Leeds

Victorian arcades, Kirkgate Market, the Royal Armouries and Headingley

Leeds is the largest city in Yorkshire, built around the River Aire. It grew as a wool and cloth town, and its Victorian wealth shows in Cuthbert Brodrick's Town Hall and Corn Exchange, the arcades off Briggate and Kirkgate Market, a Grade I listed market hall with around 800 stalls.

This guide covers three areas: the city centre between the station and the Headrow; the waterfront along the Aire, from Granary Wharf and the mills of Holbeck to the Royal Armouries at Leeds Dock; and Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall to the north-west, with the cricket ground, the university and Kirkstall Abbey.

NationEnglandWest Yorkshire; Leeds received its city charter in 1893
Main stationLeedsmanaged by Network Rail; National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms
AirportLeeds Bradfordabout 8.5 miles from the city centre, according to the airport
National museumRoyal Armouriesthe National Collection of Arms and Armour at Leeds Dock; free entry

Areas

3 places to begin

Each area has its own mini guide with 49 sights, places to eat and drink, and where to stay across the city.

22 sights · 30 places to eat

City Centre

Victorian arcades, Kirkgate Market and the civic buildings on the Headrow

Open the mini guide →

12 sights · 23 places to eat

Waterfront and Leeds Dock

The Royal Armouries, the Minster, the Calls and the mills of Holbeck

Open the mini guide →

15 sights · 20 places to eat

Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall

Test cricket, the university, an Edwardian cinema and a Cistercian abbey

Open the mini guide →

Sights

Highlights across Leeds

A sight from each area. Every area guide lists the rest, with directions and official links.

City Centre

Leeds Town Hall

Cuthbert Brodrick's town hall on the Headrow, built 1853–58; now mainly a concert, conference and events venue.

Waterfront and Leeds Dock

Royal Armouries Museum

The National Collection of Arms and Armour in a museum at Leeds Dock, opened in 1996; free entry with a booked ticket.

Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall

Headingley Stadium

Two grounds joined by one stand: the cricket ground, home of Yorkshire and a Test venue since 1899, and the Leeds Rhinos' rugby stadium.

City Centre

Leeds Art Gallery

Council gallery whose 20th-century British collection was designated of national importance in 1997; linked to the Central Library.

Waterfront and Leeds Dock

Leeds Dock

Former Clarence Dock on the Aire, now waterside flats, offices and cafés around the Royal Armouries.

Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall

Yorkshire Cricket Museum

Cricket museum at Headingley, open on first-team match days from April to September.

City Centre

Henry Moore Institute

Sculpture galleries and a research library run by the Henry Moore Foundation, next to Leeds Art Gallery.

Waterfront and Leeds Dock

Leeds Minster

Gothic Revival minster by R. D. Chantrell, completed in 1841, on a church site recorded from the 7th century; free entry.

Photos

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With kids in Leeds

Animal attractions, railways, science centres, beaches and caves from our Leeds guide, grouped by type. We hold no age ratings or child prices: check each place’s own site for age limits, height rules and family tickets.

Railways, trams and rides

Middleton RailwayHeritage railway, Waterfront and Leeds Dock

Practical help: travelling with children and where to stay in Leeds.

Itineraries

Plan your days

Short routes that stitch the areas together.

Food stalls and seating inside Kirkgate Market

One day

Arcades, market and the Headrow

Morning — Walk up Briggate through the Victoria Quarter and the arcades, then browse Kirkgate Market.
Midday — Eat in the market or one of the yards off Briggate.
Afternoon — See Leeds Art Gallery, the Henry Moore Institute and Leeds City Museum on the Headrow and Millennium Square.
Evening — A show at the Grand Theatre, City Varieties or Leeds Playhouse.

A lock on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Granary Wharf

Along the Aire

Canal, river and the Royal Armouries

Morning — Start at Granary Wharf where the canal meets the river, then look at the towers and mills of Holbeck.
Midday — Walk past Leeds Bridge and the Calls to Leeds Minster.
Afternoon — Spend two to three hours at the Royal Armouries Museum at Leeds Dock.

Kirkstall Abbey, Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall

North-west Leeds

University, cricket and Kirkstall Abbey

Morning — Visit the free university galleries and the M&S Company Archive off Woodhouse Lane.
Midday — Cross Woodhouse Moor to Hyde Park and Headingley for lunch.
Afternoon — Go on to Kirkstall Abbey and Abbey House Museum.

Getting there

Arriving in Leeds

Leeds station is in the city centre and Leeds Bradford Airport is north-west of the city. Always check the operator for current times, fares and disruption.

