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Before the trip
Before the trip
Ensure you have the group register and emergency contact numbers for all leaders and students
Make sure you have the tickets you need to enter with your group
Wear the official group T-shirt or hoodie(Yellow Shirt)for easy identification
Charge your phone fully and bring a power bank
Review the risk assessment for the day’s route and activities
Remind students to bring a raincoat or umbrella in case of light rain
Take group photos at key locations and share them with the programme WhatsApp group or PhotoCircle
Step Back in Time at Kirkstall Abbey
Step Back in Time at Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey is a peaceful historic landmark in the city, and in a world where much has changed, it stands as a living reminder of Britain’s medieval past. This is a place full of stories, character, and beauty. The abbey was founded in 1152 by Cistercian monks who built it beside the River Aire, choosing a quiet spot for prayer, work, and reflection. For almost 400 years, it was home to a thriving monastic community, until it was closed by Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s.
Today, the abbey’s impressive ruins still rise proudly against the sky, surrounded by green parkland. You’ll see the great stone arches, tall windows, and the remains of the monks’ living quarters and church. Walking through the site, it’s easy to imagine the rhythm of daily life here – silent prayers, shared meals, and hard work in the fields.
After exploring the ruins, we will also visit the Kirkstall Abbey Museum, located just across the road in a Victorian mansion. The museum brings the city’s history to life with carefully recreated Victorian streets, complete with shops, houses, and children’s toys from the past. It offers a fascinating glimpse into how people in Leeds lived and worked in the 19th century, connecting the medieval world of the abbey with more recent history.
On our visit, we will explore both the abbey and the museum. You’ll learn how the monks lived, why the abbey was so important in medieval Leeds, and how local life changed over the centuries. Along the way, your Activity Leader will share fascinating stories about the monks, the architecture, and the people who shaped Leeds. There will be time to walk around, ask questions, and enjoy the calm atmosphere of this extraordinary place.
Itinerary
Itinerary
0:00 – Meet at The University of Law's Common room
0:10 – Take a bus to Kirkstall Abbey
0:30 – Arrived, Welcome and Introduction (Activity Leader)
0:35 – Entry check
0:45 – Kirkstall Abbey Museum
1:25 – Kirkstall Abbey
2:20 – Return to The University of Law
Kirkstall Abbey Museum
Kirkstall Abbey Museum
Right across the road from Kirkstall Abbey, you’ll find Abbey House Museum. It is set inside a beautiful old gatehouse that once belonged to the abbey. Today, it’s a museum full of stories about how people in Leeds lived hundreds of years ago.
Inside, you can walk down carefully recreated Victorian streets with real shops, houses, and even a schoolroom. It feels like stepping back in time! You’ll see objects people used in their daily lives, from toys and clothes to tools and furniture.
Fun fact: The museum’s Victorian streets are so realistic that they are sometimes used for TV and film sets.
Look out for:
Victorian shops (like the sweet shop or chemist)
Old toys and games
The schoolroom – imagine learning there 150 years ago!
Exhibits showing how Leeds has changed over time
✏️ Your Task:
Find one object from the Victorian streets. What was it used for?
Pretend you are a child living in Leeds 150 years ago. What would be your favourite shop? Write it down.
Count how many different kinds of toys you can see.
Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey
This is one of the oldest and most famous landmarks in Leeds. The abbey was built almost 900 years ago by monks who wanted a quiet place to pray, study, and work. Even though it is now a ruin, the tall stone arches and windows still show how big and impressive it once was.
The monks lived simple lives here – they prayed together, ate together, and worked in the gardens and fields around the abbey. The abbey was closed almost 500 years ago by King Henry VIII, but its ruins are still standing today as a reminder of medieval life.
Fun fact: The Abbey is one of the best-preserved Cistercian monasteries in Britain and has inspired many artists, including the famous painter J. M. W. Turner.
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