Established in 1819, the museum is in the former Mechanics Institute in Millennium Square.
It holds many different exhibitions and permanent galleries, including the “Life on Earth” gallery, which displays everything from a meteorite, to dinosaur excrement, to a long-finned Pilot whale which now hangs from the ceiling outside the gallery. Other galleries include “Ancient Worlds” which exhibits archaeological items from Leeds and around the world, and the “Leeds Story” gallery, amongst others. Entry is free.