Reviews of Kirkstall Abbey. (Other) in Leeds (West Yorkshire).

Kirkstall Abbey

0 Reviews

397 Comments

Other

Tourist attraction

Abbey Rd, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Kirkstall Abbey, Other in Leeds (West Yorkshire)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

We don’t have any review or comment on this place.

Map

Open hours of Kirkstall Abbey

Popular times

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Kirkstall Abbey

R. W.

Free entry. The historical site closes relatively a bit early during summer time, but the park around it is also nice which allows seeing the site from a bit distance away. For parking, the Kirkstall Abbey Car Park nearby is free also. A very nice place for a weekend walk.

V. V.

I really enjoyed visiting this site. At first I didn't realize I could go inside. You enter via the gift shop. There is a play kitchen area in the remnants of the abbey's kitchen that any little one would enjoy. This was a very quiet place with just two other parties wandering about on a cold Tuesday afternoon. Very peaceful place in a park setting. You could see it all in 30 minutes or you could wander longer.

S. R.

Very reasonable entry fee with free parking across the road near the museum. Excellent free audio guide on your phone and a volunteer guide who showed us around (Trevor) was amazing. Well worth a 1- 2 hour visit for families with children, good playground near the car park.

D. C.

Kirkstall Abbey Carnival open now free entry! lots of stuff for the kids do to, rides face painting fairground etc. Beer tents lots of food stalls, live music Sun tan for free what’s not to like on a Beautiful English Summers day. Get ya lovely selfs down there!

W. H.

Great place to have a leisure walk and the Abbey ruins are kept quite well. Come visit on the last weekend of every month from March to November to enjoy the markets inside too!

L. B.

Brilliant place to visit. Already planning another trip back. Visited the week before Easter and unfortunately lots of unruly children climbing all over the ruins while parents allowed it. Unfortunate not to have more staff to stop them or get parents to stop them. Museum over the road is brilliant too. Staff super friendly and knowledgeable.

L. R.

March 2022. Historical place. A few ruins. Couldn't access inside as it was closed to public. Had a walk around. People milling around and seated on field engaged in conversation. Mixed races integrating peacefully with each other minding their own business. Nice harmony about the place.

M. M.

Always enjoyed this place but the river walk seems a lot shorter these days. They appear to have fenced it off. I remember being able to walk further many moons ago. Quite a bit of flooding today following last nights storm.

D. H.

I've been visiting since I was in junior school. They still haven't finished building it yet! But seriously though. It's steeped in history and the park is a wonderful place to while away the hours. Entrance to the Abbey ruin is via the gift shop. It can get busy in summer.

N. Y. A.

Very beautiful and deeply historical site. There are information boards at sections of the Abbey and it is highlights the events that have taken place here. I do suggest that you start at the Abbey House museum across the street before visiting the Abbey. This is only because you receive the ability to appreciate what has happened. The Abbey a great place to relax overall.

M. E.

Been coming here for years as a kid, remember all the ghost stories we used to tell each other about the monks walking round at night. Well worth a walk round to see the remaining ruins.

J. M.

Really well preseved Abbey with a nice path to walk round the outside. Inside it was a bit muddy (visited in December). Visitor centre and toilets presentable. Car park is the opposite side of the road near the museum (which also has a cafe). Abbey and car park are badly signposted but at least they are both free. Museum has an entry fee.

I. B.

The ruins are a powerful statement of the Abbey' history. The park is one of the few green places not far from Leeds city centre where you can have a nice picnic and read a book.

P. A.

A really beautiful place to go for a picnic and spend the day with your friends and family. Lots of greenery and open space.

H. S. B.

The old ruins of the monastery next to river Aire. This place is good for a family outing. There is a lot of space to play for kids, walk around or just sit next to river or in park. All the places inside the ruins have historical information displayed and there is a small museum nearby. The free car park is available nearby, which is usually busy.

J. S.

Had a great time exploring the ruins; really well preserved and good information boards, guidebooks can also be purchased from the shop. Free if you live in Leeds, £5 for everyone else, budget an hour to do it justice. If you need a pitstop, there is a good cafe over the road.

F. R.

I love castles, abbeys, and ruins, so this was perfect to me! The abbey is gorgeous, and the surrounding grounds are lovely to have a picnic on, weather permitting haha!

I. M.

A must visit place in Leeds. Nearby parking is free and no entrance fee at all. Perfect for prams as well.

S. C.

Lovely open space by the River Aire. It's amazing imagining what the Abbey would have looked like in full repair and the work it too to build it. Very close to JJ's Vish and chips....so that's the picnic sorted

A.

I had such a good time visiting Kirkstall Abbey. The place is kept in a good condition and it’s a perfect place to go visit especially with you are a ruins enthusiast like myself.

R. M.

My 3 year old and I visited the Abbey together and spent a couple of hours exploring. We parked for free, used the playground, entered the Abbey for free which also had a free trial with tick sheet and art supplies to use while we were there. My daughter enjoyed the trail and exploring the different areas, such as following the stepping stones, going through tunnels and doorways and climbing some of the ruins. There were plenty of picnic benches dotted around. The shop had a good children's section and sold ice-cream and also had access to toilets. It is a free site so there were some unloved ideas I.e rubbish left behind/ dead animals but overall good so would visit again.

A. M.

Well maintained historic building-ruined Cistercian monastery in Kirkstall founded around 1150s, and a perfect place for a walk in a sunny weather. Local market available in last Sunday of every month between March and November.

C. K.

Lovely old site to visit and explore. Dont need lots of time but did arrive late on. Nice to read the history too. Great place to have a trip out to

C. S. L. H. R.

Stunning. Amazing ruins of a Cistercian monastery that was founded circa 1152. Henry VIII knobbled it in his Dissolution Of the Monasteries period. It is not free admission, unless you are a Leeds resident, but your ticket lasts for a year, so subsequent return visits are free. There is a guidebook available, but having bought one, I found that most of the information is on the plentiful display boards abounding anyway. Useful to have the guidebook though as it is more detailed. There is a free car park over the road opposite the museum. Very highly recommended this amazingly preserved Abbey. Bravo.

E. S.

Beautiful grounds to walk around. Great for picnics or a quiet read. Located right by the river with beautiful views and lots of paths for a stroll. Abbey is only open at certain times and free to enter. The grounds are open 24/7. Wheelchair accessible and pram accessible to an extent inside the abbey. There are some small steps and narrow pathways. The grounds have a smooth path with no steps. Car park over the road, near a children's playground and more wonderful green space. Toilets are great, with gender neutral/disabled toilet. Only open during abbey opening hours.

r. m.

We were absolutely honoured to be the first couple to get married in Kirkstall Abbey. Such an amazing location and the staff were brilliant

A. D.

The historical ruins of Kirkstall Abbey were definitely interesting to explore. Photos don't do it justice, this place is massive! If you enjoy getting exercise, I recommend taking the scenic route and walking along River Aire to get to Kirkstall Abbey, as you will see Leeds in a new light. Unfortunately, Abbey House Museum closed 20 minutes early that day, but I had a great time nonetheless. Bring a friend and a hot cup of coffee or tea and you will have a good time.

E. C.

Thought I'd take the lad for a cycle around the grounds, managed 5 laps in less than 15 min. Looks pretty and was fairly clean, would go again. Liked the view of the river, and lots of benches to rest at if you're not so good at walking.

J. J.

Great place to visit. Loved it. Definitely recommend.

S. D.

Well look after, a bit pricy if you're not from Leeds but I guess isn't cheap to keep it in great condition, worth a visit!

K. L.

Lovely venue for an open air cinema we attended ! Especially beautiful at night.

