Five of the best historical attractions in Leeds
Although one of the most modern and multicultural cities in England, Leeds is also one of the most historical, and prides itself with a wealth of museums to celebrate the life and times of the city.
Having researched so many offerings, here are the top five museums and historical places of interest in Leeds:
Leeds Museum
Located right in the city centre, just to the side of Millennium Square, Leeds Museum is completely free to all visitors.
Including a tour around a working class Victorian kitchen, the museum has hundreds of exhibits on display before you even get to the renowned Leeds Art Gallery, which includes works by Henry Morland, Stanley Spencer and Henry Spencer Moore.
Temple Newsam
Quite possibly one of the most fascinating buildings in the whole of Leeds, Temple Newsam actually features in the Domesday Book and was once owned by none of than the Knights Templar during its rich history.
Found just to the east of Leeds city centre, the Tudor-Jacobean mansion boasts over 40 restored rooms to view alongside a host of beautiful gardens for visitors to stroll around and enjoy.
Entry is free and there are numerous public transport links to the grounds.
Armley Mills Industrial Museum
Once the world’s largest woollen mill, Leeds Industrial Museum offers visitors the opportunity to step back in time in engross themselves in textile machinery, railway equipment and heavy engineering.
Found just to the west of Leeds, near Burley Park, the museum throws visitors into the working conditions of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Thackray Medical Museum
Offering you the chance to take a tour of the streets as they were in 1842, the Thackray Medical Museum explores in great detail the life and times of 19th century Leeds.
Aside from the primary tour, the museum also explores gruesome subjects in its exhibits which includes the likes of ‘Disease in Retreat’, ‘Pain, Pus and Blood’, and ‘Having a Baby.’
Although Leeds does play host to many free museums, entry to the Thackray Medical Museum is £7 for adults and £5 for children up to the age of 16. Despite the entry fee, the small cost of entry is well worth it.
