Accessible Venues

Find out more about accessible venues and places to visit in Leeds.

Euan’s Guide – Accessible Places

Euan’s Guide is a website that shares information about places that are accessible for disabled people.

The aim of Euan’s Guide is to give disabled people confidence and choices when going out.

Visit the Euan’s Guide website

Contact details:

  • Email: hello@euansguide.com
Safe Places – Help When Out and About

A Safe Place is somewhere a person can go if they feel scared or need help when out in Leeds.

People can find their nearest Safe Place using the Free Safe Places App. The app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

More information about Safe Places is on the Safe Places National Network website.

There are also free symbol-based learning resources about:

  • Staying safe when going out
  • Travelling safely
  • How to use the Safe Places app
  • Understanding Mate Crime and Befriending Crime

Contact details:

Accessible Venues

Changing places

Changing Places toilets are special facilities for children, young people, and adults with profound or multiple disabilities.
They have equipment such as:

  • a hoist
  • a changing bench
    They also have enough space for up to two carers to help the person use the toilet safely.

These toilets are for people who need more space and facilities than a standard accessible toilet.

Without Changing Places toilets, families and carers may have to change someone on a toilet floor. This is not safe or dignified for the person or their carer.

Changing Places toilets help disabled people to visit the places they choose and know there are safe, accessible facilities that meet their needs.

Changing Places in Leeds

Leeds has more than 35 Changing Places toilets in locations such as:

  • Trinity Centre
  • Leeds Arena
  • West Yorkshire Playhouse
  • Leeds Bradford Airport
  • Emerald Headingley Stadium
  • White Rose Centre
  • Leeds Art Gallery
  • Several sports centres
  • Some larger parks

Leeds City Council also has a mobile Changing Place for big outdoor events.

Find a Changing Place

Visit the Changing Places Toilets website and follow the Find a Toilet link, or call 0207 803 4814.

Leeds Inspired – What’s on in Leeds

Leeds Inspired is part of Leeds City Council’s Culture Programmes. It celebrates arts, sport, and heritage events all year round.

Leeds Inspired shares the city’s big annual events as well as smaller, independent activities. These include:

  • Films
  • Music
  • Markets
  • Exhibitions
  • Talks and walks
  • Festivals
  • Workshops

This creates an exciting cultural calendar that is always changing. The calendar is available online.

Contact Details: 

Accessible Parks in Leeds

Leeds has many parks, nature reserves, playgrounds, sports pitches, and visitor attractions. Parks are great places to play, relax, and spend time with friends and family.

Find out more on the Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside website.

Download the Accessible Play Booklet.

Lotherton

Address: Lotherton Lane, Aberford, Leeds, LS25 3EB

Lotherton offers:

  • Wildlife World
  • Gardens and meadows
  • Adventure playgrounds
  • A playground for under 8s with climbing frames, zip wires, and swings
  • Woodland play area for older children
  • Giant lawn games on sunny days
  • Deer hide for spotting red deer
  • Educational and interactive displays
  • Undercover picnic area

Facilities:

  • Café
  • Car park with disabled bays
  • Changing Places toilet
  • Accessibility guide available
  • Wheelchair accessible routes
  • Sensory features
  • Open spaces
  • Fenced areas
  • Quieter spaces
Meanwood Park

Address: 8 Tannery Square, Meanwood, Leeds, LS6 4LT

Meanwood Park is peaceful and part of the Meanwood Trail. The main path is suitable for disabled users, but some woodland paths are uneven. The playground is being redeveloped with sensory features and biodiversity.

Facilities:

  • Café
  • No entrance fee
  • Car park with disabled bays
  • Sensory features
  • Open spaces
  • Fenced areas
  • Quieter spaces
Temple Newsam Park

Address: Off Selby Road, Leeds, LS15 0AE

Temple Newsam offers:

  • Home Farm
  • Beautiful gardens and parkland
  • Adventure playground
  • Play bays inside Temple Newsam House
  • Fully accessible playground near Home Farm
  • Changing Places toilet nearby

Some areas have gravel or cobbles, and some trails are steep.

Facilities:

  • Café
  • No entrance fee
  • Car park with disabled bays
  • Accessibility guide available
  • Wheelchair accessible routes
  • Sensory features
  • Open spaces
  • Fenced areas
  • Quieter spaces
Moortown Park

Address: 25 Shadwell Lane, Moortown, Leeds, LS17 6DP

Moortown Park has green space, play equipment, and quieter woodland. There is a secure play area with a sandpit and wide slide. A flat, paved path circles the park. Some areas get muddy in wet weather.