M. L.

Very good museum, a big surprise when you go inside a lot bigger than you would think 👍

R. S.

Fab spot for a picnic. Lovely market. Abbey has a little gift shop.

M. D.

The museum is good with heritage property. Lots of greenery and the canal is ice on the cake.

S. C.

I didn't go inside but it looked pretty impressive from the outside and nice surrounding walks

M. A. W.

Very nice place and full of stories. It is about a 40-minute walk from leeds city centre and has a bus, train station very close

R. M.

Wonderful place to wander and lose oneself in times gone by.

A. A.

Amazing and very charming place. One of the best places I ever visited.

S. C.

Very nice place to relax with the park right next to it. You can learn some of the history by seeing this place.

M. L.

Went there to walk my dog. It's free to wander round the grounds, which is great. If you want to go within 10m of the actual building and go in the visitor centre, it's £5 entry (free if you can prove you live in Leeds). Very calm and tranquil despite there being lots of other people around. As an area to walk your dog that's not too strenuous I'd highly recommend

C.

Absolutely beautiful place to visit, such a breathtaking experience.

L. W.

Stunning ruin of an Abbey with most of the cathedral still intact and a number of the extra rooms, nunnery, garden and cooking areas still visible. Indoor garden also worth viewing with some very special plants in bloom. Very pretty.

J. B.

No bibles in the shop, yet new age buffoonery on display. As in the days of Noah, ... The grounds are quite spacious and an ideal spot for picnics.

L. L.

Nice place to visit and I love the ice cream😜

B. M.

A great place to visit with a lot of good history. The abbey itself is still in a good state and well worth a visit. And it's free!!

T. T.

Another fine example of the many Abbey's that can be visited in Yorkshire.

P. &. R.

A very Beautyful Historical Places the ruins are amazing. Great for a walk with your children or pets. It's a good place for picnic. Great place for bring you children.there is a parking lot near the ruins and it's free. A Playground for children are right next to the car parking. A river passed by the ruins

D.

A STUNNING GEM. I thought I had had my fill of ruins but this Abbey and the grounds surrounding it was truly beautiful. My grown-up children explored the Abbey while my husband and I took a walk on the wild side for some forest bathing. Very serene!

H. P.

Stunning place. Really enjoyed searching for there lost sheep

B. J.

Fad day out at Kirkstall Abbey Food Market. Recommend the Italian Doughnuts, And Loaded Brownies. 😘

S. I.

Very beautiful ruins. Nicele maintained. Great place to take your kids and sit and relax in the surrounding gardens. There is a small market outside the Abbey on Sunday with stalls of food and homemade arts and crafts.

M. D.

Popped here for the afternoon earlier today, impressive ruins of an historical abbey, we couldn't go in the Abbey or museum, as they were closed due to the pandemic. But, really enjoyed walking around it and the trails along the river. Lots of wildlife here and look out for the swans too, large open spaces if you fancy playing football or bringing the kids, I didn't today, good job, as it was muddy. There are benches everywhere, the ones by the river are really nice to watch the river from. The open spaces are clean, it's peaceful and there is a car park over the road and you can easily spend a few hours here. And there are lots of cool food and drink places nearby. Definitely recommend it 👌

G. K.

Entry was closed on this day but still beautiful to look at. The park it is situated in is very green there were beautiful lavenders nearby. Would be fun to use a drone around it but not sure of the legalities

C. S.

The park is a lovely space, kept clean and tidy and has lots of places to run around. The actual abbey costs to go in but they hold lots of fun days during holidays. The kids park is opposite in the car park and it's fairly well maintained. The ice cream van however is very expensive, one of the most expensive in Leeds I've come across.

P. U.

Amazing Cistercian jewel in the city, in what must once have been a tranquil rural valley! How lucky Leeds is!

i. s.

Love this place used to go there as a kid well worth visiting

S. S.

Beautiful and historical place. Very good preserved Abbey and even if it's an old monastery, it has an amazing energy. Perfect place to play hide and seek with the kids and to have a nice picnic on the grass.

J. L.

Gorgeous monastery ruin with plenty of photo opportunities and it’s free to walk around. Lovely picnic areas surrounding it. Additionally, there’s free parking around the corner. Highly recommend.

p. f.

Abbey is a wonderful piece of leeds heritage and history. Lovely grounds so you could easily have a picnic or just relax on the number of benches spread around the grounds or you can have a pleasant walk around the park itself would recommend it for a family trip or as individuals.

L. P.

Beautiful ruins, it must have been a really impressive place in its day.

E. W. S. &. M.

Lovely place for a walk with lots of rich history. They had a farmers market happening on the Saturday when I visited. The information centre is interesting, with free toilets but they are quite rundown.

A. T.

For an historic monument this close to the city it's clean and looked after, it's surrounded by a park and next to the river so it's a lovely hour or two for the family, grab an ice-cream or a bottle of mead at reception to help the walk.

J. V.

Really nice park with the added bonus of the abbey ruins.

D. W.

Nice place to visit for an early morning walk, free car park if your visiting from distance.

J. S.

Beautiful location for a leisurely stroll. Dog friendly. Parking can get very busy and crossing the A65 to get from the car park to the abbey can be tricky. The crossing can get congested. The abbey itself is steeped in history. There is a small museum and a cafe at the visitor centre.

S. R.

Absolutely beautiful place. Hellish walk from Leeds but worth it, it's impressive. I would recommend learning about the place beforehand and taking food, we had little picnic on the grass and it was wonderful, specially with that view. A staple for the city

W. P.

Free parking, interactive and informative museum, and beautiful architecture lovely day out.

A. D.

A calm place, very close to City centre. Monday closed

M. V.

Beautiful ruin of the abbey, sadly it was closed when I went. There is a nice walk from Leeds to the Abbey along the river Aire.

J. T.

Didn't actually visit the abbey. More like walked around the perimeter fence and took photos. But what an awesome ruin of a Cistercian monastery. Having seen Fountains Abbey last year, this is definitely as large, and in better condition. Obviously it's in the middle of Kirkstall so the grounds aren't as impressive. But absolutely worth a visit. Shame I'm not a Leeds resident, or I could have enjoyed free entry. I did visit the Chapel House Museum, which was very interesting, and would suit all ages. The cafe was also nice. Top marks all round.

m. e.

An impressive ruin of a cistrercian monastary that was made defunct during the dissolution of the monastaries by Henry VIII. The monastary was founded in 1152, and considering the locale, it is nice to see very little of the Abbey had been "repurposed" to build other local building, as can be evidenced in other parts of the country. what remains is a fairly intact shell of the main ecclesiastical areas of the abbey, with only the main living & working quarters being in complete ruin. the library and chapterhouse are still there, and you can get a real feel for how much room the monks didn't have in their day to day lives in their devotion. Looking at the map of the area, it is easy to see why the monastary was situated here, and the neccesities of the past make a fantastic backdrop to visiting the place today. there is a wonderful amount of open space, and the river runs close-by. parking is very close (on the other side of the road) there is a visitor centre and a museum nearby too (with toilet facilities!) under current COVID restrictions, there is a sensible 1-way system in place around the main building area, but there is plenty of space and things to do if you visit during a busy time. there are several information boards placed in key areas to explain the different areas of the abbey to help give you a better feel for how the building was used

J. W.

Very nice place, where you can go

R. S.

On a stop over and visited this wonderful 12th century ruined Abbey! Took a tour with a knowledgeable, erudite and funny guide called Kevin, which is a must. Crossed the road to the Museum but got waylaid by the cafe., where we had soup and coffee neither of which were particularly good. It was too late to visit the museum but we will return.

