We are a 5-10 minute walk through the University of Leeds campus from the Parkinson Building on Woodhouse Lane.

With your back to the Parkinson Building steps, turn right and right again under the archway. From here we are signposted across campus to the crossroads at Moorland Road and Clarendon Road. From there, turn left down Clarendon Road and we are the second turning on the right, into the Western Campus where you’ll see the Archive building ahead of you. There are lots of campus maps dotted around the entrances to the University so it’s easy to find your way. Use these to check for directions and make sure you’re on course; we’re shown as the Michael Marks Building on the Western Campus, building no. 13 on the University maps.

You can get the No 56 bus from Leeds city centre (travelling to Moor Grange) to the Leeds University Business School on Moorland Road, stop number 45011401. It leaves from Victoria H stop on Eastgate, stop number 45029640, or Headrow K stop, stop number 45010922, on Albion Street. When you get off the bus, keep the University Business School on your right and follow the road towards Clarendon Road crossroads, turn right at the crossroads and travel along Clarendon Road. Turn right at the Western Campus entrance where the barrier is, cross over at the dropped kerbs. The Archive is the bronze building to the right. There are bollards to look out for but the pathway is clear and all kerbs are low.

If you’re getting the 56 towards Leeds, you need to get off at Moorland Road, Woodhouse, stop number 45011402, use the pedestrian crossing to cross over towards the University Business school, and then follow the directions above. Alternatively, you can get the No 1 bus from Southbank G stop, stop number 45013210, on Neville Street to Leeds University C stop, stop number 45011386. Get off at the Woodhouse Lane stop and then simply follow the On Foot instructions to get to the Archive.

If you hold a Blue Badge you can use one of the Blue Badge parking spaces on the Western Campus. Unfortunately we can’t offer parking for any other visitors.

So where can you park? There are 4-hour limited free parking spaces close to us at the eastern end of Woodsley Road and northern end of Belle Vue Road. If you’re using a Sat Nav, the postcode is LS2 9LP. There’s unlimited, free, on-street parking on the streets off Royal Park Road (10 mins walk). Woodhouse Lane multi-storey car park (charges apply) is nearer to the city centre (15 min walk to the Archive through the university campus).

Our nearest train station is Leeds city station. We’re a 30 minute uphill walk from the station or 5 minutes in a taxi. If you’re walking you can use the M&S Heritage Trail route – walk up Park Row from the station and join the Heritage Trail at the corner of The Light where Park Row meets The Headrow. Alternatively you can get a train to Burley Park station and from there we are a 20 minute walk uphill.

There are two Blue Badge parking spaces outside the Archive entrance. There is a step-free route from the nearest bus stop, please see the Getting Here by Bus information for details.

Located on the Western Campus of the University of Leeds the M&S Archive is just over a mile from Leeds city centre. The area surrounding the Archive is flat, however, the approach to the University’s Western Campus from Leeds city centre is uphill. The main entrance is on the ground floor and has step free, level access throughout. All public areas of the Archive are on the ground floor. Our entrance is an automatic door that’s wide enough for a wheelchair or mobility scooter. The floor surfaces are tiled and carpeted. Public areas are evenly and well-lit, by overhead fluorescent LED lights and halogen LED spotlights. There is a hearing loop system at Reception.

The Archive is fully wheelchair accessible with level access and seating throughout, including a unisex accessible WC with hand dryers and baby change. We have a hearing loop and large-print guides. Assistance dogs are very welcome. Our cinema space has low lighting levels, as well as playing films with soundtracks which all have subtitles. There are two other screens in the exhibition with both music and spoken soundtracks. Let us know in advance of your visit and we can adjust light and sound levels so that everyone is comfortable – see our sensory map for more details. There are seating areas throughout the exhibition. There are lots of opportunities to handle real and replica objects, and we have an oral history listening post with seating.

The Reading Room has level access, a height-adjustable desk for wheelchair users, task lighting and a range of support aids to help researchers when working with archives of different formats

We have free sensory backpacks for visitors with SEND to use during their visit – just pick one up from the shelves at Reception when you arrive. Free large-print guides are also available at Reception. You may find the following resources useful too.

We don’t have a cafe on site, we do have a refreshment area where we provide everything you need to make yourself a hot drink and where you can eat your own food. There are several cafes nearby on the University of Leeds campus. Public toilets are located on the ground floor with level access from the main entrance. We have a unisex accessible toilet with baby changing facilities. A wheelchair is available for visitors to borrow from Reception. There is always a member of staff on hand in the exhibition if you need any assistance. The Archive has a set of evacuation procedures, and our team will assist visitors either out of the building, or to a refuge, in the event of an emergency.

Explore the exhibition from wherever you are!