Kirkstall Abbey
The ruins of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1152, one of Britain's best-preserved medieval abbeys. Free to visit.
Kirkstall Abbey stands on the River Aire. It was built by Cistercian monks in the mid-12th century and abandoned after Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1539, but the church, cloisters, chapter house and other main structures remain intact. Its arches, which transition from Romanesque to Gothic, are very photogenic. The ruins and surrounding park are free to enter, and the visitor centre has exhibits about monastic life. A handicraft market is held monthly, and open-air performances take place in summer. The Abbey House Museum across the road can also be visited. Getting there: take bus 33 or 34 from the city centre for about 20 minutes, or take the train to Kirkstall Forge station and walk.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00–16:00 (earlier closing in winter; closed Mondays)
Nearby sights
- Abbey House Museum
- Headingley Stadium
- Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills
- Elland Road
- Leeds Town Hall
- Leeds Art Gallery & Henry Moore Institute
- Leeds City Museum
- Grand Theatre, Leeds