Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the 20th century, who was born in nearby Castleford and studied in Leeds. It hosts
changing exhibitions on historical and contemporary sculpture; opening times are
Thursday to Tuesday 10am to 5:30pm; Wednesday 10am to 9pm. Linked to it via a
walkway, the
Leeds Art Gallery
(0113/247-8256;
www.leeds.gov.uk/artgallery)
has one of the best 20th-century British sculpture and painting collections outside
London, including more Moore, plus some Hepworth, Calder, and Bacon. Contem-
porary British art, including Anthony Gormley and Bridget Riley, is also a strong point.
It's open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday 10am to 5pm; Wednesday noon
to 5pm; and Sunday 1 to 5pm.
Just east, on Millennium Square, the
Leeds City Museum
(
&
0113/224-
3732;
www.leeds.gov.uk/citymuseum), also free to visit, opened in 2008 with four
floors of interactive galleries. Of most interest are the displays on the city itself: The
Leeds Story, showing how it has been shaped by its landscape, people, fashion, hous-
ing, music, sport, and even shopping; and the Leeds Arena, with a giant map of the
city you can walk on to discover its places of interest and different communities.
There are also galleries on Ancient Worlds, Life on Earth, and the spread of African
cultures across the globe. It's open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 10am to 5pm;
Thursday 11am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm, plus bank holidays. A
short walk away, the Clarence Dock is another 2008 development, this time of river-
side cafes, restaurants, shops, apartments, and the
Royal Armouries Museum
(see
below).
Another must-see with kids, 2 miles northeast of the center by St. James's Hospital
(with direct buses), the
Thackray Museum
(
&
0113/244-4343;
www.thackray
museum.org) tells the history of medicine from a child-friendly perspective: Galleries
include Having a Baby, with an “empathy belly” to try on. Entry is £7 for adults, £5
for children 5 to 16; it's open daily 10am to 5pm.
Harewood House
HISTORIC SITE
Resplendent amid stunning Capa-
bility Brown gardens with terraces and lakeside and woodland walks, and with a
famous Bird Garden with native and exotic species, this 18th-century residence,
home to the 7th Earl and Countess of Harewood, boasts a fine Adam interior with
superb ceilings and plasterwork, furniture by Thomas Chippendale, and works by
Turner and other major British artists. A dressing-up box gets kids interested; also
on-site is an adventure playground, an indoor play area, activity trails, planetarium
star shows, a candy shop and ice-cream parlor, and a fish-and-chip shop.
Harewood, 8
1
⁄
2
miles north of Leeds on the road to Harrogate.
&
0113/218-1010.
www.harewood.org.
Admission varies by season and what you visit; standard high-season Freedom ticket giving access to
everything £13 adults, £40 for a family of up to 5. Garden, grounds, and playground Apr-Oct daily
10am-6pm; see website for house, Bird Garden, and so on, and also for early-season (mid-Feb-Mar)
and Christmas opening times.
Royal Armouries Museum
MUSEUM The U.K.'s national museum of
arms, armor, and artillery counts among its dastardly delights some of Henry VIII's
armor, various experimental pistols, and weaponry from some of the world's biggest
conflicts. It's best to time your visit to catch some of the thrilling activities and events:
Drama and combat interpretations in the galleries or outside in the amphitheatre,
horse shows with jousting, stable tours, falconry displays, and sword sessions (for ages
10-16). There's also a play area for those 10 and under and a History in Action fam-
ily show in the cinema.
Armouries Dr., Leeds.
&
0113/220-1999.
www.armouries.org.uk. Free admission (charges for some
shows and activities). Daily 10am-5pm.
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