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Abbey House Museum

Museum | Leeds | England | United Kingdom

Social history museum leeds

The Abbey House Museum in Leeds is a significant museum dedicated to the social history of the city. It is located in the former gatehouse of Kirkstall Abbey, founded in the 12th century, and is now a Grade II* listed building.

Victorian street scenes exhibitions

Collection and Exhibitions

Childhood education in leeds

The museum offers a fascinating glimpse into life in times past:

Temporary exhibitions museum leeds

Victorian Streets: On the ground floor, reconstructed street scenes from the Victorian era can be seen, depicting various shops and services. These include a hair salon, a grocery store, and a pub, illustrating everyday life in the 19th century.

Events and activities at museum

Changing Childhood: The upper floors of the museum house collections focusing on childhood and education in Leeds. These include toys, school materials, and exhibitions documenting the evolution of child rearing over time.

Changing Exhibitions: In addition to permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions on various topics of social history. These exhibitions are often curated in collaboration with the community and provide a deeper insight into specific aspects of Leeds' history.

Events and Activities

The museum organizes various events and activities aimed at families and children. These include workshops, interactive tours, and seasonal events that make the museum a lively learning space.

Facilities

Various facilities are available for visitors:

Café: A café invites visitors to relax and offers a selection of food and drinks.

Shop: A museum shop offers souvenirs and publications that delve deeper into the museum's theme.

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
Abbey Walk, Abbey Rd
Kirkstall
LS5 3EH Leeds

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday10:00 - 17:00
Monday--
Tuesday10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday10:00 - 17:00
Thursday10:00 - 17:00
Friday10:00 - 17:00
Saturday12:00 - 17:00

Reviews

724 Reviews

Rosie Long
05.02.2025

Lovely staff and interesting museum! Love the victorian street and the history of the museum itself. If you go, remember to BRING CASH as there’s a number of fun things that need it (i’d say £3 in coins is enough!)
Martin Hutchinson
04.02.2025

A very interesting place to visit Good day out. Plenty for kids to play with
Stormbird
03.02.2025

This exhibition is absolutely phenomenal. I especially like the Victorian style, so when I saw the little street with the shops, I was totally excited. I enjoyed every minute in the museum; everywhere had some little viewable items, signs, etc. A full part of that era. I fully recommend it to those who like or are interested in those old times.
Linda Scarborough
02.02.2025

A really interesting place ,very informative and a pleasure to se
Julie Martin
02.02.2025

Wonderful museum, which has been a favourite since childhood. The ground floor is laid out as a victorian street scene and is fascinating to browse around. Upstairs there is currently a vintage toy exhibition with many things to keep children interested, including old slot machines. Well worth a visit!
Graham Martin
01.02.2025

Excellent historical museum near Kirkstall Abbey. Adult tickets under £8 currently and great value for money to learn about local history and see an old style Victorian street with shops and houses. Highly recommended.
Jan Gatland
30.01.2025

So interesting. Lots to see. Lots of shops set out from olden times. Well worth a visit.
Richard Holdstock
27.01.2025

A small, very unusual museum. Nothing else like it in Leeds. Well worth a visit.
Adrian Rodsett
26.01.2025

Fantastic place, well worth the small admission fee. Very impressed with the Victorian streets and the old 1 penny games. The staff member looking after the 1p machines was very informative too.
Michael Paul
25.01.2025

A must for all kids and adults. 5/5
Edward Palfreyman
23.01.2025

Kids really enjoyed being in the old streets and going in the shops. There are not many museums that immerse you in a time period like this.
Sonja M
19.01.2025

It's a great place to visit for all ages. Go before the council closes it!
Florian Hynam
10.01.2025

I have been meaning to visit since I moved to Leeds and hadn’t managed to get around to going until yesterday but I’m incredibly glad I did. I had a brilliant time exploring the Victorian street and looking into the incredibly detailed buildings that have been set up to represent how a Victorian street would have looked. The toy collection upstairs was also fascinating and I also really enjoyed the penny slot machines. The staff were also very friendly and helpful!
Gee Bee
09.01.2025

