Kirkstall Abbey

Just outside the city centre you can get an idea of the wealth of medieval Leeds from the impressive ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, founded by Cistercian monks from the more famous Fountains Abbey, which was once one of the richest monastic settlements in Europe. The ruins are set in riverside parkland, with picnic areas and a woodland trail, and there’s a visitor centre that helps you put some flesh on the historical bones. The city council’s Abbey House Museum is just over the road too.