E. R.

Stunning ruins of the old abbey. You can really get a feel for how the place would have looked as a working monastery. Lovely river walk nearby too.

D. B.

I’ve visited Kirkstall Abbey to explore the ruins and learn about the history of the building. I’ve also visited the ruins at Christmas time when there was an event taking place inside the main abbey. It’s a magnificent ruin and I recommend this museum. I think it is one place all Loiners should visit at least once, too - it’s free for Leeds Residents!

N.

Amazing place, highly recommended.

J. W.

Always love coming here for a walk around the site. Unfortunately the Abbey is closed due to the pandemic but is fabulous to just get lost exploring all the nooks and crannies when open. The Kirkstall Abbey market is also a particular highlight and I will be one of the first there when it comes back. Make sure you fully explore all the nature trails around the site as they offer a great escape from the city hustle!

A. S.

Nice place to spend an hour or so. Peaceful place that is well maintained. Free for Leeds residents if you take valid ID

m. h.

Very well keep The guide was really good

P. F.

Walked around the museum and Abbey. You pay to go in the museum. Being a Leeds resident I didn't pay to go round the Abbey. Interesting place to spend a couple of hours.

P. P.

Brilliant, the fact you don't need to buy a ticket is great, fully walk around the old abbey with a huge park around it aswell. Covid 19 track and trace at entrance, little gift shop too.

C. F.

Very pleasant Sunday afternoon. Family tucket less than £12, return as many times as you want for a year. Icecreams in the shot very good value for money. Free parking. Zap the QR code and a 2 min comentry in each 'room. All in all, well run and at price you can afford to take the Family out at. We'll done Leeds Council.

M. W.

The Abbey was open with a 1 way system in operation. The small museum and cafe are still closed. Had no problems parking in the park car park. This was also free.

T. P.

First things first, my daughter is studying at Leeds Uni, no entrance fee needed to be paid, otherwise its £5. We had an extremely knowledgeable guide that took us around the Abbey, learned this that we wouldn't have thought about. Two hours later job done, two happy visitors had tea and cake in the visitors centre, ser ed by a happy chappy that made us feel really welcomed.

S. P.

There are very few abbeys in England that will take you by surprise about how it has hold its structure amongst the fast growing world. Kirkstall abbey is one of a kind. You can just get lost looking at its architecture, shadows and lights of history carved into the bricks. Every nooks and corner is a mistry through its art form. It is situated on the north bank of river Aire, and it is an hour away from the main city of Leeds. The monastery remains here from 1152 AD

C. H.

Great place to relax with the children, or walk the dog. Today's visit was for Kirkstall Festival.Lots of people and fantastic entertainment and foods .

A. T.

Beautiful bit of history here, spent hours just walking around. It's peaceful and relaxing. I will be coming here again as it's not too far from where I live and it's a nice day out.

C.

Lovely place to picnic and absorb the history. Probably the most historic scenic place in the area.

S. S.

It's a beautifully kept area. Lovely and clean with a really accessible route around for wheelchairs/prams. Haven't been inside the tourist part just walked around the area but it's been done up a lot since I was young and think it'd be a great afternoon out nowadays! Fun for all the family, little cafe and museum over the road too, lovely part of Leeds.

S. E.

Perfect for a day out that the whole family can enjoy. Plus it's free so no excuse for a cultural day out on the weekend or during school holidays. Four times a year they hold a market that has stalls selling local produce and street food. Tasty and reasonably priced. A pop up bar was also available. Free twice daily tours. One in the morning and one in the afternoon, usually 11.30 am and 2 pm. Good for adults to walk around the Abbey and adjacent ruins, there are plenty of plaques explaining the different areas and usage of the Abbey and ruins. Children free to run around and play amongst the ruins. Gift shop on site. Child play area and clean toilets. If you just want to enjoy the scenery and setting take a picnic and sit in the park area surrounding the Abbey and chill by the river Aire that runs along side the Abbey grounds.

S. U.

Lovely day out for everyone, Lovely walks l, rivers and picnic areas.

M. ,.

Great ancient castle with so many interesting scenes and architecture. Thr castle is surrounded by a beautiful lake to enjoy a walk or just have a piece of mind.

E. A.

Great for a walk by the river. Picnic tables allover. Art and craft fair on the last weekend of the month.

R. P.

Had a good time at Kirkstall Abbey, the market held there every last weekend of the month was really good. Sad to hear that they're tearing the Abbey down and building a new one. I like the old one.

A. l.

This place is lovely. Nice big car parking is just over the road. I would definitely recommend going is a great walk around the grounds and park

S. O.

A great place to visit If you are into your history. The ruins look amazing. You can explore the whole abbey and there is plenty of areas to have a pic nic. Gift shop available on site.

R. C.

Lovely place to look around. There is free parking and a playground on one side of the road. Then the abbey on the other. I think during the summer you may be able to go in and look about but we were only able to look around outside.

M. G.

Great place. We used guided tour with Ian. He told us really interesting story about this place. Thanks a lot.

J. D. P.

Nice natural environment. Especially good for walking the dog. Historical building was broken with lots of history in it. A good walk under the Sun with a lot of green. Great natural environment which relax you.

V.

Beautiful place specially in summer, People can go for a walk. A good place for kids to play. It’s a old historic monument. Good place for gathering. Their is a farmer market on last weekend of every month where they you get fresh vegetables and food from local farmers.

K. P.

Kirkstall Abbey is well worth a visit if you're nearby. Great place to take kids, and if it's a good day a picnic would be lovely. If you go here, I would also recommend heading to the Abbey Museum on the other side of the road. They've got a load of very old arcade machines which you can still play until your hearts content. I was there hours! They've also got loads of little shop areas set up how they would have been back then, with little houses and all. Great experience and educational for the little ones.

M. S.

Kirkstall Abbey Festival has everything you need for a great family day out. However the Abby itself is worth a visit, tho in ruins now, the atmosphere created by this splendid building is quite palpable. There's plenty of grounds to walk around and find your perfect picnic spot.

R. B.

A good place to visit especially during morning time (opens at 10 am though). Nice place to take a stroll, walk your dog and have s morning run. Nice architecture, canal flowing beside and greenery all around.

D. B.

Gorgeous views, love everything. You can take a lot of cool photos.

E. B.

What an amazing place, steeped in history. Beautiful landscape.Deffinately worth a trip

T. N.

Just a wonderful place lots of history the Abbey is well kept and so are the grounds you can walk paint take photographs or just sit and drink in the atmosphere even have a picnic well worth a visit

C. G.

A lovely, peaceful and moving place to visit. Entry is free and you can walk around both the inside of the abbey and the exterior grounds. There is a short yellow walk and longer blue walk. Signage is very good. Walking around inside gives you a chance to appreciate size of what the abbey must have been back in the day. There is plenty of information dotted around to help you learn about life when the abbey was occupied. Well worth a visit

P.

A lovely place for a family afternoon out. So much space for the children.

P. C. T.

This is a very nice place. Quiet atmosphere and a lot of history. The tour is free and they provide you a map to explore the Abbey. Apart from that, there's a nice walk all around it.

S. H.

Came here as the sun was getting lower in the sky on our way into Leeds on a road trip. This crumbling edifice was amazing to look at and we soaked up as much of it as we could in the short time we spent strolling the green parkland surrounding it. There was even a flock of birds that burst from the main entrance at our approach and proceeded to circle above it's collapsed towers as we watched on. If we lived here I would definitely be going for picnics in it's shadow on a regular basis.

J. M.

Beautifully preserved and nestled in a great location. A really nice day out, plus they have a great little shop right next door and another shop and cafe right across the road. Looking forward to visiting again this summer.

