Leeds City Museum Visual Story

Use our visual story to plan your arrival and visit to Leeds City Museum.

When I visit Leeds City Museum, there are lots of things I might see, touch/feel, hear or smell.

The front of the Leeds City Museum, with stairs up and a ramp to the left

When I arrive at Leeds City Museum:

I will see a big building with a sign over the door.

I might hear traffic, birds, people talking or noise from cars.

The staircase in front of Leeds City Museum. The blue doors of the museum are at the top of the stairs.

To get to the museum entrance:

I can walk up the stairs at the front of the building and go through the blue doors.

The ramp to the entrance of the Leeds City Museum.

Or I can use the ramp to the left of the building and go through one of the blue doors.

A museum Visitor Assistant providing directions to a visitor.

When I enter the museum:

I will be greeted by a Visitor Assistant.

I can ask them to explain how I should navigate the museum.

A double image showing locations in the Leeds City Museum. The left shows the stairs from the ground floor to the lower ground floor. The right shows the ground floor lift.

If I want to go to the toilet:

I can take the stairs or the lift to the Lower Ground Floor.

A picture of the main corridor on the Lower Ground floor. On the right wall are two archways with toilet signs over them.

When on the Lower Ground Floor:

I should turn to the right and will see signs for the toilet.

A double image of locations in Leeds City Museum: the left on shows a hallway with

If I go through the arch below the toilet signs, I will see male, female and accessible toilets.

The ground floor lift in the Leeds City Museum

If I would prefer to use a gender neutral toilet:

I can take a lift to the Third Floor.

From the lift, I turn left then the door to the gender neutral/diabled toilet will be on my right.

The ground floor lift at Leeds City Museum

If I want to use the changing places facility:

I can take a lift to the Third Floor.

A double image of locations in the Leeds City Museum: on the left is the door to the changing places facility and the right is the inside of the changing places facility

On the third floor:

From the lift, I should turn left and will see the door to the changing places facilities on my left.

A double image of locations in Leeds City Museums: on the left is the view of the ground floor stairs from the museum entrance and on the right is the view of the stairs from the top.

If I want to go to the Herbarium Café:

I can take the stairs down to the Lower Ground Floor.

A double image of locations within Leeds City Museum: on the left is the archway leading to the ground floor lift and on the right is the ground floor lift.

Or I can go through the arch on the Ground Floor and take the lift.

When on the Lower Ground Floor:

I should turn to the right and will see the entrance to the café at the end of the corridor.

When I'm in the café:

I can purchase food and drink at the counter.

I will see a menu that I can use to help me choose what I want.

I can sit at the tables.

I might hear the sound of the coffee machine.

A map showing the layout of the Lower Ground Floor at Leeds City Museum

Visiting the Lower Ground Floor Exhibitions:

On the Lower Ground Floor, I will find the life on earth gallery, and the cafe.

To get to the Lower Ground Floor:

I can take the stairs from the Ground Floor or the lift from any floor.

At the bottom of the stairs:

I will see the entrance to the Life on Earth gallery.

I might hear sounds from the café.

In the Life on Earth Gallery:

I will see skeletons and stuffed animals (taxidermy).

I will hear nature sounds from the speakers.

A display in the Life on Earth Gallery that features a screen with a bench in front of it.

There will be videos that I can watch.

There will be places for me to sit down.

The interactive displays in the Life on Earth Gallery in the Leeds City Museum

There will be things for me to touch and interact with.

The exit door of the Life on Earth Gallery.

When I am ready to leave the Life on Earth Gallery:

I can leave through the way I came in.

A 3D map of the first floor of the Leeds City Museum

Visiting the First Floor:

On the First Floor, I will find the Voices of Asia gallery, the Brodrick Hall, the Gift Shop and the Collectors Cabinet.

A double image of locations in Leeds City Museum: on the left are the stairs from the Ground to the First floor with Brodrick Hall at the top and on the right is the Ground Floor lift

To get to the First Floor:

I can take the stairs or use the lift.

The outside of the Voices of Asia Gallery.

