By John Baron
The number of visitors to Abbey House Museum surged by 44 per cent last year, following council proposals to close the museum.
The museum was saved from closure last February following a public consultation and a community campaign which featured a protest, public meeting and a petition with over 6,500 signatures.
The eight council-run Leeds Museums and Galleries sites saw a total of 1,046,372 people flock to an innovative programme of exhibitions, displays and events, according to statistics just released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA).
The figures, covering the period January-December 2025, represent a 16 per cent rise in visitor numbers compared to the previous calendar year.
Kirkstall’s Abbey House Museum enjoyed a 44 per cent increase in visitors, following proposals to close the facility due to budget pressures.
Opened in 1927, Abbey House Museum is home to three replica Victorian streets and features displays of childhood games and toys from all eras.
The museum is currently hosting In the Picture, an exhibition which showcases a fascinating selection of objects, thought-provoking paintings and photographs drawn from the vast Leeds Museums and Galleries collection.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “These incredible visitor numbers are a huge endorsement of our wonderful museums and galleries and the hard work, diligence and creativity of our curators, site teams and volunteers, who all contribute so much to creating such a fantastic experience for hundreds of thousands of people.
“It also speaks volumes about the boundless appetite people in Leeds and all over the world have for discovering more about history, culture and the arts as they come and explore our sites and world class collection.
“The council is very proud that our commitment to culture has enabled such a successful year for our museums and galleries and given so many people the chance to have fun, learn and be inspired.”
Dr David Hopes, head of service for Leeds Museums and Galleries added: “As well as thanking our staff and volunteers for their tireless work, I’d also like to thank the people of Leeds for continuing to visit their local museums and galleries.
“The extraordinary collections built by generations of local people are a precious resource and belong to every citizen. We deeply appreciate public support as we continue to invest in making our museums and galleries even better.”
Among the country’s largest services of its kind, Leeds Museums and Galleries operates eight sites in total: Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum, Temple Newsam House, Lotherton Hall, Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds Industrial Museum in Armley and Leeds Discovery Centre.
For more information on Leeds Museums and Galleries, visit: Leeds Museums and Galleries | Days out and exhibitions.
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