By train

Leeds station is on New Station Street, beside City Square. National Rail lists it as managed by Network Rail, with step-free access to all platforms, staff help at all hours and luggage storage. Check journey times and fares with National Rail.

National Rail: Leeds station →

By air

Leeds Bradford Airport is about 8.5 miles from the city centre. The airport says FLYER buses link it with Leeds station; there is no railway station at the terminal. See our airport page.

Buses in West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is bringing buses under public control through franchising; it says the first franchised services start in spring 2027 as part of the Weaver Network.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority: buses →

We do not publish timetables or fares. Journey details on this page come from the operators' own websites.

Walk the centre

The station, Briggate, Kirkgate Market, the Headrow and the river are all within a short walk. The Royal Armouries says it is 20 to 25 minutes on foot from the station.

Local trains to the north-west

Headingley, Burley Park and Kirkstall Forge stations are run by Northern. National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms at Headingley and Kirkstall Forge.

Water taxi

The Royal Armouries lists a water taxi to Leeds Dock as one way to reach the museum.

Best time to go

Leeds through the year

Leeds is a city break for any time of year; most of its main sights are indoors.

Spring and summerApril to September

The cricket season at Headingley, when the Yorkshire Cricket Museum opens on first-team match days, and longer days for the river, the canal and Kirkstall Abbey's park.

Autumn and winterOctober to March

A good time for the museums, galleries, arcades and theatres. Several sights close on Mondays or change hours in winter, so check before you go.

Day trips

Beyond the city

Ideas for a day away from Leeds. Check the operators for times and tickets.

North of Leeds

Harewood House

Country house built 1759–71 by John Carr and Robert Adam, with Capability Brown parkland; about 7 miles north of Leeds on the 36 bus.

harewood.org →

East Leeds

Temple Newsam

Tudor-Jacobean house with a home farm and grounds by Capability Brown, run by Leeds Museums and Galleries.

Leeds Museums and Galleries →

Near Bradford

Saltaire

Victorian model village built for Titus Salt, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Salts Mill has an art gallery, shops and a restaurant.

Salts Mill →

North Yorkshire

York

The walled city with York Minster and the Shambles. See our York guide.

York guide →

FAQ

Good to know before you go

Is entry to the Royal Armouries free?

Yes. The Royal Armouries says entry to its Leeds museum is free, but it asks visitors to book a ticket and suggests allowing two to three hours.

How do I get from Leeds Bradford Airport to the city centre?

The airport says FLYER buses run between the airport and Leeds station. There is no railway station at the airport. Check the airport's website for current times.

Is Kirkgate Market open every day?

Opening days and hours change, so check the market's own website before you go. The market has indoor halls and an outdoor market on Vicar Lane.

How far is Headingley from the city centre?

Headingley is north-west of the centre along the A660 Otley Road. Northern trains stop at Headingley station, and Kirkstall Abbey is further out in the Aire valley.

Nearby places

Guides near Leeds

Our closest other guides, by straight-line distance between centres. Road and rail distances are longer: check a journey planner.

More in England · Places A to Z · Getting between regions

Photo credits

Leeds (header): derek dye, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
City Centre: Michael D Beckwith, CC BY 4.0, source
Waterfront and Leeds Dock: Tim Green, CC BY 2.0, source
Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall: Minda, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Leeds Town Hall: Andrew roberts uk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Royal Armouries Museum: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Headingley Stadium: Ben Sutherland, CC BY 2.0, source
Leeds Art Gallery: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Leeds Dock: Bob Peters from Leeds, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
Yorkshire Cricket Museum: Frombowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Henry Moore Institute: Betty Longbottom, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Leeds Minster: No machine-readable author provided. Jungpionier assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Arcades, market and the Headrow: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Canal, river and the Royal Armouries: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kirkstall Abbey: JohnArmagh, Public domain, source
Harewood House: User:Gunnar Larsson, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Temple Newsam: Simon Cobb, CC0, source
Saltaire: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Leeds City Museum: Andrew roberts uk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
First White Cloth Hall: Warofdreams, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Abbey House Museum: No machine-readable author provided. Jungpionier assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Leeds Central Library: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Leeds Bridge: Heretodare, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Leeds Civic Hall: No machine-readable author provided. Jungpionier assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Granary Wharf: Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Hyde Park Picture House: Simon Cobb, CC0, source
Millennium Square: Rich Tea, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Tower Works: Ian Murfitt, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Parkinson Building: Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0, source

Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits

Plan it properly

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