Essentials:
- What: Part of the UK's oldest museum (another branch is The Tower of London), the collection of arms and armor dates back to ancient times and includes Japanese and Chinese exhibits. Live fencers and knights on horseback too.
- Where: Royal Armouries, Armouries Drive, Leeds LS10 1LT, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Telephone: +44 (0)8700 344 344
- Hours: Daily from 10:00 to 17.00 except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- Admission: Free but some charges for special events, exhibitions and activities
- Visit their website
A History of Weaponry, Armor and Warfare:
The Royal Armouries Leeds houses several fascinating collections including masterpieces of the armorers art throughout the ages. Henry VIII's strange looking horned helmet, made by a German armorer, is one of the displays and the emblem of the museum.
Exhibitions put periods of war and peace into perspective throughout the ages. There are special sections covering Japanese, Chinese and Indian arms, exhibitions about the wars of the 20th century and live interpretations throughout the spring and summer.
Live Exhibitions and Interpretations at the Royal Armouries in Leeds:
The Royal Armouries in Leeds is much more than a dry assortment of swords, shields and royal armor (though there is plenty of that around). The museum has its own horses and a Tiltyard where visitors can see up to seven shows a day demonstrating such military skills as:
- Jousting
- Fencing
- Archery
- Falconry
The Craftyard at The Royal Armouries in Leeds:
Next to the main building, craftspeople work at historic trades associated with the history of weaponry, making many of the items used in the museum's live demonstration. Visitors can watch:
- resident gunmakers, making and repairing modern and antique guns
- a leather worker, making footwear, scabbards, accessories and the buff coats worn by soldiers during the 17th century.
- an amorer, repairing and refurbishing the armor used in the museum's demonstrations.
The Menagerie Court at the Royal Armouries in Leeds:
Visitors can get close to the horses and birds of prey used in the museum's live demonstrations and talk to their keepers. The horses at the Royal Armouries at Leeds are specially selected to resembled medieval war horses.
Find out more about visiting Leeds with my Quick Travel Guide