D. T.

Totally beyond my expectation. It took me 3 hours to discover the abbey. The architecture is amazing. More than that, the story telling notes gave me lots of interesting information abt the life of monks in the past.

A. J.

Plenty of space for children to run about. With free parking over the road, open space, a beautiful abbey and sometimes a few plant and craft stalls, it's a great place for the family. Theres a small shop which sells souvineers and ice creams. A very pretty and idyllic place to set up a picnic.

A. S.

It is a fascinating area as there are so many areas all with the reason they were important to the monks who lived there.

H. N.

Lots of open space for kids to run around and explore. Well maintained area and ruins, it felt safe. Museum and cafe across the road plus another small play area for young children. Definitely worth a visit.

P. M.

Large grounds free parking went around the grounds inside the Abbey which is free very friendly and helpful advice from the staff . We also went inside the museum which we thought was expensive. Which was a smaller version of the museum in Hull 'Street Life ' which is free. On balance it wasn't to bad I suppose considering we didn't have to pay to go into the Abbey or pay for the car park . Abbey was very impressive

M. B.

Been coming here for years, for events, walks, casual days out.. and never been disappointed. This weekend we visited for the market in the sunshine and it was beautiful. Parking across the road well managed and the grounds are beautifully kept. Even if there’s nothing specific happening, it’s a great spot to take a stroll and hang out.

b. b.

Never heard of this place till the day I saw it on a website advertising stuff to do during the holidays and had a great day what a lovely place came with my father and daughter 6 and both enjoyed themselves. Free entry toilet facilities and a cafe museum all in immaculate condition deffo worth a visit

A. S.

So calm, beautiful, open place next to city river.. easy accessible via city bus service. You can enjoy open field, kids playing and green landscapes..

C. S.

Easy access free parking and free entry. Gift shop. Easy access to WC ! It is well worth putting donation in on your way out.. must be lovely in the summer well worth a picnic !!!

A.

What a wonderful place!

S. M.

Beautifully preserved ruins

C. L.

Absolutely great for a day out of the hustle and bustle of the city of Leeds but amazingly still so close to it! Come in Spring when the park looks amazing. The Abbey itself is pretty impressive. There is a small fee to go inside but it's worth it. A good spot for bringing a picnic and just chilling in the sun.

D. S.

I've always wanted to look inside the Abbey but it's always been closed off to the public. But went passed the other day and noticed the gates were open. Went in and it's all been done out. It's so nice to be able to walk around and see it all. They also have some information boards inside the Abbey which tell you a little history of the place. Definitely worth a visit.

K. G.

Beautiful place! The abbey is impressive and the surrounding area is perfect for a picnic. I have seen special activities/tours for kids in this place.

C. W. C.

On your annual leave? Don’t know where to go? Look no further! Kirkstall Abbey offers you a quiet place to read, to reflect on yourself or just chill. The entrance is complimentary and highly recommended if you love history!

j. l.

Great historical ruins with beautiful park for children to run free! Visitor centre opens most days at 1000 on opposite side of the road.

P. J. A. C.

I loved this kind of places because their walls have so much to tell, every detail you could admire and take a picture of. I have been told it is astonishing while snowing so I can't wait to come back for some pictures when it is snowing.

J. R.

Visited for Kirkstall festival. Brilliant day out. Made a base opposite the festival so we could dip in an out and had lots of space for the kids to run around. Worked brilliant. Lots to see and do at the festival. And the abbey grounds looks amazing as always.

H. D.

I love this place ,it's flat. Not too much of a walk,it's pretty. Decent carpark ,place to eat and drink if you wish . Nice little shop,nice mead😋. Museum is good although it's years since I've been! Was free when I last went lol ,showing my age now ! Swings and things for the kids too .

F. 7.

Great gem of a place minutes from the heart of the city. Peaceful well maintained gardens and free parking.

M. A. T.

The place is very clean and picturesque. Entrance is through the shop and it is free. Toilets are also available.

C. H.

The most beautiful place u could visit locally its quite and u get to meet dog which r VERY cute

Y. T.

Loved our visit there. Bigger than expected. Very beautiful and interesting. Free admission and free parking. Took lots of nice photos :)

C. “. L.

So lovely...went for an evening walk with the dog 🐕. The Abbey looked beautiful...we are very lucky to have this on our doorstep.

L. 3.

A must see attraction if you are visiting Leeds, the place seems to have a magical feel to it and the fact that it’s free to enter is also amazing, in the summer they are great fairs and shows in grounds that are really worth a visit.

I. G.

Beautiful abbey in a really lovely green part of Leeds. Would be nice to have some information stands or staff around to talk about it. Make it more interactive.

L. J.

Fabulous ruin. Very peaceful place to visit, beautiful ruins.

T. M.

Pretty cool place. Though it's a ruin it's easy to get a taste for the scale of this place. Its free to visit and even had a market on the Sunday that I visited. Quite accessible too from the city centre if you fancy a picturesque walk along the canal towpath (slightly over 1 hr) or simply want to catch the bus (around 20mins).

C. P.

Kirkstall Abbey is an excellent day out. The adjoining museum has a small charge, definitely worth it for the learning experience. The connected tearoom has delicious cakes! The abbey (and parking) are both free entry and it’s a great experience with lots to learn. I’d highly recommend taking the tour. The guides are enthusiastic and knowledgeable - and deserve your support!

B. R.

Amazing place to visit. Despite the morons who were climbing all over it right in front of the "do not climb signs" we had a great time and got some amazing pictures.

D. T.

Very big abbey ruins that's been well preserved and it's free to get in as well. Well worth a visit if you like you're history.

M. p. U.

Kirkstall Abbey fantastic place for full familly day out nad FREE

L. M.

Visitor's information centre is not marked, and almost left without entering. Some Visitors were also taking photos from outside the Castle because they had no idea how to get inside

P. K.

Well kept for its age Lots of plaques telling the history of the various parts of the Abbey Very quiet and tranquill nice to be able to take in the ambiance of the abbey

K. G.

Beautiful ruins but due to proximity to the city very busy. Good entertainment outside for around 1.5 hours.

G. K.

Absolutely brilliant place to take the family, so much space for just fun or for educational activities

S. M. M. H.

Amazing place for a day picnic and outdoor day! it's very beautiful and open nice landscape for all family members to enjoy

D. M.

A very nice and historical place, lovely for a nice walk with the family. The only negative point is the children climbing the ruins and the parents not minding it. This is a ruin that should be preserved, and so there should be more security in order to prevent people from poluting this area or kids climbing the ruins. This is not a playground and should be respected.

N. B.

A good value for money day out. The museum across from the abbey has a Victorian Street that allows kids to see how people in late 19th century Britain lived. Upstairs is a gallery containing artifacts and displays from Leeds' past. This includes a collection of antique pinball machines that can be played using authentic old pennies!

P. M.

Superb bit of history, destroyed by Henry VIIIs thugs during the reformation, but the outer still largely intact, is a shame as it is regarded as one of the finest ruins from that period which attracts people from all over and is perhaps Leeds' greatest tourist spot and local point of intrest, great place, fantastic history, love going here.

R. R. (.

Kirkstall Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in Kirkstall, north-west of Leeds city centre in West Yorkshire, England. It is set in a public park on the north bank of the River Aire. It was founded c. 1152. It was disestablished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries,

M. M.

Absolutely beautiful and good place for a day trip or picnic.

C. B.

Lovely place to walk around especially when the sun is out.

A. L.

It's a beautiful place to have some walk and take amazing photos. If you have a pet I'm sure it will enjoy the grass hehe.

