Town Street, Armley, LS12 3QX. It’s right next to Springfield Mount.
Saturday 28 March, 6–8pm (the final official day of Armley Window Wanderland)
These walks offer a chance to explore the displays together, meet neighbours and enjoy the atmosphere. Participation in any workshops or creating displays at home does not require joining a walk and those creating displays will be invited to add their details to a Armley Window Wanderland map – more details will be shared on this very soon.
Fancy having a go?
Taking part as a Windowmaker is free, and everyone’s welcome. You can put something together in the window of your flat or house, your shop or business, a school or nursery – even your car, van or front garden.
What to do next:
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Click on ‘Take part in this event’ to add your location to our map.
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Get in touch or come along
A small beginning with ‘Big Hopes’
Armley Window Wanderland 2026 is intentionally small in scale. Led entirely on a voluntary basis by local residents Clancy Walker and Linda Petty, this first year is about testing the idea, learning what works, and gently inviting people to take part in a way that feels accessible and pressure-free.
Free workshops took place
To support people in making their displays, two free public workshops* were held:
- Friday 6 February, 4pm-6pm, Christ Church, Armley
- Friday 20 February – 2pm-4pm, Leeds Industrial Museum/Armley Mills
The workshops were led by Eden Ballantyne of Stories Alive, an experienced community arts facilitator who
also led the Friends of Armley and Gotts Park Lantern Parade workshops. Sessions focused on simple, low-cost ideas using accessible materials, with no prior experience needed. Free take-home packs and guidance materials will also be available for those who may need them and more details will be shared very soon via the Armley Window Wanderland Facebook page and Instagram account.
Free take-home packs and guidance materials will also be available for those who may need them and more details will be shared very soon on the Armley Window Wanderland Facebook page and the Armley Window Wanderland Instagram account.
When to take part
You can put up your displays as soon as you’ve made them! You are invited to light up your window displays (if you choose to include lights) on Thursdays and Saturdays only, between 5–8pm, from Thursday 26 February to Saturday 28 March 2026, so you don’t need to light up your displays all the time.
These walks offer a chance to explore the displays together, meet neighbours and enjoy the atmosphere. Participation in any workshops or creating displays at home does not require joining a walk and those creating displays will be invited to add their details to a Armley Window Wanderland map – more details will be shared on this very soon.
*A further workshop took place at New Wortley Community Centre as part of its Healthy Holidays programme. This session is for children attending the programme and is not open to the general public although children were encouraged to take some materials home to continue the making and sharing of window displays with through its Small Sparks scheme.
Start/End Dates: 5 February – 29 March 2026
Please keep checking back to this page to see our map grow!
Support
Armley Window Wanderland 2026 is being delivered with the support of funding from New Wortley Community Centre and MICE funding from local councillors in Armley. Organisations supporting the project in other ways, including free or discounted room hire and advice and guidance, include Christ Church, Leeds Industrial Museum and Leeds City Council’s project development team at the Armley Community Hub.
Links to other Wanderlands:
Window Wanderland on The One Show
Windows of Wonder on The Guardian
Window Wanderland spreads friendship on BBC News.
