Abbey House Museum

Is it right for my child?

• Little ones: Little Shoppers is a drop-in “shopping” session for under 5s in the Victorian streets, included in general admission. It has play shops, fake food and a trail or craft. On 12 November the What’s On page listed one session, on Friday 27 November 2026, 10am to 11.15am.
• Young explorers: the streets, Abbey Fold, Harewood Square and Stephen Harding Gate, have shops, houses and a Victorian inn.
• Toy fans: the Childhood Galleries upstairs show toys, games and 19th century dolls. The exhibitions page also says the museum has toys and books to enjoy in comfortable spaces.
• Penny arcade: the museum has original penny slot machines, some still working. You buy an old-fashioned penny from a vending machine to play.
• Things to know: Abbey Fold looks at life and death in Victorian times, including a poor undertaker’s premises. The access page mentions cobbled streets and some narrow spaces.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Avoid Mondays for a general visit, unless it is a bank holiday.
• On Saturdays, the museum opens at 12pm, not 10am.
• Arrive at least 30 minutes before closing, as last admission is 30 minutes before close.
• For a quieter visit on term-time weekdays, the access page suggests arriving after 2pm, as 10am to 2pm is peak time for school visits.
• Bring your Max Card, LeedsCard, LeedsCard Extra or Breeze Pass if you have one.
• Phone 0113 378 4079 (10am to 4pm) before your visit if you need to borrow the museum’s wheelchair.

Prices and tickets

The visit page lists these admission prices:

• Adult: £7.35.
• Child (3 to 18): £3.60.
• Family (up to 2 adults and 3 children): £16.25.
• Under 3s: the Little Shoppers page says under 3s are free. That page also says over 3s are £3.50, which differs from the £3.60 on the visit page, so check the price when you pay.
• Discounts: LeedsCard, LeedsCard Extra and Breeze Pass discounts apply. The amount is not given.

Free admission is listed for carers and for Max Card holders (the card holder and 1 adult). The list also covers refugees and asylum seekers, plus members of several museum and art organisations named on the visit page.

How to buy: the visit page says tickets are bought on site only, but it also has a Book now link to Leeds Ticket Hub. The Santa at the Museum page says general admission can be booked online or at the museum. If you plan to buy on the day, check before you travel.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Getting in: the museum entrance is on a short but fairly steep hill. The main entrance is level and step-free, with an automatic door 87cm wide.
• Inside: the access page says most galleries, the Victorian streets and the special exhibition space are wheelchair accessible. There are cobbled streets and some narrow spaces in the Victorian streets.
• Upstairs: a lift, reached through the Victorian streets, takes one wheelchair at a time. The official pages do not mention pushchairs or pushchair parking.
• Baby changing: in the accessible toilets in the main entrance foyer and shop.
• Toilets: the accessible toilets are in the main entrance and are not RADAR key operated. There is a Changing Places toilet on the ground floor.

Food and drink

The official pages do not mention a café inside the museum. The visit page points to the Abbey Café, across the road in the Kirkstall Abbey visitor centre.

It has indoor and outdoor seating and sells sandwiches, cakes, hot food, drinks and ice creams.

The café opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with last food orders at 3.15pm. It is closed on Mondays.

Getting there and parking

• Address: Abbey House Museum, Abbey Walk, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH. The access page says it is 3.4 miles from Leeds city centre.
• By bus: buses 33, 34 and A1 from Leeds stop outside Kirkstall Abbey.
• By train: Kirkstall Forge and Headingley stations are both 1 mile away.
• By car: a large free car park is next to the museum on Abbey Walk, and it includes accessible parking.
• Accessible parking: one space sits right outside the museum entrance. Four more are across Abbey Walk in the Vesper Lane car park, with a pedestrian crossing and a mostly flat route.

When to visit

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 12pm to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm. Closed for general visits on Mondays.
• Monday events: the What’s On page lists some separately bookable events on Mondays. These do not mean the museum is open for ordinary visits that day.
• Bank holidays: the visit page says the museum opens 10am to 5pm.
• Christmas and New Year: the visit page does not mention Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. Check before you travel between 24 December 2026 and 1 January 2027.
• Santa at the Museum: listed for 12pm to 4pm on Saturdays 12 and 19 December 2026. On Sundays 13 and 20 December it runs 10am to 4pm.
• What Santa costs: £8 per child, plus general admission for everyone. The page has Book now links for each date.
• What children get: a chat with Santa beside his grotto, a special gift and a take-home craft bag. They can also post a letter to the North Pole. The decorated streets have Christmas trails and hidden sprouts to spot.

Additional needs and disability support

Leeds Museums and Galleries lists these access features at Abbey House Museum.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Abbey House Museum for children?

The visit page lists £3.60 for children aged 3 to 18, or £16.25 for a family of up to 2 adults and 3 children. The Little Shoppers page says under 3s are free.

Is Abbey House Museum open on Mondays?

Not for general visits, except on bank holidays, when the visit page says it opens 10am to 5pm. Some separately bookable events are listed on Mondays.

Is Abbey House Museum good for toddlers?

Little Shoppers is a drop-in session for under 5s with play shops and fake food, included in admission. On 12 November the What’s On page listed one session, on 27 November 2026. Check it for later dates.

Is there parking at Abbey House Museum?

Yes. A large free car park is next to the museum on Abbey Walk, with accessible spaces. One more accessible space is outside the entrance.

When is Santa at Abbey House Museum?

Santa at the Museum is listed for 12, 13, 19 and 20 December 2026. It costs £8 per child, plus general admission for everyone.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Leeds Museums and Galleries pages for Abbey House Museum, visiting, access, exhibitions, What’s On, Santa at the Museum and the Abbey Café. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.