Facilities:

  • No entrance fee
  • Fenced areas
  • Wheelchair accessible routes
  • Open spaces
  • Quieter spaces
Middleton Park

Address: Town Street, Middleton, Leeds, LS10 3SH

Middleton Park offers:

  • Bowling greens
  • Nature reserve
  • Playgrounds
  • Fishing lake
  • Multi-use games areas
    Nearby attractions include Middleton Railway and John Charles Centre for Sport.

Facilities:

  • Café
  • No entrance fee
  • Car park
  • Accessibility guide available
  • Wheelchair accessible routes
  • Sensory features
  • Open spaces
  • Fenced areas
  • Quieter spaces
Roundhay Park

Address: Mansion Lane, Roundhay, Leeds, LS8 2HH

Roundhay Park has lakes, woodlands, skateparks, playgrounds, and Tropical World. Accessible toilets are available in several locations. There is a playground with accessible play equipment and wheelchair-friendly trails.

Facilities:

  • Café
  • No entrance fee
  • Car park
  • Accessibility guide available
  • Wheelchair accessible routes
  • Sensory features
  • Open spaces
  • Fenced areas
  • Quieter spaces
Kirkstall Abbey

Address: Abbey Road, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3EH

Kirkstall Abbey is set in green space with woodland along the riverbank. There are ruins to explore and an enclosed playground. Some paths are steep or uneven. Accessible toilets are in the visitor centre.

Facilities:

  • Café (at the museum)
  • No entrance fee to the park
  • Car park with disabled bays
  • Accessibility guide available
  • Wheelchair accessible routes
  • Sensory features
  • Open spaces
  • Fenced areas
  • Quieter spaces

Harewood House

Harewood is a welcoming place for families and friends to enjoy. It has over 140 acres of gardens and grounds to explore and a museum collection inside the House. Harewood is a great destination for a day of fun, creativity, and adventure for all ages.

Ticket Offers

  • £2 tickets for people who can show proof of:
    • Universal Credit
    • Pension Credit
    • Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
    • Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
    • Refugee Status
      Up to 4 people from the same household can use this offer. Tickets can be bought at the entrance or booked online.
  • Half-price tickets if travelling by bus – show your bus ticket or pass at reception.
  • Free children’s tickets for holders of:
    • Blue Peter Card
    • Max Card
      Bring your card on the day of your visit.

Accessibility and Support

  • Mobility scooters (Trampers) – electric scooters for rough ground. Pre-book on the Outdoor Mobility website.
  • Wheelchair hire – five manual wheelchairs available (first come, first served). Call Visitor Information to book.
  • EnChroma glasses – for visitors with red-green colour blindness. Reserve in advance.
  • Sensory backpacks – free to borrow for children and adults. Includes ear defenders, torch, and fidget toys. Ask at the Entrance Hall.
  • Free carer tickets – carers visiting with the person they care for get free admission (not valid for special events or experiences).

Free Shuttle Bus

A free shuttle service runs between the Main Entrance, House, Church, Courtyard, Car Park, and Lakeside.

  • Wheelchair and pram accessible
  • Priority for visitors with mobility needs
  • Service may not run every day as it is volunteer-led

Accessibility Commitment

  • Dementia Friendly – staff and volunteers are Dementia Friends.
  • Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme – pick up a lanyard at Visitor Reception.
  • Guide Dogs UK – staff trained as sighted assistants.
  • VocalEyes – training for staff to support blind and partially sighted visitors.

Contact details: 

Leeds Libraries

Leeds has 36 libraries. Visit the Leeds Libraries website to find your local library and check opening hours.

The library service is free:

  • Free to join
  • Free to borrow books
  • No charges for late returns

Mini Playboxes

Leeds Libraries are great places to play, relax, and spend time with family. Most libraries now have Mini Playboxes. These boxes are full of fun activities for children and families, including:

  • Sensory play
  • Loose parts play
  • Den building kits

Clubs in Leeds Libraries

  • Lego Club
    Children aged 5+ can build creations based on favourite children’s books. Each month has a different theme. All children must be with an adult. Lego Clubs run once a month at different libraries.
  • Code Club
    Start a coding adventure! Children can learn coding by making games, robots, animations, and websites in a friendly environment.
  • Esports Groups
    Young people aged 12–16 can join Esports Gamers Groups at selected libraries. Play games like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros, and Splatoon while meeting other gamers.

