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Two girls trying on old fashioned hats in the Museum

What's on at Abbey House Museum

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Explore our special events and exhibitions at Abbey House Museum to find out what life was like in Victorian Leeds and explore our childhood stories.

We have a range of family-friendly sessions and school holiday activities, as well as adult study days and workshops, curator talks and community events.

Events

Agenda

  • Heritage Open Day: Weekend Opening

    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 12 Sep and Sat 13 Sep
    Step back in time and wander through our enchanting streets, shops and houses to experience life as a Victorian in Leeds. Our 24 hour sound track helps you immerse yourself in the sounds and conversations going on around you. Enter our pub, Hark to Rover, sit at one of the tables and imagine how life felt over a hundred years ago.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 12 Sep
    and
    Sat 13 Sep
    Free

  • Some Lost Buildings of Leeds City Centre

    Heritage Open Days
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 12 Sep 10:15 - 11:15
    Come join curator Pat to explore some of the forgotten buildings in Leeds City Centre from the 17th century to the 19th.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 12 Sep
    10:15 - 11:15
    Book now

  • Study Afternoon: Kirkstall Lives

    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 25 Sep 13:30 - 16:30
    Join our curatorial team to explore the rich history of this local area through photographs, documents, objects and oral testimony.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 25 Sep
    13:30 - 16:30
    Book now

  • Little Shoppers

    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 26 Sep - Fri 28 Nov
    A fun, drop-in, 'shopping' session for under 5s in our Victorian Streets.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 26 Sep
    -
    Fri 28 Nov
    Included in Admission

  • Ideas Are Everywhere!

    With SJ Bradley
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 26 Sep 14:00 - 16:00
    Join SJ Bradley to learn techniques that will help you find ideas and inspiration everywhere you look, and how to develop those ideas into short stories and longer fiction. More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 26 Sep
    14:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Throwback Thursday

    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 2 Oct and Thu 6 Nov
    Our monthly series of reminiscence sessions. All are welcome to come along and share their memories of the local area.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 2 Oct
    and
    Thu 6 Nov
    Free

  • Little Scientists

    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 3 Oct and Fri 7 Nov
    Join our fun sessions for under 5s exploring the Victorian streets using simple science. More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 3 Oct
    and
    Fri 7 Nov
    Included in Admission

  • 1152 Club: Talks at Abbey House Museum

    Abbey House Museum
    Tue 7 Oct - Tue 9 Dec
    The 1152 Club is a history and heritage talks series for people aged 55 and over, held at Abbey House Museum.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Tue 7 Oct
    -
    Tue 9 Dec
    Free

  • Sound Bath by Resonate with Hope

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 10 Oct 14:00 - 16:00
    Come and join a beautiful sound bath with Resonate with Hope and experience the magic of inner peace.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 10 Oct
    14:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Enhancing Positive Emotion - Mini Retreat

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 13 Oct 11:00 - 13:30
    Join this mini retreat to learn about mindful emotions with Steve Hart.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 13 Oct
    11:00 - 13:30
    Book now

  • How To Meditate

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Tue 14 Oct 14:00 - 15:00
    Meditiation is a powerful tool that can reduce stress and anxiety and improve focus and concentration. Discover the art of meditiation at Abbey House Museum, with Steve Hart.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Tue 14 Oct
    14:00 - 15:00
    Book now

  • Loving Kindness Meditation

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Tue 14 Oct 15:00 - 16:00
    Practice meditation with soothing self talk and learning to trust our intrinsic soundess.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Tue 14 Oct
    15:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Mindful Craft: Pom Pom Hedgehogs

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Wed 15 Oct 14:00 - 16:00
    Join our relaxing craft session and make your very own hedgehog family.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Wed 15 Oct
    14:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Mind How You Play: A musical exploration of mindful hobbies

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 16 Oct 10:15 - 11:15
    Discover mindfulness hobbies with music in this playful exporation with Nicky Bray.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 16 Oct
    10:15 - 11:15
    Book now

  • Buddhism in Leeds

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 16 Oct 14:00 - 15:00
    The Triratna Buddhist community in leeds share the Buddhist vision, and how to relate this to busy city life.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 16 Oct
    14:00 - 15:00
    Book now

  • An Introduction to Mindfulness

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 16 Oct 15:00 - 16:00
    Mindfulness and meditation offer ways of responding to stress and pain - discover the fundamentals in this introduction.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 16 Oct
    15:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Saraswati: Inner Force of Wisdom and Creativity