Quite expensive for what it is, but also important to keep alive. A lot of my heritage and history is on display here and even before I was alive (I'm not THAT old). It is worth a visit, but not more than once in a while.
Morgan Bennett
04.01.2025

Absolutely lovely museum for the kids and adults too. Loved the Victorian games that you can play firsthand and how cheap it is to convert to the Victorian coins used too!
A V
03.01.2025

Absolute gem and fun for all the family. It’s so hard to find somewhere that caters for all ages throughout the entire building but they really have managed it here and to make learning fun. I can’t believe the council would even consider closing this place down as it would be a loss for the people of Leeds. If you are able to fill out the consultation form to oppose their closure I implore you to do so. The Victorian village, the Victorian arcade games and exhibits are so unique in their offering and accessibility, that it would be impossible to do them justice elsewhere. Also with Parking, a park and kirkstall abbey in close proximity it offers a multitude of options for repeat visits. Cafe by the abbey also a great little pit stop to warm up on a cold winters day.
Wendy Shaw
31.12.2024

For many years I've visited this place the smell the history everything brought wonderful memories back , though this year end December 24 when came with family it wasn't what expected sadly alot of the museum has now got office's above ( was best when i was younger ) I was told it maybe closing I truly hope not and the locals and community will try to keep this beautiful place open as it would be such a disappointment as you'd think a museum would stay forever good luck
Andrew Hirst
31.12.2024

Much bigger and better on the outside than you might expect. Lots of interesting exhibits, Victorian Street was really well done. Well worth the £15 for two adults and a child.
Emily Bailey
29.12.2024

Absolute treasure of a place. A cornerstone full of history, creativity and community.
Jason Rincewind Anthony-Rowlands
08.12.2024

The building is amazing. The Victorian street is very cool. It's a shame that the museum may be closing next year.
Kathryn Bedford
08.12.2024

An absolute gem of a place. What a wonderful discovery for adults and children of all ages.
Amber Webster
07.12.2024

Visited the AHM last Sunday, December 1st. We toured the house museum before the Abbey itself. I was pleasantly surprised by the staff and the exhibit. I would like to thank the gentleman who was working there and gave such great context to the history and the museum. Now I read that the Leeds council is looking to close the museum. Please don't. I was in London and Leeds and I sincerely thought this was one of the highlights of my trip. Such a gem.
A Arbon MEng
07.03.2019

Attended as part of an event. Whilst the Museum itself is fantastic some staff seemed to be going out of their way to make things difficult for the event organisers.
Lucy bloomfield
27.11.2024

I found the museum very interesting- it has a Victorian street with a lot packed in for its size! Some interactive elements too but they would cost extra. But the museum price itself is very reasonable so I would recommend!
Louise Williams
19.11.2024

A great museum and very popular with locals and tourists alike. I was an exhibitor at Light for Leeds and the museum hosted people from many different religions and beliefs. The Lord Mayor of Leeds also attended. Excellent customer service from all the staff and very welcoming. Parking can be challenging as people also visit the Abbey, so allow plenty of time to park and possibly walk. Nice gift shop and the museum itself is well worth a visit.
Z I
15.11.2024

On the ground floor, there’s a range of Victorian shops: a sweet shop, a chemist, a grocery store, a pub, a toy shop and a bakery… all set up with incredible detail. Each one filled with real artefacts, furniture, and decorations. Upstairs, there’s a collection of vintage toys, games, and old magazines that give a glimpse into what kids enjoyed back in the day. In the clothes shop, there’s a desk where you can scroll through details on each artefact displayed in the shops. It gives you information about the clothes and accessories from the Victorian era. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable- they answered any questions that were asked in great detail. There’s a small entrance fee to get into the museum. There was no wait upon arrival. This museum is perfect for kids and adults- very interesting and interactive. For parking, there’s a public car park just across the street.
lisa franks
16.11.2024

Kids loved it

 

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