The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, West Yorkshire, is a fantastic day out for families, packed with exciting exhibits and hands-on fun. Kids will love exploring the incredible collection of swords, armour, and historic treasures from around the world. With lots of interactive displays, live demonstrations, and activities designed to spark young imaginations, the museum brings history to life in a way that’s both educational and fun for all ages.
Tickets and Opening Times:
Everyone goes free at this museum and tickets or booking is not required. Exhibitions and events such as the jousting do usually cost. It is open daily in the school holidays and Tuesday to Sunday during term time. The opening times are from 10am till 5pm. Click here for more information on opening times.
Parking and Travelling:
The closest car park to the Royal Armouries is CitiPark – Leeds Dock Car Park. It is a 1 minute walk to the museum.
The closest train station is Leeds Station, which is an 18 minute walk. From the bus station, it is approximately 13 minutes walk. Bus route 29 runs up to The Royal Armouries, at the bus stop Leeds Dock.
Visitors can also get to the Royal Armouries via water taxi. They run every 20-30 minutes from Granary Wharf by the train station to the museum and are available from 10am to 6pm, although some weather conditions can stop them running.
Prams/ Accessibility:
All entrances into the Royal Armouries can be accessed via ramp, and wheelchairs can access all public spaces in the museum. There is a ‘buggy park’ in the hall of steel where pushchairs and prams can be left, or the lifts can be used throughout the museum. Prams are not permitted in the arena.
Things to do with kids at the Royal Armouries
1. Explore the Museum
There is so much fun to be had within the museum itself. Start with the magnificent hall of steel, a winding staircase surrounding a display of hundreds of pieces of weapons and armour. The first floor holds the war gallery. Here you can see a model of the Battle of Agincourt, weaponry from the Roman times and an exhibition on World War 2. In the museum you can also see elephant armour in the Asian and African Gallery and armour worn by Henry VIII in the tournament gallery!
2. Watch the jousting
During most school holidays, the Royal Armouries plays host to the International Jousting Tournament, where teams from around the world compete. Fools, dressed in medieval motley, entertain the crowd in the lead up to the joust, then the squires take part in a series of skilful challenges on horseback before the main event begins.
3. See a live show and fighting demonstration
Every day, you will find a list of times where you can see the live shows, such as a soldier from the 1400s talking about the Battle of Brodsworth. The fighting demonstrations are always worth a watch a draw a large crowd. The professionals are funny, informative, and give you the chance to hold their swords after the fights.
4. Events
There are often exciting exhibitions going on at The Royal Armouries, such as the upcoming exhibition Gladiators: Heroes of the Colosseum. During the Leeds school holidays there are always additional events happening both inside and outside. Sometimes you will find blacksmiths, medieval musicians, free axe throwing and more. During Leeds Light Night there is always something to see here, and during the Summer, dragon boat racing is hosted just outside the Royal Armouries. Click here to find out more about what’s on.
5. Escape room
Suitable for families with older children, the theme of the escape room involves time travel and missing museum artifacts. Compared with most escape rooms, the price is reasonable and includes the 30 minute escape room followed by a 20-30 minute treasure trail around the museum. Click here for more information on booking the escape room.
Things to do with kids nearby
1. Visit a bookshop on a boat
Peruse the hundreds of books on this historic former coal barge bobbing just outside the Royal Armouries. The lovely owners also sell lots of plants and name them all. I bought a blueberry plant called Alice! They also sell greetings cards and gifts.
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, an 18 minute drive from the Royal Armouries. 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. Leeds City Museum
Located in the heart of Leeds City Centre, this is another free museum. There are exhibitions on the history of Leeds as well as on Ancient Greece and Egypt. You can even find the mummified body of a pharaoh here!
5. 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.