Royal Armouries

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  • Address
    on banks of Leeds-Liverpool Canal, Armouries D, city centre, LS10 1LT
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  • Phone
    220 1940
  • Website
  • Transport
    bus: Catch bus 95

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Lonely Planet review

Leeds' most interesting museum is undoubtedly the Royal Armouries , originally built to house the armour and weapons from the Tower of London but subsequently expanded to cover 3000 years' worth of fighting and self-defence. It all sounds a bit macho, but the exhibits are as varied as they are fascinating: films, live-action demonstrations and hands-on technology can awaken interests you never thought you had, from jousting to Indian elephant armour. We dare you not to learn something.

The displays are modern and effective, and deserve credit for demonstrating the realities of war.

There are numerous demonstrations throughout the day (pick up a schedule when you arrive), and outside from Easter to October you can see displays of jousting and falconry in the Tiltyard. Perhaps the biggest controversy about the Armouries is that it is in Leeds at all; when on display at the Tower of London, the exhibits attracted many more visitors. The Royal Armouries is about fifteen minutes walk southeast of town, and is best reached by foot or bus.