E. S.

Beautiful place. Must see if you are in the area.

J. K.

Well worth a visit, plenty to keep children interested.

s. k.

What an amazingly soothing place to be at. The beautiful historic Abbey in the town of Leeds. When you get lost in the busy town and need that relaxation of fresh air please do visit it and you will come across the old bricks walls and corridors of the Abbey. The place also sometimes hold Harry potter theme events, so do keep a check.

S. L.

Lovely place, historic, great for adults and children, very scenic, also great place for day walking or joggers etc.

M. B.

This is one amazing piece of history and the grounds surrounding are great. Really nice place to relax.

T. E.

Amazing to think that this was one of the most important buildings in early England. It was one of the most powerful estates in the country and one of the richest. Look into it further and find out from the information dotted around the park. Honestly it is incredible to think we have over 1000 years of history right on our doorstep!!!

D. O.

Beautiful place not too far from the city centre. A reprieve from the hustle and bustle, and a whole lot of greenery.

M. v. d. T.

It's a great place for a walk and it's got some interesting facts on the old ruins definitely worth a stop if you are going past it anyway

D. M.

Had a stroll round Kirkstall Abbey while on a road trip, was great to look at.

m. d.

It is an exciting place to visit, it has large open space for strolling and likewise a small river channel.

S. F.

Great place for family picnics and outdoor fun and games. Plenty of bins so don't need to litter. Free carpark and child's playground over the road along with the abbey museum. Have flown my drone here a few times and got some beautiful shots of the Abbey and have had fun with family playing on the large open space. Looking forward to more trips back here when the weather is better

W. L.

Really nice place so close to the city. Big area when you can have a picnic or walk your dogs. The remaining of abbey are very impressive and you can see them for free

A. H.

Interesting place to visit impressive Abbey ruins and free entrance. Great museum over the road well worth a visit

I. R. M. M.

Great architecture and a lovely walk

D. B.

Beautiful place, even better with free entry. Come on a sunny day and have a picnic in the nearby park.

M. G.

Gorgeous conatruction, with a beautiful garden in the outside and also a Museum that is on the other side of the road that must be visited! Very interesting historical place, close to Leeds city centre (about 20 minutes by bus)

C. G.

Fantastic conservation project really close to Leeds Some good information about the buildings dotted around the place, although I would have loved to have read more about the theology of the monks, the Benedictine Rule and other historical/theological points Free to enter between 10am and 4pm, last entry half an hour before closing

R. G.

Lovely walk around the ruins of the Abbey, free parking close by or short 20 minute bus ride from the centre of Leeds. Entrance free to Abbey via the gift shop/information centre. Well worth a visit

A. V.

Nice peaceful and quiet place. With old abbey which counting nearly 1000 years now. There is a river near as well good place to visit if you living near somewhere as u won't going to spend here more then and hour i think.

Y. A.

Really good grounds to visit, nice walk around. Well worth a visit with free parking.

R. B.

Good Place to Study History. Have a Picnic. Attend a Music Event. Visit The Museum.

S. O.

Really nice open space to take children for walks and explore the Abbey We done with the fairy and flower event A thumbs up to Leeds city council 😊🧚‍♂️

D. C.

Always worth the time… this is a glorious historic ruin in a beautiful and peaceful setting. Go. Take a friend or relative and a camera.

S.

Beautiful abbey. A lot of places to sit or hsve picnic at. Very clean with River for dogs

D. T.

Beautiful place for an afternoon walk. Lots of green space. Close to the Leeds city. Nice bit of history.

A. B.

A beautiful place to spend the afternoon. Interesting history of the Abbey and the monks that live there. Well worth a visit.

A. S.

Good Place for a day out, Local for leeds and located down the road from a shopping complex and also over the road from a museum

D. W.

Great place to visit with friends and family, and pets get to roam around in the surroundings.

Μ. η. Ά.

A very understated place, happened upon a street market as well, great weather, great place, a fantastic day all round!

E. B.

Beautiful park and Abbey. Plus free parking! What's not to like.

R. B.

We had a lovely walk around the Abbey and were presently surprised that it was free to enter. Stunning scenery.

S. B.

Why would you not love this place, historic beautiful and plenty to do here for the whole family including outdoor cinema on occasion.

P. H.

Fantastic walks, brilliant abbey ruins.

R. S.

Beautiful place especially with the spring flowers coming through and not at all busy - no nosiey kids on bikes or scooters so could walk about with confidence of not getting run into!

D. D.

Small Abby to walk around on the outside. Don’t know if you have to pay to enter the Abbey. Don’t think it’s worth paying to see the ruins on the inside.

D. E.

The Abbey itself is beautiful and easy to get to with parking nearby and the Abbey house museum for kids. We went to the weekend market here recently. Not many stalls, mostly craft stuff, cake and hot food. Food is quite expensive and there are almost as many food trucks/vendors as there are market stalls. There were a couple of vegan options (basically the veggie option minus the cheese or curry). The carpark was extended to meet demand but as many people were leaving as arriving suggesting to me that people were not staying long. The market is too limited in size to keep you entertained for more than an hour. Events at the Abbey seem to be hit and miss, I've heard people go to things here that have been much smaller/ not as interesting as they expected and others who have really enjoyed an event here.

S. D. G.

Beautiful place to have a family picnic. Beautiful surroundings with an air if peace and tranquillity

D. H.

Beautiful ruin, nice park around, next to bus stop and it's free entry. Wish the food market were open when i was there. Maybe it's a sign for me tobe back once it's open. 🙂

L. C.

Great place to have a walk in and huge park around it, to chill pic-nic and having fun with friends and childrend.

I. F.

Amazing views, enough to spend around an hour walking the abbey and its surroundings. Free entrance and free parking in the other side of the road

N.

Absolutely recommended if you are in to history. Very well preserved and free entrance.

P. A.

I remember visiting the Abbey on a school trip 40+ years ago. It's definitely worth a visit, historical ruin with many things to be learnt, beautiful grounds alongside the river

S.

Peaceful and well preserved abbey. Free entry. Be aware if you are old fashioned and still use a camera you may be accused if being on a photo shoot and face questions from staff.

M. B.

Very cool place. Clean and quiet. Family and pet friendly area. Overall a great spot to chill.

L. C.

Great to kill an hour or so. Lots of history and free to walk around the grounds with free parking. Very happy with my experience... Thank you

S. F.

Beautiful 12th century abbey ruins, surrounded by a lovely park fit for dog walking

j.

My favorite place in Leeds

J. H.

lovely day out with friends and her family,i havnt been for years, the kids loved playing with mud kitchen and then had picnic in grounds, brilliant day and weather nice too.

S. S.

A pleasant walk by the River and around the abbey, astonishing history, and sad for the monks here used to routinely beat subservient monks, and call it religion. Still goes on with abuse in the Catholic system, and many other religions, and punishment for not praying, sounds more like a devil than a God.. shame about the ruins tho paradoxically maybe the German bombs helped some here

L. R.

It's free!!! That's a rarity and a lovely parkland, lots of crocus flowers and a very beautiful Abbey. Lots more of it than at first appears with good info boards.

N. K.

Although the inside and the museum are not open you can still walk around the park and enjoy the spring flowers

K. H.

Absolutely gorgeous buildings amongst stunning scenery, I'm definitely bringing friends that visit me from other cities here again.

a. d.

For weekdays and weekends , if you’re a nature lover and love to walk around with your loved ones, then definitely it’s the place to look forward too.

A. G.

Free to access and really large and photogenic.

K. A.

I've not been here for ages but it's certainly nice to see the old monastery is hanging in there, a nice place for a walk around,or maybe a family picnic.