Visit Leeds Inspired for locations and times of sessions.

Contact Details:

Leeds Museums and Galleries

Leeds Museums and Galleries is a group of museums, heritage sites, country houses, and an art gallery.

They collect and care for historic, cultural, and scientific objects and places. These collections are used to educate, entertain, and inspire people in Leeds and beyond.

Leeds Museums and Galleries provide welcoming visitor attractions and unique learning spaces.

There are 9 locations across Leeds.

Contact details: 

Thackray Museum of Medicine

The Thackray Museum of Medicine aims to be welcoming and inclusive for everyone. The galleries are designed to suit different abilities and needs while being fun and engaging.

Relaxed Opening

On the last Sunday of each month, the museum offers a relaxed opening from 10am to 11am.

  • Lights are brighter
  • Sounds are kept low
    This is to make the visit more comfortable for people who prefer a quieter environment.

Accessibility

  • 2 accessible toilets
  • 1 Changing Places toilet
  • Lift to all public floors
  • A few adult wheelchairs available (first come, first served)

Contact details: 

Active Leeds – Leeds City Council Leisure Centres

Active Leeds helps people to stay healthy and active. They provide wellbeing centres, community sports, and activities in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Active Leeds manages 17 leisure facilities across the city. These include:

  • 14 swimming pools
  • 13 gyms

They run a weekly programme with:

  • Around 400 fitness classes
  • Over 9,000 swimming lessons

Active Leeds supports more than 30,000 health and fitness members every week.

Contact details: 

Hydrotherapy pools

Exercise in water

Many children enjoy exercise in water. This can happen in any swimming pool at any time of the week. It is not linked to a specific health need or special training.

Physiotherapists may suggest water-based exercise as part of PE if it suits the child or young person’s needs. This can be done alone or in a group. It does not have to be in a hydrotherapy pool – a local swimming pool can work too.

What is hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy means doing special exercises in warm water to help with certain health conditions, like arthritis or back pain.

Hydrotherapy is different from swimming because:

  • The water is warmer (32–36ºC) than a normal pool.
  • Exercises are planned by a physiotherapist.
  • Sessions last about 30 minutes.

Hydrotherapy usually happens in a hospital, but some leisure centres like Holt Park Active and Armley Leisure Centre have hydrotherapy pools that can be booked.

Benefits of hydrotherapy

  • Warm water helps muscles relax and eases joint pain.
  • Water supports the body, making movement easier.
  • Gentle resistance from water helps build strength.

Who can benefit?

Hydrotherapy is helpful for people who:

  • Find exercise on land difficult.
  • Feel pain when walking.
  • Have arthritis in several joints.

Do you need to be able to swim?

No. Hydrotherapy pools are shallow, so people can exercise safely without swimming. Most people find the warm water soothing and enjoyable.

Are there side effects?

Hydrotherapy is safe. Some people feel tired after a session – this is normal. It helps to rest in a cool-down area and drink water before leaving.

Screening before use

Everyone, including carers, will be checked for health risks before using the pool.

  • Stage 1 form: Available at the leisure centre reception.
  • If risks are found, a Stage 2 form must be completed by a GP or physiotherapist before access is given.

Examples of health risks (contra-indications):

  • Pregnancy
  • Heart or circulation problems
  • Dizziness or blackouts
  • Skin, bladder, or eye infections

Contact details: 

  • Armley Leisure Centre: 0113 3760398
  • Holt Park Leisure Centre: 0113 3760398

Breeze – fun activities for 0- to 19-year-olds

Leeds wants to be a child-friendly city. The vision is for all children and young people to enjoy lots of cultural and sporting activities, making Leeds the best city to grow up in.

Breeze is for children and young people aged 0 to 19 years in Leeds. Breeze offers:

  • Fun and safe activities
  • Events and services
  • Discounts and special offers
  • Creative and inspiring experiences

Breeze has been running events since 2004 and is known as a safe and trusted provider.

Breeze Events

Get Involved with Breeze

  • Visit the things to do page to find events near you.
  • Get a Breeze Pass – a digital discount app for offers, giveaways, VIP experiences, and more.
    • If a child or young person gets free school meals, they can get a Breeze Pass for free.
    • Email the Breeze team to apply.

Find out more about Breeze Inclusion Events.