    Leeds Mindfulness Festival
    Fri 17 Oct 10:15 - 11:15
    Join meditation teacher Zeenat Cameron for a guided practice on Saraswati, Hindu Goddess of intelligence, harmony and creativity.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 17 Oct
    10:15 - 11:15
    Book now

  • Study Afternoon: Leonora Cohen, the Leeds Suffragette

    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 18 Oct 10:30 - 13:30
    Come along to learn more about the life of Leeds’ most famous suffragette, Leonora Cohen.  More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 18 Oct
    10:30 - 13:30
    Book now

  • Make a Halloween Garland

    Abbey House Museum
    Wed 22 Oct 14:00 - 16:00
    Join our adult craft session to create a garland for spooky season!More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Wed 22 Oct
    14:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Spooky Streets

    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 25 Oct - Sun 2 Nov
    Step into the spooky streets of Abbey House Museum this half term for lots of family fun!More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 25 Oct
    -
    Sun 2 Nov
    Included in Admission

  • Make a Halloween Decoration

    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 25 Oct 14:00 - 16:00
    Join our craft session to make Halloween decorations.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 25 Oct
    14:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Creepy Crafts

    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 25 Oct 14:00 - 16:00
    Make a range of halloween inspired crafts with wool, yarn and felt!More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Sat 25 Oct
    14:00 - 16:00
    Not on Sale

  • Death, dirt, and disease in 19th Century Leeds

    Online Event
    Mon 3 Nov 13:00 - 15:30
    Discover mourning traditions, living conditions and healthcare options in 19th Century Leeds in this online session. More…
    Online
    Mon 3 Nov
    13:00 - 15:30
    Book now

  • Talk: Writing about Leeds with Chris Nickson

    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 14 Nov 10:15 - 11:15
    Talk by local historical crime fiction writer Chris Nickson about how he portrays Leeds in his novels.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Fri 14 Nov
    10:15 - 11:15
    Included in Admission

  • Light for Leeds – Interfaith Event

    Abbey House Museum
    Sun 16 Nov 12:00 - 16:00
    Join us for the 10th annual Interfaith Event. A day of music and contemplation with a chance to meet and speak to representatives of different beliefs and faiths in Leeds.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Sun 16 Nov
    12:00 - 16:00
    Free

  • Pioneering Men in Leeds

    International Men's Day
    Abbey House Museum
    Wed 19 Nov 15:00 - 16:30
    To mark International Men's Day, join us for a talk and discussion on pioneering men from Leeds. From philantropists to scientists, playwrighs and authors to inventors and sports people.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Wed 19 Nov
    15:00 - 16:30
    Not on Sale

  • Festive Lino Printing

    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 27 Nov 14:00 - 16:00
    Join us for an informal introduction to lino printing at Abbey House Museum. More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Thu 27 Nov
    14:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • Festive Felt Christmas Decorations

    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 1 Dec 14:00 - 16:00
    A fun and festive way to kick off December with a creative workshop.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 1 Dec
    14:00 - 16:00
    Book now

  • A Dickensian Christmas

    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 8 Dec
    Join us for a Dickensian Christmas at Abbey House Museum as we tour the Victorian Streets and see objects inspired by Dicken's novels.More…
    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 8 Dec
    Book now

  • Foraged Festive Wreaths

    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 15 Dec 10:00 - 12:30
    Join us in the stunning Gatehouse to make a festive wreath from foraged foliageMore…
    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 15 Dec
    10:00 - 12:30
    Book now

  • Festive Felt Flowers

    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 15 Dec 14:00 - 16:30
    Join this workshop and learn to make your own festive felt flowersMore…
    Abbey House Museum
    Mon 15 Dec
    14:00 - 16:30
    Book now

Exhibitions   All exhibitions and permanent displays

Literature in Leeds: Prose, Poetry and Plays

Abbey House Museum | 1 July 2025 - 8 March 2026 | A community display celebrating Leeds writers, from historical fiction to thought-provoking poetry, and plays written for stage and screen.

Story Time

Abbey House Museum | 25 Jan - 31 Dec 2025 | Children's books then and now. Are you sitting comfortably? Uncover a love of reading in this family-friendly exhibition.
A wooden carved lion on a stairway hand rail

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