Leeds Art Gallery

Is it right for my child?

• Who it suits: the gallery shows modern and contemporary art alongside Victorian art and sculpture, on a ground floor and a first floor.
• Artspace: the gallery calls it a relaxed, family friendly, creative space. It has art materials and activities inspired by the exhibitions, so children can draw, build, reflect and play. In school holidays there is often an artist to help.
• Something to spot: Mike Nelson’s M62 (East, West), on show until 3 January 2027, is two near-identical works made from blown-out motorway tyres. The gallery likens looking at them to a game of spot the difference.
• Under 5s: Atelier for under-fives welcomes all under 5s, including very young babies, with an Early Years practitioner. The event page listed sessions on 17 and 18 December 2026, then 21 and 22 January 2027.
• Exhibition: Steve McQueen: Resistance, from 6 November 2026 to 25 April 2027, uses photographs to explore a century of protest in Britain. The official page gives no age guidance for it.
• Sensory notes: light levels are low in some galleries to protect the art. The visual story says some rooms could be loud or have flashing lights.

Plan your visit: a parent’s checklist

• Check the day: closed on Mondays. Usual hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (upper galleries close from 4pm on Saturdays), Sunday 11am to 3pm.
• Book ahead for the under 5s Atelier sessions. When we checked on 12 November 2026, each Book now button on the event page linked to an outside booking site.
• Bring a payment card or cash if you want to donate, and snacks to eat in Artspace.
• Need the lift on a Sunday, or on a Saturday between 4pm and 5pm? The visual story says to ask at the Shop desk.
• Look at the gallery’s visual story with your child before you go. It shows each step of a visit in photos.

Prices and tickets

There is no ticket to get in. Leeds Art Gallery is a Give What You Can gallery, and it invites visitors to donate if they are able. The suggested donation is £5 per person, and this also applies to groups.

• How to give: Tap to Give donation points take contactless, chip and pin, and cash, on arrival or during your visit. You can also donate online.
• Atelier for under-fives: the official event page does not give a price. Check it on the booking site before you book.

Pushchairs, babies and toilets

• Getting in: the main entrance on The Headrow has hand-railed steps and a long, gradual ramp, with automatic doors. A second automatic entrance sits lower down, to the left of the main steps. From there, a lift and the Tiled Hall Café lead into the gallery.
• Upstairs: step-free access to the upper floor galleries is by the lift in the library. The lift takes one wheelchair per journey.
• Pushchairs: the visual story mentions a buggy park area in Artspace.
• Baby changing: baby change facilities are in the accessible toilets in Artspace, on the main gallery floor. These toilets are RADAR key operated, and the visual story says a Visitor Assistant can help with a key.
• Toilets: the visual story says the toilets for everyone are in Artspace. There is also an accessible toilet in the library on the upper floor, through the Tiled Hall Café.

Food and drink

The Tiled Hall Café serves hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, daily specials, toasties, paninis and cakes. It was once the library’s main reading room. Its listed hours are Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm, and Sunday, 11am to 2.30pm, with last orders 30 minutes before closing.

• Your own food: you can eat and drink food you have brought in Artspace, but not in the rooms with artworks. The visual story says Artspace closes at 4.15pm for cleaning, and earlier on Sundays.

Getting there and parking

• Address: Leeds Art Gallery, The Headrow, Leeds LS1 3AA. The what3words address for the entrance is ///oven.trials.choice.
• By train or bus: the gallery is 0.4 mile from Leeds railway station and 0.8 mile from the city centre bus station.
• By car: the gallery has no parking of its own. There is on-street parking nearby on Cookridge Street. Woodhouse Lane, The Light, Merrion Centre and Rose Bowl car parks are a 5 to 10 minute walk away.
• Accessible parking: the nearest accessible on-street bays are on St Anne’s Street, by Leeds Cathedral. More are on Rossington Street and Vernon Street, and at those four car parks.
• Safety: the visual story warns that Victoria Gardens, in front of the gallery, can be noisy with traffic. A nearby cycle path is used by bikes and scooters, so hold small hands.

When to visit

• Opening times: closed Mondays. Usual hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, with upper galleries closing from 4pm on Saturdays, and Sunday, 11am to 3pm.
• Special openings: the what’s on page sometimes lists evening late openings or changed hours, so check it before you go.
• Quieter times: the visual story suggests Sundays, or weekdays between 10am and 11am or between 3pm and 4.45pm.
• Busy times: the access page says the gallery is particularly busy in the February and October school holidays and on special event days.
• Christmas and New Year: the official pages we checked do not give Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day arrangements. Phone the gallery before you travel over the holidays.

Additional needs and disability support

Leeds Art Gallery publishes an access page and a visual story, and offers these supports.

Frequently asked questions

Is Leeds Art Gallery free?

There is no entry ticket. It is a Give What You Can gallery with a suggested donation of £5 per person, given only if you are able.

Is Leeds Art Gallery open on Mondays?

No, the gallery is closed on Mondays. Its usual hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from 11am to 3pm.

Can you take a pushchair to Leeds Art Gallery?

The main entrance has a long, gradual ramp, and the lift in the library reaches the upper floor galleries. The visual story mentions a buggy park area in Artspace.

Is there baby changing at Leeds Art Gallery?

Yes. Baby change facilities are in the accessible toilets in Artspace, on the main gallery floor. These toilets use a RADAR key, so ask a Visitor Assistant.

Is Leeds Art Gallery good for autistic children?

It offers a visual story, ear defenders and torches to borrow, and quieter places on request. Some galleries are dark, and some rooms could be loud or have flashing lights.

Can you eat your own food at Leeds Art Gallery?

Yes, in Artspace, but not in the rooms with artworks. The Tiled Hall Café also sells food.

Checked on 12 November 2026 against the official Leeds Museums and Galleries pages for Leeds Art Gallery, planning your visit, access, the visual story, the Tiled Hall Café, exhibitions and what’s on. Prices and times can change, so check before you travel.