Abbey House Museum — Attraction in Leeds

I've been visiting Abbey House since I was a child so took my own children, 6 and 12, now the museums are back open. Disappointing that the older child's activity hunt included questions about history that they were just told to "guess" rather than have to fact find or search for within the displays. What's this activity teaching them? I did ask the worker who also didn't know the answers without checking a sheet and said he didn't write the quiz when I asked where the information was. The music exhibition was identical to one we've already seen in Leeds City museum so it was a bit lack lustre and not really child friendly, the juke box ate our money and didn't work and the displays for a family gallery in this section where too adult, yet all visitors had children with them. Love the victorian entertainment machines and good to see most of them in good working order throughout the museum and there was a great selection of books in the gift shop so everyone got one. However with footfall low I would expect more effort to attract the families in over the summer holidays and a bit more effort with the kids quizzes. Historical fact hunts are better than nursery rhyme hunts for older kids. We still do not know if tree bark was ever user in aspirin either and that was one of the questions to "guess" yet we stood at the chemist window for absolutely ages trying to find a clue and there was nothing. If I gave a quiz to a class without the ability to find the answer themselves, ofsted would mark the lesson unsatisfactory. We've done much better ones here in the past and the visit would have been longer and more involving if it linked to the actual displays and street scenes! We will visit again but not for a while as I was expecting a bit of effort since covid and the free museum in Leeds is much better for families and has much more to do, so you'd get a much longer museum experience there. Thanks, and please change that awful kids quiz to one that has findable clues! From a (frequent history) teacher...

What a little gem of a museum. The parking is free nearby at the side of the playground. The museum itself is opposite the Kirkstall Abbey so therfore a superb location with plenty to see. The admissions fee to the museum is really reasonable especially for a family ticket.

Inside the museum (and don't forget to explore upstairs too) is a wealth of information and historical artefacts from all ages, including a walk down a recreated street , including old shops and houses- really nicely done and gives you a sense of what it was like to live back in those times. Upstairs is a mix of walking you through the ages, including sports memorabilia and old toys, games. You can even purchase for a small fee old penny coins and use in the collection of old slot machines....you might even get your fortune read on one of them :-) Not sure in regards to wheelchair access, you would probably be best to enquire. The is a small cafe with a reasonable small menu, does take a little while to get served at busy times. Some outdoor seating and the place can also be hired for events etc I believe. The gardens and outside is lovely and the staff friendly, apart from feeling a little 'watched over' at the coin machines as there was a staff member stood there (assume they were there to help if needed?).

Plenty of things to read and for the kids to interact with. Not the biggest of venues but the reasonable admission fee reflects this. Check out the Abbey across the road (separate fee to go in) well worth a look. Museum has a gift shop.

Only negative is that I wish the admission was free to the Abbey if you purchase tickets to the museum and vice versa, but it isn't and you have to pay separately.

A good day...

I took my wife to the Abbey, we had a lovely walk. I suggested the museum, it was not my best idea. I enjoy museums but I'm afraid this was very unsatisfactory as a day out, especially for children. The museum charges which is fair enough, the staff are helpful as as expected, but I would not go again. The exhibits look uncared for, dusty and unloved. There is no air conditioning and the unventilated interor was ovely warm and slightly suffocating despite the 14 degrees outside in the middle if summer. The victorian street immmerive exibit contained children literally in tears. One child who looked distraught was about 10 years old and was begging their parents to take them ' anywhere else', 'this is too creepy' My wife at 50 was making similar comments when we turned a corner and a child of about 6 was in tears , close to hysteria, begging her parents to leave as it was 'too creepy, I'm scared, I don't like it, pleaaaaaase'. I must say as an adult it was a disappointment to see exhibits so uncared for, but I can fully understand how a child can be terrified by a dingy, hot, dirty, dark, journey through one if the most harsh periods in our countries history, especially when a coffin is present, and where the only 'fun' paid for entertainment is an automated clown with a marrow, and a Sooty, Sue and Sweep play instruments but look nothing like the cuddly TV characters. All in all I was underwhelmed but fell short of warning the people on the way in as we left. Obviously, everyone has to make up their own minds, but after reading all the positive reviews I felt obliged to warn parents before taking their children who may, or may not, suffer night terrors, is it worth it? I...