J. L. G.

Stunning location, an audio tour or more information dotted around would have enhanced the visit. Will go back and take more photos and absorb more of its history

G. B.

Great place for a gentle stroll around the ruined abbey. Large lawned areas. Lovely gift shop on site. Large car park and ice-cream van over the road. Pedestrian crossing allowing easy access to cross conveniently. Lovely museum and cafe close by across the road

S. F.

A bit of history located in Kirkstall in Leeds. You are able to walk around the gardens and the Abbey at your own leisure. Great for history enthusiasts.

F. L.

With a good day this place is fantastic! The garden around the Abbey is stunning

S. C.

Loved the place. It has a neat interesting history for a small place, and the architecture is a wonder to gaze at.

C. B.

What more can i say than this place is soooo beautiful very good for family life feeding ducks etc .. plus the lovely scenery around you what is there not to like here in beautiful leeds..

E. G.

Perfect venue for a late screening of horror film 'It'. It was quite sheltered so not as cold as i was expecting, & the atmosphere was excellent.

S. W.

Great space and very scenic, little gift and coffee shop too which is a nice touch. Playground across a busy street

K. T.

Very precious ancient ruins. How sublime! This is worth seeing. And nice park.

V. X.

A smallish ruin - you can see most structure and form from the outside. Not realty worth paying to go inside.

R. B. O.

Amazing place, the Kirkstall Abbey is very impressive. I recommend.

S. J.

Free car parking & free entry into the Abbey ruins, what's not to like?. Can be busy especially at weekends on a fine day. Cafe & toilets onsite. Kids will love playing among the ruins.

K. M.

Very historic and beautiful anytime if the year. Often have art and homemade gift stalls in summer. Good for families and friends alike. Great for picnics in summer

S. O.

Good walk. Nice staff at the Gatehouse Cafe. Service little slow, but kind, friendly staff. Fruit is overpriced.

J. S.

Wonderful walk around the old abbey grounds, an a lovely cafe with good food across from the abbey with free admission to the museum and free parking.

R. J.

Lovely few cheap day out!! Interesting and beautiful in the sunshine, take a picnic

l.

Don't have to buy tickets to see Abbey. Lovely walk around it. Not very big. But nice

K. B.

Wonderful place to spend time with family. I appreciate a lot of things to do here. The abbey is breathtaking...

S. W.

Very well preserved abbey with informative museum and displays. Well worth a trip

P. L.

A beautiful space with a shop on site and an excellent café just across the road ☺

A. S.

This place was stunning, so much fun exploring the old ruin. Try go around sunset for an extra special view!

f. b.

Beautiful and splendid

V. S.

Amazing place very interesting if you’re near take a look around

S. A.

Lovely place and free the Abbey remains are stunning

L. G.

Nice, historic place. It's nice to go out and relax for a while at the park next to the ruins. I would recommend.

P. G.

Nice place for a stroll but the grounds arent very big. Nice cafe on the other side of the road and also a shop located in the Abbey park. Please check on line for the Abbey opening times.

E. G.

It a peaceful place to walk around .The flower scater around the ground look lovely

A. J.

Great space for family activities. Free car parking at the abbey and over the road in the park

H. R.

Great place for kids to come and explore, would definitely encourage a game of hide and seek here! And if it's been raining ☔ it does give the opportunity for a. Few puddles to be jumped in!

M. C.

Amazing place. A mix of history and nature at the same spot.

C. P.

It's free. ♥️ So why isn't there a big sign at the entrance to tell people it free. Excellent otherwise.👍♥️

S. K.

Interesting walk around for history and architecture fans. Plenty of exploring to do around the ruins and beautiful gardens to stroll through

C. M.

It's worth visiting. It is very beautiful.

M. W.

A lovely place to visit and lots of things explore. we were there for over an hour!

j. m.

Lovely place to walk round

4. 5.

I’m always amazed at finding the Abbey where it is. I love how the space provides people are the city somewhere to relax and play outdoors with some history and culture.

V. H.

Lovely place to visit, take a picnic and sit by the river.

d. r.

Great place to visit highly recommend and it's free too!

M. H.

Fabulous ruins. Easy to get to. Free entry. Free parking. Great way to spend an hour with the kids exploring.

g. u.

Really good information is around which helps guest shop place helpful and would have liked a little more info but it passed a good hour peaceful lovely if weather's nice

K. T.

A lovely day out, especially if you enjoy exploring the ruins. Would love a better model of what it used to look like.

J. H.

A great place to stroll around, especially when the sun is shining. There is a superb farmers' market there every last Saturday and Sunday of the month offering all kinds of treats: pizzas, beers, bagels and incredible brownies. I particularly recommend the doughnuts from the Olianos stand!

M. W.

A lovely historic landmark. First time I've visited it in years, and, a first time visit for my wife, who was also impressed. Well maintained and beautiful to see.

E. K.

Lovely place to visit especially with children. There is free parking next to the playground. Flower gardens are very peaceful and can be found next to the museum that has a cafe and outdoor seating area. The abbey itself is a beautiful maze and a short walk will take you close to Leeds Liverpool canal as well. It's not far at all from amenities and there is a nice woodland walk taking you to the centre.

S. M.

FREE entry and parking. They have FREE guided tours available with volunteers who are very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. Make a day of it, take a picnic, play in the park, its fun for all the family.

M. O.

Absolutely amazing place to walk around.

S. W.

Beautiful day out lots of seating area staff brilliant

J. T.

absolutely wonderful place out of this world really amazing sceneries

O. O.

Really nice to see. This Abbey was established almost a thousand years ago and de-established about 500 years later by Henry VIII. I reckon it would have been a stunning structure in its golden years.

J. T.

For a place with free entry I have to say this is excellent. There is lots to see around the Abbey and good information panels too. There is a shop with toilet facilities and across the road There is a cafe at the museum. Car parking is free just across the road at the side of the museum.

J. S.

Had a pleasant few hours here.Very interesting and well worth a visit.Museum very good.

M. S.

Sat in the car park eating battered sausage and chips! Carb-based fun for the whole family!

D. S.

Enjoyed my visit to the Abbey ruins. The grounds are maintained very well. Saw a sign that there's a farmer market there once a month.

K. M.

Beautiful park 😍 Love the trees and nature. Could do with more flowers and trees.

S. O.

Great place for a picnic by the river and to walk around the beautiful abbey. Free car park across the road. Don't go on Mondays as the visitor centre is closed and we couldn't find any toilets.

M. R.

Lovely place !

A. A.

A very beautiful place.

L.

Always a lovely day out and walk round. Child and dog friendly

S. L.

Lovely place for a walk, not too many people around

D. “.

Lovely abbey on the banks of the River Aire with short walks and gardens. Nice place to meander with parking nearby. Apparently there's markets here on the last wknd of every month.

S. J.

800 year old ruined Abbey in a small-ish park, by a river walk and only 15 minutes from Leeds City Centre

J. W.

An extremely Beautyful Historical Places the remnants are astounding. Extraordinary for a stroll with your kids or pets. It's a decent spot for cookout. Extraordinary spot for bring you children.there is a parking area close to the remnants and it's free. A Playground for youngsters are directly close to the vehicle leaving. A waterway passed by the remnants

S. C.

Great place to meet up with friends. Children enjoy the space and Abby house museum. You can get lovely food and coffee in the cafe. Also some good shops at kirkstall.

E. A.

Nice to go for a walk take the kids for ride on there bike ruined to explore

S.

Great place to soak up some history or simply enjoy a relaxed walk around the beautiful ruins and the surrounding park. Very atmospheric.

