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Your Visit to Kirkstall Art Trail
We aim to help you make better-informed decisions before your visit. On this page, you will find information that can help you plan your visit to Kirkstall Art Trail.
We want to make Kirkstall Art Trail as accessible for people as we can. Where everyone feels art is for them, no matter their background.
Visiting Kirkstall Art Trail is free, but there may be a small charge for some of the activities. You will find these marked on the map. You may be able to buy from our exhibitors. There are always plenty of fabulous creative wares to choose from.
PLEASE NOTE: to avoid disappointment, we recommend that you carry some cash if you want to buy from the artists. We cannot guarantee that they all accept card payments.
You can find out ‘What’s On’ during the trail on the Events 2024 page.
Getting to Kirkstall
Our Location
Kirkstall is a North West suburb of Leeds, West Yorkshire. It is easily accessed by public transport and by bike.
By Bus
Bus numbers 33, 34, 49, 50 and A1 Flyer all stop in Kirkstall. You can plan your journey on the WY Metro website. Look out for the ‘Kirkstall Line’, which is a dark green colour.
By Train
There are 2 train stations in Kirkstall, you can plan your journey by train using the WY Metro website. Headingley is the closest, with Kirkstall Forge about 30 minutes walk to the Trail.
By Bike
There are many secure bike stands around Kirkstall. This includes secure bike parking at Hollybush, Lilac Grove, Kirkstall Abbey, Kirkstall Leisure Centre, and the large retail carparks.
By Car
If you are driving and you are able please think about car sharing. Kirkstall has limited parking, so be mindful of this when setting out. You can find more information about parking in Kirkstall on Parkopedia. There are some disabled parking bays in Abbey Walk car park, and some in the retail parks – but these are reserved for customers.
Maps
Kirkstall Art Trail produces a map each year, with the venue number and address. We have created an interactive Online Map for 2024, which can help you plan your visit in more detail.
This map has the following points of interest (with these descriptors):
- venues (number, address, artists – plus a link to the page)
- activities (the where, when, what for all our activities)
- the nearest bus stops and train stations (bus: route numbers, direction of travel. Train: access and timetable links)
- car and bike parks (car: cost, restrictions, disabled spaces, EV charging points. Bike: exact location, number of bike stand spaces)
- toilets open to the public (gendered, accessible toilet, baby changing facilities, changing places toilet)
- refreshments (food and drink served, amenities, outdoor seating, family-friendly, dogs permitted)
- the nearest ATM
If you are able to, we encourage you to use the online version of the map. However, you can download the ‘Kirkstall Art Trail 2024 map‘, and there will be copies of the map available on the day.
Our Venues
There There are separate pages for each of our venues. The venue number is the same as it appears on the map. You will find descriptions for each venue (where we have them*). These venue guides should help with planning your visit.
Descriptors come under the following headings, and these are:
- Type of venue: what type of building it is, e.g. business, residential, heritage, etc.
- Access: a description of access into the venue. Such as steps, the ground level and surface, width of doors, and grab rails. Not all venues are able to accommodate wheelchair users.
- Dog friendly: does the venue allow dogs. Assistance/Guide dog owners have full rights of access to public places, spaces, and services. Keep all dogs on a lead at all times as a courtesy to all venues. Where provided, there may be extra relevant information.
- Toilets: whether there are toilets, whether they are accessible, and whether there are baby changing units
- Refreshments: whether there are any refreshments available. Where provided, there may be extra relevant information.
Please be aware that not all our venues will be accessible by wheelchair.
You can find out more about each venue using the Venue Listing 2024 directory.
*We will update access descriptions as and when we receive this information.
Our Artists
Each of our artists, poets, performers, and workshop facilitators have their own entry. Descriptors come under the following headings, and these are:
- Artist name
- Art form: this lists the types of art the artist specialises in. If you are interested in a specific art form, use the search function at the bottom of the page to find the artists.
- Artist bio: a short, personable statement about their chosen art form and inspiration.
- Website and/ or social media: a link to an online presence, if they have any.
- Work for sale: whether they are selling their work, which you can buy from them during the Trail. Artists are not obliged to sell their work, but if they do, we do not take any commission, and all profit is theirs to keep. Transactions are between you and the artist alone.
- Activity: a brief description of what the activity is.
- Suitable for children: If the activity is suitable for children.
- Cost: most of our activities are free, but some artists have an additional charge. If known, we have listed it here.
Each venue page lists the artists’ entries under the venue description.
There is also a separate Artist Listing 2024, where you can see all the artists in one place.
Signage
During the weekend, you will be able to spot our venues with our ‘yellow’ branding. Decorated with yellow bunting and signage.
Branded signs at each venue will be:
- headed by a yellow banner that reads Kirkstall Art Trail.
- have a number. This is the venue number and is the same as the number on the map.
- have a unique QR code. When scanned, it will open the webpage about that specific venue. On this webpage, you will find venue descriptions, details about the artists exhibiting there, and any activities.
Toilets
Most individual venues will have limited access to toilets, especially in private residences. We have labelled toilets that are open to the public on the Online Map.
There are accessible toilets at some of our sites. There is also a Changing Places toilet in Kirkstall, located at Abbey House Museum. You can find out more on the Changing Places Toilets website.
Refreshments
There are many eateries within Kirkstall. We have labelled our recommendations on the Digital Map.
Unless it is business as normal, individual venues are not expected to offer refreshments to visitors. Please check under ‘refreshments’ on each Venue Page for more details.
Wellness Spaces
Kirkstall Art Trail can get noisy and busy with crowds. If you want to avoid this, we recommend arriving at 11 am when the trail is at its quietest.
If you feel that you or somebody in your party does require a quiet space, there are some venues that can assist you.
The venues below can offer a quiet space, and/or have staff that can help you.
- Venue 3. You can talk to any of the staff working at Kirkstall Abbey. You can find them at the desk in the visitor centre. The staff will be able to offer you assistance, and a quiet space if required.
- Venue 4. You can talk to any of the staff working at Abbey House Museum. You can find them at the main desk in the shop. The staff will be able to offer you assistance, and a quiet space if required.
- Venue 37. Talk to a member of the TCV staff working at Hollybush Conservation Centre. They have provided a quiet space at the end of the garden for you to sit.
If you have any questions about accessibility, or feedback to help us improve Kirkstall Art Trail please contact our accessibility coordinator, Mindy Goose, by email at info@kirkstallarttrail.co.uk.