Leeds Art Galleries

(Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK)

The art galleries of Leeds have long been an important attraction for tourists, particularly since most are completely free to enter and often come with big-name artists, sculpture gardens and commercial exhibition spaces. Especially notable in Leeds is the Henry Moore Institute, while the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery is also very worthy of attention.

Out of all the galleries and art museums, it is the Leeds City Art Gallery that really stands out from the crowd and this venue is especially historical, since it opened as far back as 1888, being funded by public subscription. Today, this important building is now Grade-II listed and underwent a major renovation program in 2007, when many significant improvements were made. Also very much of note are a number of outlying art galleries, located in nearby Brighouse and Wakefield.

Leeds City Art Gallery

Address: The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AA, England
Tel: +44 (0)113 247 8248
Leeds City Art Gallery, in the heart of the city centre, is amongst the premier visual art centres in West Yorkshire, being home to an outstanding collection of art, including Victorian paintings, English watercolour paintings and numerous sculptures by British artists. Visitors should expect to find works by many famous artists, such as Holman Hart, Andre Darain, L. S. Lowry and Henry Moore. With several different art galleries, a café area, many temporary exhibitions, family activities and a gift shop, this is an especially popular attraction for tourists and stands on the Headrow, close to both the Central Library and the Town Hall.
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Wednesday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery

Address: Parkinson Building, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, England
Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2778
Located on the campus of the University of Leeds, next to St. George's Park and the College of Art and Design, the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery comes with a permanent collection of paintings and many regular, temporary exhibitions. Home to a number of paintings by highly regarded artists, such as Jacob Kramer and John Baptiste Camille Corot, this venue is well worth a visit.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Henry Moore Institute

Address: 74 Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AA, England
Tel: +44 (0)113 234 3158
The Henry Moore Institute is housed in an award-winning building which was built in 1993. There are a number of impressive art galleries on the ground floor, where you will find many temporary exhibitions, as well as an archive area on the first floor, and a large seminar room in the basement area. The Henry Moore Institute is situated in the city centre, close to many of the city's major tourist attractions, such as the Leeds City Art Gallery, the Stanhope Memorial Hall, the Cathedral and the Headrow Shopping Centre.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Wakefield Art Gallery

Address: 1 Wentworth Terrace, Wakefield, WF1 3QW, England
Tel: +44 (0)1924 305 900
The Wakefield Art Gallery lies within the neighbouring city of Wakefield, just 18 km / 11 miles to the south, next to Clayton Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. Home to an impressive, permanent collection of paintings and sculptures, including works by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and David Hockney, the Wakefield Art Gallery also features regular temporary exhibitions by up-and-coming artists.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:30 to 16:30, Sunday - 14:00 to 16:30
Admission: free

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Address: Bretton Hall, West Bretton, Wakefield, WF4 4LG, England
Tel: +44 (0)1924 830 579
Another particularly noteworthy cultural highlight in Wakefield, the impressive Yorkshire Sculpture Park is just a short journey away from Leeds and is set in around 200 hectares / 500 acres of glorious Yorkshire countryside, in the Bretton Estate. With more than 40 breathtaking sculptures by numerous famous artists, including the renowned Henry Moore, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is one of the leading open-air art exhibitions in the whole of Europe and attracts in excess of 300,000 visitors each year. Other attractions at this important park include special exhibitions of art work within the dedicated art galleries.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free

Smith Art Gallery

Address: Halifax Road, Brighouse, HD6 2QJ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1484 719 222
The Smith Art Gallery is to be found within the nearby town of Brighouse, approximately 26 km / 16 miles to the southwest of the city, and has a large collection of art work from Victorian times. With paintings and pieces by a number of highly regarded artists, such as Grimshaw and Stone, other attractions include photographic exhibitions, work by local artists and many temporary art exhibitions throughout the year.
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 10:00 to 12:30, 13:00 to 18:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 12:30, 13:00 to 16:00
Admission: free