D. J.

Pleasant walk. Good cafe with lovely little museum over the road. Well kept gardens, some great photos to be taken here.

N. B.

Kirkstall abbey is quite ok. Nice infrastructure to see and photograph. Anyways, the museum on the opposite side of the road is overrated and they charge you 6 pounds (adult price) to get to see 2 floors (1st is victorian themed and 2nd for kids). The 3rd floor was closed. I honestly think they should reduce the fees when certain galleries are not available to see.

M. E. (. E.

The ruins themselves are great to explore but the museum opposite is worth a look as well. There's plenty of festivals etc that run throughout the year that are also great to attend

S. W.

Great for walking, cycling, family time outdoors. Free parking, cafe and museum. Biggest drawback all bins over flowing, rubbish strewn everywhere. Plus there's always 'that' group of people that have no consideration for other patrons and clog up the pathways and routes restricting access for others in a shared space. Nothing can be done about this, but worth a mention, lol.

J. F.

Beautiful and picturesque ruins of cistercian abbey with a little gift shop and a nicely manicured lawn for a picnic with friends or family.

J. L.

Wonderful light and easy walk. Good path. Cafe over the road. Free parking.

D.

Beautiful monument and had a one way system for COVID - lovely walk too! Well worth the visit

L. A.

It is so beautiful. The perfect place to relax !

I. S.

For what should be a lovely trip, it is just another venue that is abused by trashy people literring everywhere. It is beyond me how people think it is acceptable to throw their trash in and around the Abbey. Outside of that it was great to walk around and visit. The staff were great and also friendly.

P. B.

Great free to visit attraction just outside of Leeds City centre.

D. B.

We had fun trying to find the sheep and crossing them of our sheet There was also a free craft pack, to use, a mud kitchen and play area. Lots of fun exploring the abbey was had today with a 2, 5, 7,9, 12,12 year olds. Closed on Mondays, and parking can be difficult. There is also a park picnic area and large sports fields across the road next to the car park. A good stocked shop and clean toilets in the abbey too.

R. M.

Good picnic point, I would suggest make your picnic point near lake

I. M.

Amazing place full of history... One of the abbeys that still stands trough time

J. R.

Excellent abbey and very complete and impressive, free entry, free car park too. Great cafe a cross the road, along with a small museum.

L. C. (. P.

Lovely place to visit for picnics and to look around the Abbey.

G. T.

A gem of a place, loads to look at and do down stairs with interactive toys upstairs.

e.

Not as well published as the media historians fav of fountains and revuax abbey's kirkstall abbey is a gem and the good folk at leeds council still committed to free entry well done leeds

J. B.

Lovely day for a wander around the ruins. The visitor centre was open so we were able to go through into the ruins. 😊 Nice to imagine what a room / area might have been

P. D. (.

Lovely surroundings can see lots of it for free

j.

Really suprised at how much I enjoyed it! I'm not normally a historical person but it was so amazing to see what's left of the abbey and suprsingly there's a decent amount left. It was very intresting to see how and where monks spent their lives. Would definitely recommend a visit, plus it's all free what more could you want?!

K. H.

Great open space with good pathways for walking

T. G.

Very interesting place to visit an learn about ciscertain monks way of life

D. L.

Inside perfect view

D. N.

Lovely to sit in the shade at a picnic table for lunch.

s. m.

I absolutely love this place, it's relaxing, it's serene. I come here alot to sit and reflect and relax.

A. M.

Very nice and craft + street food market .nice coffee from info center

R. M.

By far the most peaceful spot to picnic in Leeds ! The abbey ruins are gorgeous and perfect for those Instagram worthy photo ops. There's a huge retail park at a 2 min walk with ample parking space and a lot of popular brands. The entry to the abbey is free and open to general public. There are a lot of entry / exit points so do remember which one you used to enter the abbey grounds. There are a lot of benches and shady trees to give you a peaceful spot and soak in some Vitamin D It's has ample space to play around and you could use one of the walking routes to explore the area.

G.

A very popular spot. Great for families. Still a lovely place to go, grounds free to enter, but now there is a charge to enter the Abbey ruins.

E. R. M.

A lovely place , nice atmosphere. Definitely a place to go at all times of year for photoshoot or just to have a look around.

P. T.

Lovely little spot for a chilled picnic and wander..

C. P.

Brilliant place to visit both the Abbey and the museum

N. D.

Lovely place to spend an hour or two on a sunny day

C. H.

Beautiful Abbey and nice little park. Lots of parking space.

A. R.

It looks even more mysterious in the evening. One of the most significant landmarks of Leeds.

E. G.

Lovely walk around the Abbey brings back childhood memories

K. S.

Went for a picnic on Mother's Day. Didn't use or visit the museum or cafe.

A. R.

Nice place to visit with a park nearby

J. R.

One of my favorite places to go for a walk. Nice scenery and plenty of parking

S. M.

Very nice place to visit. I think it is pretty unique for such an old abbey in such a populated and busy area. There isn’t loads to do but the abbey is still impressive despite being ruins with some interesting info as you walk around. Then just nice park grounds on the river bank. Does get very busy on nice days and there is only a small official car park across the road.

C. E.

Great tourist attraction. Plenty to see and do in and around the grounds. Monthly and annual events take place. A visitor centre is in the grounds and Abbey House museum is just across the road

J. R.

Excellent. Love the little old streets and the the how they lived in the 1800s. Not just the old but there is some more modern exhibitions. Food was beautiful, great fun for all.

C. S.

Loved my walk. Saw plenty of wildlife!

B. H.

It was the artisan market held each month and was amazing.

D. w.

Very impressive with lots of history

H. C.

Nice area to see a historic abbey and the surrounding grounds are great for walking. Nice spot next to the river Aire too.

J. W.

Love this place if ya have kids this place is great to explore! Always some sort of free thing on for the kids! All I would say is the main abbey bit has become a huge pigeon grave yard! They get stuck in the nets and slowly die...

k. d.

Beautiful scenery and a lovely walk with friends.

G. C.

Lovely place on a bright day, really enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere

A. C.

Great historical site. Free map with tour info at the entrance. Lovely market in the main courtyard once a month.

P. B. I.

The place is lovely for a nice walk. Clean grass and plenty to see, the Abbey offers free parking. We did a lovely photo shoot, these images are shot with the Huawei Mate 30 Pro. The dress is by Laura Jane in Horsforth.

K. H.

Kirkstall is a lovely walk around, dog friend and easy to get too. Interesting ruins.

C. P.

Very nice place to visit if you are in Leeds

J. L.

Excellent place to visit

G. C.

Lots of overflowing litter bins in the park. The Abbey is excellent

L. R.

A lovely experience even with covid restrictions in place

J. S.

Absolutely fantastic place to visit

B. S.

Nice and quiet area to relax and walk.

J. B.

Very much enjoy a day out to kirkstal abbey, the museum is fun and the kids really enjoy walking around the streets, they allways have a trail for the kids to do too so that keeps it interesting for them, its well worth the money and then can go for a walk around the ruins. Theres toilets both at the museum and the shop on the abbey, however the loos are closed monday, really good fun cheap day out!!

1.

Grab a ice cream from the van and enjoy a walk

W. D.

Looks awesome, Nice walk. Shame its shut on monday.

A. B.

It was free and I was allowed to bring my bike round. Had to go through the shop though.

A. H.

Great place for a Sunday morning walk.

M. C.

A pleasant place to spend a few hours or more if there's an event on. I get irritated by the constant supply of people climbing on the ruins where it says "do not climb" but that's just life these days isn't it? A lovely spot, ample parking nearby and lots to see / learn.

