Located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Abbey House Museum is a fantastic spot for a family outing. Nominated for the Most Family Friendly Museum, it’s packed with fun, hands on activities for children of all ages, from babies to big kids. With plenty to see and do in just a couple of hours, every room offers something new to explore, making it an ideal choice for a playful and educational day out.
Opening times and tickets:
Abbey House Museum is closed Mondays (except Bank Holidays), then open 10am-5pm everyday apart from Saturdays when it opens at 12.
Children under 3 years are free, as are a variety of other people such as MAX card holders and carers. Family tickets for 2 adults and 3 children can also be purchased. There are discounts available for breeze and Leeds card holders.
Click here to find out more about opening times and tickets.
Parking/ Travelling:
There is a decent sized car park just opposite Abbey House Museum on Abbey Walk. It is free to use. There is also an accessible parking space right outside the museum entrance.
If travelling by train, Kirkstall Forge and Headingly stations are both 1 mile away from the museum.
Busses 33, 34 and 757 travel from Leeds to Kirkstall Abbey, which is opposite the museum.
Prams and Accessibility:
Prams are welcome in the museum, or there is a space to store them. The walkways are mostly level although there are some cobblestones on the Victorian street. There is a lift and lots of seating around the museum, as well as accessible toilets and baby change facilities.
Things to do at Abbey House Museum
1. Explore the Victorian Street
One of the highlights of Abbey House Museum is its wonderfully recreated Victorian streets. Complete with cobblestones and atmospheric lighting, the streets are lined with old-fashioned shops that bring the past to life. Children (and adults!) can explore a Victorian pub, barbershop, and sweet shop, or even take a seat in the old schoolroom to imagine what lessons were like in the 1800s. A real favourite is the photography studio, where you can dress up in period costumes and snap a memorable photo as a Victorian family. With so many chances to interact and explore, it’s a brilliant way to step back in time while keeping young visitors engaged and entertained.
2. Exhibits
Beyond the Victorian streets, the museum’s exhibitions offer even more to explore—and right now, there’s a fantastic storytelling-themed exhibit created in partnership with Waterstones and Leeds City Museum. From beautifully preserved books dating back to the 1800s to well-loved classics like Little Red Riding Hood, there’s something to spark every imagination. I sometimes find museum exhibitions boring, but what brought this one to life for me was the challenge to spot rhyming couplets in each display case, such as ‘bear on a chair’.
3. Vintage Penny Slot Machines
At Abbey House Museum, there is a collection of wonderful and quirky penny slot machines. For a small cost, you can get an old penny and insert it into these machines, which then put on a delightful (and sometimes terrifying) performance. These include a Peter Rabbit machine, a ‘Murder in the Museum’ machine and ‘The Abbot’s Treasure’ machine.
4. Play
Abbey House Museum isn’t just about looking—it’s about playing too! The Childhood Galleries are a standout space, filled with hands-on fun for little ones. Here, classic nursery rhymes are brought to life. There’s even a giant shoe you can sit inside to read or, as I did, let my 6-month-old safely crawl around. Children can explore huge vintage dollhouses on display, then get stuck into play with real toy versions nearby. From Noah’s Ark and a pretend kitchen to puzzles and riddles, it’s designed to spark imagination and keep kids engaged. And once you’ve explored the museum, there’s a lovely play park just across the road. Perfect for burning off any remaining energy!
Things to do nearby with kids
A free museum like no other, the Royal Armouries has tons of weapons and armour from throughout history on display. There are many activities for children to interact with and daily events such as live sword fighting. In the school holidays then even host international jousting competitions.
A farm, historic house and extensive grounds, Temple Newsam Estate has something to offer everyone. Spring is an especially lovely time to visit as they have lots of baby animals.
3. Tropical World
Visit the desert, rainforest and mangroves at this zoo, a 15 minute drive from Abbey House Museum. Here you can see reptiles, meerkats, crocodiles and other wonderful animals. A highlight for me at Tropical World is the butterfly house. Just outside Tropical World are the beautiful Specialist Gardens and Canal Gardens too.
4. Discovery Centre
On Wednesdays and Thursdays, this museum has free tours where you can explore their collection of over one million objects. If you and your children have a particular interest, such as meteorites, insects, historical fashion or anything really, the tour guides will tailor the tour and make sure you get to see the objects that will be of most interest to you, and to hear the stories about them.
Packed full of opportunities for children to play, explore, and get hands-on with friendly farm animals, it’s a place where memories are made. Whether your little ones want to feed the goats, meet the pigs, or simply run wild in the outdoor play areas, Swithens Farm offers a fun, educational, and down-to-earth experience that kids—and parents—will love.
