Thackray Medical Museum/ Thackray Museum of Medicine, Leeds. Admission fees apply.

Details

Accessibility:

There is an on-site pay and display car park which includes 4 designated blue badge parking bays (free to blue badge holders). The museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users and there are lifts to all floors. Wheelchairs are available to loan, but it is advisable to book in advance by calling 0113 244 4343. There are public toilets including wheelchair-accessible and baby-changing facilities. There is a hearing induction loop system in place. Assistance dogs are welcome. Carers and under 5s are free.

2025: https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/visit/facilities-and-accessibility/

"We want everyone to enjoy the museum. It is fully wheelchair and buggy accessible, entry is free for essential companions, and we welcome assistance dogs (and our team are more than happy to arrange a bowl of water for hard-working thirsty dogs – please just ask).

The museum offers quiet openings on the last Sunday of each month from 10am–11am when the lights will be up and the sounds down.  You can download a copy of our gallery map, which includes some sensory information and other details here.

You can find more accessibility information by visiting our guide hosted on
Visit Britain’s website.

You can also download the PDF version of the guide"

Brief Description:

The Thackray Medical Museum was originally the Leeds Union Workhouse which opened in 1861, and eventually became St James’ Hospital which then closed in 1990. In 1997 it opened as the museum named after Charles Thackray who was the founder of a medical supply firm. Within the museum you can find exhibitions showing treatments used in Victorian times, and how the introduction of vaccines and antibiotics have prevented deaths. Find out all about the history of pregnancy and giving birth, and about how surgery has developed and improved over the years. There is a café which serves light snacks and refreshments.

https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/visit/online-gallery/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thackray_Museum_of_Medicine

"The Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, is a museum of the history of medicine adjacent to St James's University Hospital. It opened in March 1997 as the Thackray Medical Museum. In 1998 it won "Museum of the Year" and has other awards including in 2004 both the "Excellence in England Small Tourist Attraction of the Year" and "Sandford Award for Heritage Education".[1]

The museum closed temporarily in 2019 for a £4 million refurbishment, while the museum conference centre and car park remained open,[2] and remained closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum reopened its doors on 17 May 2021.[3] The redeveloped museum has since been shortlisted for Art Fund's Museum of the Year award 2021 and received a special commendation from the European Museum Forum in 2023.[4]"

"The building is a Grade II listed building, the former Leeds Union Workhouse, which opened in 1861 (foundation stone laid 1858) to accommodate 784 paupers.[5][6] By the end of the 19th century, the buildings had become largely used for medical care of the poor, rather than workhouse and training. During the First World War it was called the East Leeds War Hospital, caring for armed services personnel.[6] 

After becoming part of St James's Hospital, the building housed the first geriatric ward in the north of England.[7] The building was later known as the Ashley Wing, which was part of the hospital until the 1990s when the old Leeds Union Workhouse building was considered unfit for modern medicine. As a listed building, it could not be demolished and Parliament gave permission for it to house the Thackray Medical Museum, which opened in 1997.[8]"

Further Information

Address:

141 Beckett Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS9 7LN

Email:

collections@thackraymuseum.org

Phone:

0113 244 4343

Website:

https://collections.thackraymuseum.co.uk/

Opening Hours:

"Our new opening hours at Thackray Museum of Medicine will be 10am-4pm from Tuesday 1 April 2025.

We have also taken the decision to close on Tuesdays during term-time from Tuesday 22 April 2025 onwards.

We will still be open 7-days a week (10am-4pm) during Leeds school holidays."

Directions:

From Harrogate via A61. Take James Street to Station Parade/A61. Follow A61 to Bayswater Road in Leeds for 14.9 miles. Turn right onto Bayswater Road. Turn right onto Harehills Road. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Beckett Street. Turn right.

From Wakefield via M621. Take the M621 towards Leeds (Centre). At junction 4 take the A61 exit to Harrogate/Wetherby/York. Continue onto A61. Keep right to stay on A61. Keep left to continue on South Accommodation Road/A61. Use the right 2 lane to turn slightly right onto East Street. Continue onto Marsh Lane. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto Burmantofts Street. Continue onto Beckett Street. Turn left.

"We have an onsite Pay and Display car park at the front of the museum. The machines accept coin and card payment.

Car Park tariffs:

£1.50 per hour

Alternative parking can also be found at St James’s Hospital multi-storey car park which is a short walk away from the museum. it is located next to the landmark Leeds Cancer Centre building and is clearly signposted as you enter the hospital site from Beckett Street.

For more information/tariffs please visit

Car Parking (leedsth.nhs.uk)

There are also a small number of council-run cark parks along Beckett street opposite the museum, for council car parking information please visit the Leeds City Council website

Parking (leeds.gov.uk)

You can find other car parks in the area using the Parkopedia website

parkopedia.co.uk"

OS SE318347

Transport:

The closest railway station is at Leeds approximately 1.5 miles away. Buses operate in and around the local area. For more travel information go to http://www.traveline.info  or call 0871 200 22 33.

Amenities:

2025: https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/visit/facilities-and-accessibility/

There is café https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/visit/the-cafe/  and a shop https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/visit/thackray-museum-of-medicine-gift-shop/  within the museum, and a soft play area dedicated to under-fives https://thackraymuseum.co.uk/visit/sparks-play-area/ 

Leeds has a wealth of attractions including museums, churches, hotels, bed-and-breakfast accommodation, bars and restaurants, with grocery stores and shopping centres.