The Howard Assembly Room is located on New Briggate, on the corner with Harrison Street. You enter through the Opera North Box Office, before going into the atrium.
Read or listen to our guide notes for getting to and around the Howard Assembly Room.
The Howard Assembly Room is around a 10-minute walk from Leeds bus station (roughly 0.49 km) and a 15-minute walk from Leeds train station (roughly 0.77 km).
For train timetables, contact Northern Rail or TransPennine Express.
Buses to the centre also stop nearby on The Headrow, Vicar Lane and Boar Lane, all of which are within a 5–10-minute walk of the venue. For the most up to date information on local bus and train times, please check WYMetro.
Parking is available at several city centre car parks near the venue:
Blue badge parking is available at all of the car parks listed above. For further information you can view the Leeds City Centre Blue Badge Parking map.
You can be dropped off directly outside the Howard Assembly Room, though being in the city centre we are surrounded by some traffic restrictions and restricted routes!
Q-Park at St John’s Centre is another good drop-off point, though it is slightly further away.
If you are travelling from York Road, take the exit onto Vicar Lane. Then turn right up Harrison Street and right again onto New Briggate.
If you are travelling from Merrion Street, follow the road until New Briggate, taking the right lane onto Vicar Lane. Then turn right up Harrison Street and right again onto New Briggate.
If you are travelling from Leeds Playhouse or Leeds Bus Station by taxi, your driver can only use The Headrow and then turn right onto Vicar Lane from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm.
If you or your taxi driver are directed to a restricted route, use ‘Q-Park at St John’s Centre’ as your destination (5 minutes’ walk, roughly 0.20 km away). From here, follow Merrion Street until New Briggate and follow the right lane to Vicar Lane. Then turn right up Harrison Street and right again onto New Briggate.
For more detail, download the Leeds City Centre Traffic Restriction Routes Map and Disabled Routes Map.
You can access the venue through the new Howard Assembly Room foyer on New Briggate. There is a platform lift to get into the atrium, or alternatively 8 steps with handrails on both sides. Once inside the atrium, there is a front of house lift which goes to all floors including the Howard Assembly room (number 2 in the lift) and the gallery (number 3 in the lift). There is also a main staircase, taking you to all floors.
All the lifts are big enough for manual and electric wheelchairs.
We have chairs placed around each of the levels of the Howard Assembly Room, which anyone can use.
If there are no seats free, you can ask any of our staff and they will be happy to find an extra one for you.
Our seats have the following dimensions: 440mm H x 440mm W x 470mm D and backrest 400mm H.
There are two wheelchair spaces as standard, but this can be increased if more are needed. Please call the Box Office on 0113 223 3600 or email boxoffice@operanorth.co.uk and they will be happy to arrange a wheelchair space for you.
Two gender-neutral, wheelchair accessible toilets can be found on Level 1 of the Howard Assembly Room. There is the option for right-side transfer and left-side transfer, and these toilets are mirror images of each other.
Service, Assistance, and Emotional Support Dogs are very welcome in the Howard Assembly Room.
We are looking into welcoming other assistance animals too, and we hope to have an update on this soon.
You are very welcome to leave your Service, Assistance, or Emotional Support dog with a member of staff if you’d prefer not to take them into the auditorium. Our shows can be very vibrant and exciting, and we know that this may not suit all dogs!
We recommend contacting the Box Office directly to make your booking, as they may be able to answer specific questions about the show and what to expect in the venue. They may also be able to help arrange an aisle seat for you so your dog can be as comfortable as possible.
We are also always happy to help you on the day, when we will also inform you of any theatrical effects such as flashing lights and loud noises!
We have hearing loops installed at the Howard Assembly Room Box Office, and inside the venue itself.
Inside the auditorium, the hearing loop is most effective when sat closest to the stage, but do feel free to contact our friendly Box Office team if you have any extra queries.
If you have any access requirements you can sign up to our Access Membership Scheme. Members can book online for Opera North performances in Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds Town Hall and the Howard Assembly Room with any associated discounts, and with the information you supply we can find you appropriate seats quickly and easily.
Download the application form as a Word Doc and as a PDF. If you require any additional support in completing your application, please get in touch. If you feel unable to complete the application in writing we are happy to arrange a phone or video call with a member of our team to record your details verbally.
Address: Howard Assembly Room, Leeds Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
Email: boxoffice@operanorth.co.uk
Phone: 0113 2233600
