We aim to make our exhibitions, collections, facilities and services accessible to the widest possible audience.
Facilities - at a glance
To keep our staff and visitors safe and make sure you have an enjoyable experience, we have decided to keep social distancing and some other covid safety measures in place until further notice. These include reduced capacity, sanitising stations on site and increased levels of hygiene standards. We would appreciate visitors continuing to wear masks when this is possible.
Toilets are located on the basement level, including baby changing facilities within the gender-neutral, accessible toilet.
There are induction loops at reception and in the library, along with a portable induction loop available for visitors to use in the galleries.
Folding stools are available on request for use in the galleries.
Free WiFi is available throughout the building.
Accessing the Henry Moore Institute
There is an accessible lift entrance to the Institute from Cookridge Street, which opens into our ground floor reception area. The doors to the lift provide an opening of 100cm, with the platform dimensions of the lift 110cm wide by 148 cm deep. Please press the illuminated green button inside the lift lobby to open the lift door.
From here, visitors with wheelchairs can access all parts of the galleries on the ground floor (Galleries 1, 2 and 3 and Gallery 4)
There is a passenger lift to all floors within the Henry Moore Institute, measuring 100cm wide by 136cm deep, with a doorway 72cm wide. The lift has handrails on its three interior walls.
The Sculpture Research Library and Archive of Sculptors' Papers are located on the first floor of the Institute. Toilets are located on the basement floor.
Accessing the Upper Sculpture Study Gallery and Leeds Art Gallery
We regret that there is no step free access to Leeds Art Gallery from within the Institute. The only way into the Upper Sculpture Study Gallery from the Institute is via a set of stairs, leading up from Gallery 1 and over a bridge connecting the two buildings. To continue into the rest of Leeds Art Gallery's exhibition spaces requires descending a second set of stairs at the other end of this gallery.
There is step free access to Leeds Art Gallery via the front entrance on Victoria Gardens. Please see Leeds Art Gallery's Access page for more information.
Digital photos of exhibitions held in the Upper Sculpture Study Gallery are available to view, please ask at reception if you would like to see them.
Sculpture Research Library and Archive of Sculptors' Papers
The library and archive are situated on the first floor, accessible by lift.
The library has footstools and rolling steps to help reach higher shelves, and a trolley can be made available to carry books. Key turners for library lockers are available from the library reception.
There are raised benches in the Audio Visual Library and library corridor adapted for wheelchair users' use. If you require assistance in locating these please ask at the library reception desk.
Due to the width of doorways, wheelchairs wider than 65cm will unfortunately not be able to access the Research Library.
In this scenario, books from the Research Library can be brought down by library staff so that they can be consulted in the Institute's reception area. We would advise that you contact the library beforehand (email library@henry-moore org or phone 0113 2467467) and speak to library staff who can arrange for the books to be made available to you. Please note that some books for the library's special collections may not be available to consult in reception.
We recommend that you consult the library catalogue prior to your visit.
Toilets
Our toilet facilities are now back in use.
There is an accessible and gender-neutral toilet situated on the basement level, accessible by lift.
The closest Changing Places toilet is located next door, in Leeds Art Gallery's shop.
Alternative accessible and gender neutral toilets:
Leeds Central Library: one gender neutral toilet and one accessible toilet with baby changing (Basement); three gender neutral toilets (First floor).
Leeds Art Gallery Artspace: one Radar Key accessible toilet.
Seating
Benches are located in the bookshop area at reception, and folding stools are available on request for use in the galleries.
Doors and handrails
There are automatic doors at the front entrance to the Institute from Victoria Gardens; from reception going into Gallery 1; on the bridge-link entrance from Leeds Art Gallery; and from the library reception going into the reading rooms. All staircases have handrails.
Some doorways within the Institute may be restrictive to certain wheelchair users: the clear opening width of the seminar room is 74cm; the automatic door to the library's reading rooms is 65cm; the double doors to Galleries 1, 2 and 3 are each 72cm (144cm with both doors open); and the double entrance doors from Leeds Art Gallery to the Lower Sculpture Study Gallery are each 60cm (120cm with both doors open).
Guide dogs
Guide dogs are welcome in the gallery and a water bowl can be provided (please ask at reception). The nearest green space is Park Square.
Exhibition literature and signage
Braille and large print versions of exhibition literature (wall panels and leaflets) are available at reception.
There is Braille and raised print large signage on the National Life Stories Collection Sound Point in the reception area.
Guided tours
We offer free guided tours of all our exhibitions. To discuss or book a tour, please contact reception on 0113 246 7467 or via email: reception@henry-moore.org
Touching works
Because all the works on display are on loan, it is not usually possible to touch objects in the exhibitions. If permission is granted it is usually at the discretion of the curator and visitors must be accompanied by an Information Assistant.
Lighting
Depending on the exhibition, light levels may be lowered in certain galleries. This is to protect and conserve fragile artworks in those areas, which may be damaged from prolonged exposure to strong light sources.
Sculpture Research Library
There is large print signage in the library.
Support equipment for library users, including magnifiers, reading lights and aids for accessing video/audio materials are available from the library reception.
Induction loops
There are induction loops at the main reception desk, library reception and in the seminar room. There is a portable induction loop available for visitors to use in the galleries (please ask at reception).
Online content
We are aware that not all audio content on our website is available in alternative formats. We are beginning a programme to transcribe audio recordings so that they will be accessible to all.
The Institute does not have its own parking facilities. The nearest accessible parking bays are on St Anne's Street, by the side of Leeds Cathedral.
Check the Leeds City Council website for details on other places to park in the area.
By bus
Many buses stop along the Headrow by Victoria Gardens, including the 14, 19/19A, 33/33A, 49, 50/50A, 65, 72, 75 and X6. These bus stops (Y5, Y6, Y7 and Y10) are around a 30m (100ft) walk to the Institute across the flat, paved Victoria Square.
By train
Leeds train station is around a 500m (0.3 miles) walk from the Institute along Park Row, with pelican crossings on all junctions along this route. There is a slight upward incline to get from the station to the Institute, however the 19 and 19A buses run from outside the station (stop S7) to the Headrow.
Directions to the Institute
Please see our Directions page for more information on how to get to the Institute by car, train or plane.
Accessing the Henry Moore Institute
There is an accessible lift entrance to the Institute from Cookridge Street, which opens into our ground floor reception area. From here, Gallery 1, 2, 3 and 4 are all on the same floor.
There is a passenger lift to all floors within the Henry Moore Institute, measuring 100cm wide by 136cm deep, with a doorway 72cm wide.
Accessing the Upper Sculpture Study Gallery and Leeds Art Gallery
We regret that there is no step free access to Leeds Art Gallery from within the Institute. The only way into the Upper Sculpture Study Gallery from the Institute is via a set of stairs, leading up from Gallery 1 and over a bridge connecting the two buildings. To continue into the rest of Leeds Art Gallery's exhibition spaces requires descending a second set of stairs at the other end of this gallery.
There is step free access to Leeds Art Gallery via the front entrance on Victoria Gardens. Please see Leeds Art Gallery's Access page for more information.
Storing pushchairs
We do not have storage facilities for luggage or pushchairs, however at less busy times it may be possible to leave them by reception while you look around – please ask the receptionist first, and remember to take any valuables with you. All items are left at the owner’s risk.
Toilets and baby changing facilities
Our toilet facilities are now back in use.
Toilets are located on the basement level, including baby changing facilities within the accessible and gender-neutral toilet.
We are actively working to improve accessibility at the Institute. If you have any further suggestions on how we can improve our accessibility, please contact us.