At the top of the stairs:

I can choose to turn left into the Voices of Asia gallery.

An image of the stairs up to the First Floor with the doors to Brodrick Hall at the top

Or continue straight through the doors into Brodrick Hall (if open).

A view of the outside of The Collector's Cabinet and Gift Shop.

Or I can choose to turn right towards The Collectors Cabinet and the Gift Shop.

The view of the Voices of Asia Gallery from the entrance to the gallery

In the Voices of Asia Gallery:

I will see lots of bright colours and patterns.

Displays within the Voices of Asia showing clothes and artefacts from Asian countries.

I might hear the sound of videos playing.

In Brodrick Hall:

I will see the high ceiling and the map of Leeds on the floor.

Displays from the Collectors Cabinet that feature artwork, silverware and a Moa skeleton.

In the Collectors Cabinet:

I will see lots of cabinets full of objects.

I might hear noises from the gift shop.

A wall display from the Collectors Cabinet featuring weapons and animal bones.

Parts of the exhibition can be darker than others.

The Gift Shop in the Leeds City Museum with shelves displaying toys and souvenirs.

In the Gift Shop:

I will see shelves with toys and souvenirs.

I might hear the sound of the register.

A 3D map of the second floor of Leeds City Museum.

Visiting the Second Floor:

On the second floor, I will find the Leeds Story gallery, the Community Corridor and Toddler Town.

A double image of locations within Leeds City Museum: on the left are the stairs between the first and second floors, on the right is the first floor lift.

To get to the Second Floor:

I can take the stairs or use the lift.

The door leading to The Leeds Story gallery.

I can choose to turn left when exiting the lift or straight from the top of the stairs and into The Leeds Story gallery.

Displays from The Leeds Story gallery that feature artefacts from the stone, bronze and iron age.

In The Leeds Story gallery:

There will be things for me to touch and interact with.

Parts of the exhibition can be darker than others.

Displays from The Leeds Story Gallery that feature artefacts from the Victorian period as well as video of reenactors on screens.

I might hear noises from videos in the gallery.

The Community Corridor in The Leeds Story gallery. It features artwork by the public.

I can choose to walk through the Community Corridor.

Toddler Town from The Leeds Story gallery. It features miniature versions of some of Leeds' buildings.

I will see the entrance to Toddler Town.

A 3D map of the Third Floor of Leeds City Museum.

Visiting the Third Floor:

On the Third Floor, I will find the Ancient Worlds gallery and the Special Exhibitions gallery.

A double image of locations within Leeds City Museum: on the left are the stairs between the second and third floors, and on the right is the second floor lift.

To get to the Third Floor:

I can take the stairs or use the lift.

The door leading to the Special Exhibition.

I can choose to turn left into the special exhibitions gallery.

This gallery will change a few times a year. I can find a visual story for the latest exhibition on the museum website’s access page.

The doorway leading to the Ancient Worlds gallery.

I can choose to turn right into the Ancient Worlds gallery.

A display from the Ancient Worlds gallery that recreates Roman architecture.

In the Ancient Worlds gallery:

I will see lots of different objects and displays in a large room

One of the interactive displays from the Ancient Worlds gallery , in which you can act out excavating ancient pottery.

There will be videos that I can watch.

There will be things I can touch and interact with.

The archway leading to the Egyptian displays in the Ancient Worlds gallery.

I might hear the sound of videos or music playing.

Displays of Egyptian artefacts kept under dim lighting.

Parts of the exhibition can be quite dark.

A plaque explaining that the following exhibit contains human remains.

There are the human remains of a mummified person.

I can choose if I want to see these or not.

The third floor lift in Leeds City Museum.

When I want to leave the museum:

I can take the stairs or the lift to the ground floor.

The entrance and exit doors to Leeds City Museum.

I should leave using one of the sets of double doors.

To find out more:

I can contact Leeds City Museum and the Learning and Access Officer by phone: 0113 378 5001. I can call anytime between 10am – 4pm, Monday – Friday.

I might prefer to email any questions to: city.museum@leeds.gov.uk