Facilities - at a glance

There is an accessible lift to the galleries and reception area from Cookridge Street, and a passenger lift to all floors of the Institute.

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.

WiFi is available throughout the building.

Information for visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair users

There is an accessible lift from Cookridge Street to the 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.

There is a passenger lift to all floors within the Henry Moore Institute, measuring 100cm wide by 136cm deep, with a doorway 73cm wide. The lift has handrails on its three interior walls.

Visitors with wheelchairs can access all parts of the galleries on the ground floor (Galleries 1, 2 and 3 and Gallery 4) after entering via the accessible lift, and the Sculpture Research Library and Archive of Sculptors' Papers on the first floor by using the passenger lift.

We regret that there is no access other than via stairs to exhibitions in the Upper Sculpture Study Gallery in Leeds Art Gallery. Photos are available at reception for visitors wishing to view the current exhibition. The only accessible entrance to Leeds Art Gallery is via the main entrance (wheelchair users would have to leave the Institute via the accessible lift and cross Victoria Gardens to the sloped entrance to Leeds Art Gallery).

There is an accessible and gender-neutral toilet situated at the basement level next to the 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.

Benches are located in the bookshop area at reception, and folding stools are available on request for use in the galleries.

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 automatic doors at the front entrance to the Institute, the bridge-link entrance from Leeds Art Gallery and in the library. 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).

Information for visitors who are blind or partially sighted

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.

Braille and large print versions of exhibition literature (panels and leaflets) are available at reception. 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.

There is Braille and raised print large signage on the National Life Stories Collection Sound Point in the reception area.

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.

Information for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing

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).

We are aware that audio content on our website is not yet available in alternative formats. We are beginning a programme to transcribe audio recording so that they will be accessible to all.

Disabled parking

The Institute does not have its own parking facilities. There are three disabled parking bays near the entrance to the Institute on Cookridge Street.

Cookridge Street will be closed to traffic over summer, when it is transformed into a pop-up park with artificial grass, picnic tables and deckchairs. The disabled parking bay and a temporary drop-off/pick-up bay will be relocated to the adjacent St Anne’s Street. Cookridge Street Pop-Up Park runs from 10 July until 10 September 2019.

Check the Leeds City Council website for details on other places to park in the area.

Public transport

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.

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.

Please see our Directions page for more information on how to get to the Institute by car, train or plane.

Pushchairs and baby changing facilities

There is an accessible lift to the galleries and reception area from Cookridge Street, and a passenger lift to all floors of the Institute. The Upper Sculpture Study Gallery in Leeds Art Gallery is accessible only via stairs.

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 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.