Overview

Founded for a community of Cistercian monks in 1152, Kirkstall Abbey was lived, worked and prayed in for over four hundred years until Henry VIII closed it in 1539 during the Dissolution. Three hundred years later, in 1889, Kirkstall Abbey was bought and generously donated to the then Leeds Corporation, now Leeds City Council.

One of the best preserved monasteries in the country, Kirkstall Abbey has long been a favourite with Leeds residents. The Abbey has recently received a £5.5 million make-over from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help preserve this iconic landmark in Leeds. Kirkstall Abbey now has a brand new visitor centre. This includes interactive displays, reconstructions and trained staff on hand to provide a wealth of information about life for the monks of Kirkstall Abbey.