D. B.

Beautiful, peaceful and fascinating place.

c. j.

Beautiful spot , great for a nice walk

M. 1.

Nice place to visit...But... it looks like it is in need of some investment.. bin bags full of rubbish stacked up inside the abbey and a random garden shed.. a little bit of maintenance is required then it would be on par with Whitby Abbey.

R. N.

Great place for photos and drone footage

j. b.

My 5 year old granddaughter loved the dressing up and stories about children and the old shops in the past in the museum.

N. L.

Lovely place and it's free! Kids enjoyed it.

R. G.

Great place for day out with kids.

K. M.

Very beautiful! The little game of finding sheep's is cute and keeps the tourists moving and interested. Perfect outing for a sunny day!

M. S.

Nice secluded area for strolls. Historic Abbey with on site cafe.

D. C.

Had a fabulous picnic here on Sunday. The site is beautiful, a river with wear runs along the bottom of the site with benches dotted about from people's bequest. The picnic areas surely d the whole of the Abbey grounds. There is the usual souvenir sbop and coffee house on approach to the site.....we did'nt look in on the day.The toilets on site are easily accessible and clean. Bins aplenty are scattered around for control of litter and this is heartening to behold. There is a market within the grounds of the Abbey square --at the end of the month and this was the first weekend since the lockdown that they took to their stalls again. The central corridor through the church would be a superb wedding venue....just the best possible aesthetically and romantically.!! The car park is across the road with can be e tended by the field all bride for further parking space. And the ice cream van stands slap bang an route to the Abbey for the end of picnic snack on the way be k to the car.

J. C.

Gorgeous at all times of the year, but especially autumn!

T. M.

It's best place for time spending with family

S. A. V.

Good place for picnic, moderate walking, free parking

T. D.

A lovely day out especially when the kirkstall festival is on!

k.

One of my favourite place in Leeds. Great space for kids. Would recommend!

J. H.

Lovely to have a walk around. My partner and I walked from Leeds to the Kirkstall Abbey and back and loved it!

S. A.

Beauty and peace, go solo or in groups to sit and relax with some good food

A. P.

Check out the food festival on the last sat & sun of the month.

H. P.

Pretty walk. Good market and events on.

G. M.

Been visiting the abbey since I was a kid. Very peaceful and relaxing area, and the abbey itself is gorgeous

S. M.

I liked stepping back in time and walking down the parts where those holy man were walking centuries ago. However, I felt that importance of the Abbey has been neglected and inadequately presented.

g. g. (.

Its a wonderful place for the whole family Clean historic happy nice people i saw a drone flying over the abby taking photos he let me look was amazing saw thing's ive never seen saw people magnitfishig saw couples walking hand in hand taking in the beauty . A wonderful place for all the family i recommended whole heartily 😇🤔

P. H.

Picturesque. Historic. Atmospheric. Close to facilities yet has a separateness and a wildness. Comforts are available for the needy,

B. P.

Great place for for a walk up to the Abbey!!!

N. G.

Super, I love Leeds in general, such a clean and organized City

T. S.

everything great and free entrance

C. S.

It's a wonderful place to visit particularly in the summer, with it's riverside location, it's a spectacular ruined Abbey. A Leeds gem

J. F.

Great venue for photo shoot.

R. M.

Love it, there is a gorgeous tree which looks magical in summer and autumn

M. M.

This is my early morning walk! 3 times round the Abbey each morning . It's only when you see visitors taking photos that you realise how lucky we are to have this wonderful 12th century Abbey on our doorstep. Free to go round the Abbey and use the large grassy grounds. Access is usually through the visitor centre and shop but due to covid, you can walk straight in and follow the directions.Over the road is a museum used by school parties and popular with local children which has a victorian street, shop and cafe. There is a playground adjacent to the car park. If you and your family want a free, fun day , bring a picnic and sit in the shade of the magnificent Abbey.

S. K.

This visit was for a run, great grounds with level paths.

L. P.

Very nice and scenic on a sunny day by the river lovely Abbey ruins and a nice park over the road for the kids also pub does decent food 100 yds up the road or nice spot for a picnic 👍👍

E. H.

Beautiful place where Patrick Bronte proposed to his wife Maria.

K. V.

Nice place to visit.. it's nice to learn some history and to imagine how monks was living in there..

S. U.

Excellent ancient abbey ruins. Free entry. Worth visiting.

J. S.

Amazing ruins. Free to walk round and lots to see and read about. It’s staggering how big it is.

J. H.

So spiritual and on my doorstep💕 I love this place💕

G. P.

A must visit at leeds . It's so peaceful and lovely place. Can bring your pets along

G. H.

Free to tour the grounds and free car park nearby (across a busy road) where there's also a cafe with toilets. Pleasant walk by the river + lawns for picnics.

D. H.

A serene Abbey in a state of ruin, surrounded by grassland, gardens and the relaxing river Aire. Plenty of places to sit down and relax and I take in the atmosphere. A must visit for any Leeds resident.

T. C.

A great place to go alone or with friends and family. Perfect for dog walkers. In Summer it is great for BBQ's and picnics and doesn't get too crowded unlike other parks. During lockdown I have use it for jogging because it is a decent sized park and has the long Kirkstall toad leading up to it.

M. R.

Free car parking over the road. A wonderful place to visit even though you have to enter/exit via the gift shop.. prepare you young ones so you don't spend hours in there instead of in the ruins! Lots of ruins to explore with a kids play area tucked away in the middle. Picnic area in the middle too so take some snacks! We finished with a walk along the waters edge where you can see lots of fish if you have a keen eye and the kids (and us) loved it

R. W.

Lovely walk in all seasons, lovely cafe

D. B.

Beautiful well kept ruins. Lovely on a sunny day, especially with all the local food stalls out the weekend we were there. Kids enjoyed it too. Nice walk along the river as well and ample car parking opposite. The museum was worth it too. Good afternoon out.

M. D. V. E.

It's free, though it's good enough to charge. One of the best Abbies to visit. The cafe is good and the busy road easy to cross. Parking also free.

A. J.

Amazing to see, great information boards, beautiful area.

c.

Beautiful ruins and grounds. Had a picnic and took the dog for a wonder. Ice cream van was parked up on the carpark across the road too

K. R.

Just love the atmosphere, the ambience the feeling of walking through the past. One of my favourite places ever

A. S.

Very lovely place for a short visit. Easy walks, beautiful grounds and a decent cafe on the other side of the road with free parking. Essentially a ruined abbey with grounds and a gift shop. There is a children's play area next to the car park.

Z. A.

Beautiful and quiet park. Nice for walking, picnics and knocking around.

R. B.

very nice place and I hope to open a small cafe in it and open the church to see what imside it

d. Y.

The Real Almighty closed this down. Henry VIII. NO other almighty existed

J. L.

Lovely place had a great walk around in the sunshine

E. I.

Great place for walking the dog, have a family stroll or picnic. Entrance to the Abbey has opening hours otherwise the grounds around the area are open all day. Big patches of green grass and the canal is running nearby.

v.

Ruins of a beautiful Cistercian Abbey, by the side of the river Aire. The original warehouse of the Abbey is today a museum. It contains a Victorian street representing the trades of Leeds. Vintage penny machines with the early moving parts. Then partake of food in the cafe also a gift shop.

R. W.

Great place for picnic outside the kirkstall. The abbey it self is also very interesting

T. M. S.

Nice place..can picnic

k. r.

I really enjoyed my visit

D. W.

Loved exploring here. I was fascinated by the architecture. Lovely peaceful place and the park was lovely. We sat on a bench near the river and watched the swans. 🙂

Contact

Photos