Contact Details: 

Indoor activity venues

LaserZone – SEND and Autism Friendly Sessions

LaserZone wants everyone to feel included. They understand that some guests prefer a calmer experience, so they run SEND sessions every month with these changes:

  • Extra lighting in the laser tag arena
  • Lower music levels in the arena and foyer
  • Fewer special effects (only a light haze instead of heavy smoke)
  • Fewer players (capacity reduced to two-thirds)

Autism-Friendly Adjustments

LaserZone knows that competition can cause anxiety. In autism-friendly sessions:

  • Every guest gets a certificate of participation
  • Score screens are switched off
  • Scorecards are only given if requested (in a sealed envelope to open privately after the event)

 Contact Details: 

 
Clip ‘n Climb Leeds

Clip ‘n Climb Leeds wants everyone to enjoy climbing. They support groups and individuals to challenge themselves and promote healthy, fun activities.

Clip ‘n Climb Leeds does not run regular SEND sessions, but the team can arrange a special session for climbers with special educational needs.

  • Contact the centre to organise a session.
  • The team can recommend quieter times for families.
  • Music can be turned down if needed.
  • Extra instructors can be booked in advance.
  • Siblings are welcome to join the same session.

Assisted SEND Climbing

  • Clip ‘n Climb Leeds uses an Assist Hoist System with an Adventure Harness.
  • The harness is designed for different ages and sizes.

Fully Assisted SEND Climbing

  • A Chute Harness is available for climbers who need full support.
  • Parents or carers help with the experience using the Assist Hoist System.
  • Staff will show how to use the system safely.

Extra Support

  • A mobile hoist is available for fitting harnesses for wheelchair users.
  • The hoist can also be used in the disabled toilet, which has a rise-and-fall changing table.

Pre-Visits

Families are encouraged to visit before the session to see the facilities and ask questions.

Contact Details: 

 

BIG Depot Climbing Centre

BIG Depot Leeds is one of the largest roped climbing walls in the UK. It has:

  • Almost 1,000 square metres of floor space
  • Over 150 climbing lines for roped and auto-belay climbing
  • A bouldering mezzanine

Climbing is available for all abilities.

Accessible Climbing Sessions

BIG Depot Leeds runs sessions for children and adults with different needs, in partnership with Access Sport. These sessions can include:

  • Adapted climbing for people with amputations, limited mobility, sight loss, or learning difficulties
  • Adjustments to belaying or climbing to suit individual needs
  • A full hoist system for people with severe disabilities – this can support climbing or provide a sensory experience

Sensory-Friendly Hours

Every Saturday and Sunday from 6pm to 9pm, BIG Depot Leeds offers sensory-friendly hours:

  • No drill work
  • Music turned off or kept very low

Climbing for All Ages

  • Sessions for ages 4 and up
  • Options for beginners and experienced climbers
  • Casual climbing and award schemes available

Accessibility

  • Entire centre is wheelchair accessible
  • Disabled parking space in the private car park

Contact details: 

Jump Inc – SEN sessions

SEN sessions at Jump Inc are designed for people with special needs, autism or sensory needs. At these sessions, lights are turned up (no disco lights), and the music is turned down. The aim of this is to reduce any unneeded stress.

Contact details: 

 

Oxygen Freejumping Peaceful Play

We’re aware that going to a standard Freejumping session can be a challenge for Freejumpers on the autistic spectrum, or with sensory or learning disabilities. With this in mind, our weekly Peaceful Play sessions are for specially designed to be all the fun of a Freejump, just a little more peacefully.

Peaceful Play (autism friendly) sessions include:

  • Plenty of space – reduced capacity
  • Music turned down – no loud announcements
  • Strobe lighting turned off – house lights only

Contact Details: 

 

Showcase Cinema – Autism Friendly Screenings

Join the Showcase Cinema for dedicated Autism friendly screenings on the second Sunday and last Tuesday of every month.

The Showcase are proud to present Autism Friendly screenings in partnership with not-for-profit support provider, Dimensions. We think it's important that anyone can experience the delights of cinema, and hope that with a few adjustments, cinema can be enjoyed by those that are sensory sensitive.

What makes the screenings Autism Friendly?

  • soft lighting in the auditorium
  • lowered film volume
  • only 2D films
  • no trailers

Contact details: 

 

Sensory World

Sensory World provides a safe environment for children and adults of all ages (plus parents and carers!). Specialist play equipment designed specifically for babies and children with special needs, particularly those with autism and aspergers syndrome. Individual and group activities for teens and adults. Group bookings from professional organisations welcomed.

Contact Details: