Getting around Leeds: with and without a car

Not yet assessed Our reading of the sources below, not an official rating.

Without a car

Getting here

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. ¹

National Rail: Leeds station (opens in new tab)

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. ²

Leeds Bradford Airport guide (opens in new tab) · Leeds Bradford Airport: getting here (opens in new tab)

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. ³

West Yorkshire Combined Authority: buses (opens in new tab)

Once you are there

Walk the center

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.

Stops near each area

From our area guides (Leeds): the stations and stops listed for each base. See each area's Getting there page for more.

City Centre

Leeds: National Rail. Main station on New Station Street, at the south side of City Square; managed by Network Rail
Leeds Bus Station: Local and regional buses. On the east side of the centre; Leeds Minster gives it as three minutes' walk away

City Centre: getting there

Waterfront and Leeds Dock

Leeds: National Rail. Main station; Granary Wharf and the Dark Arches lie beneath it
Leeds Dock: Water taxi. The Royal Armouries lists a water taxi to Leeds Dock; it is a 20 to 25 minute walk from the station

Waterfront and Leeds Dock: getting there

Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall

Headingley: National Rail (Northern). Station managed by Northern; National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms
Burley Park: National Rail (Northern). Station managed by Northern; step-free access may be via long or steep ramps or streets
Kirkstall Forge: National Rail (Northern). Station opened in 2016 on the Leeds to Bradford line; step-free access to all platforms

Headingley, Hyde Park and Kirkstall: getting there

No schedules or fares are copied here: check the operator or Traveline for the day you travel. Taxis and ride-hailing apps operate in most towns, but we have no sourced coverage data for rural areas, so do not count on one at short notice.

With a car

We hold no sourced driving notes for Leeds beyond the general rules.

General rules (driving on the left, licenses, roundabouts, speed limits in mph, parking, tolls, EV charging): Driving in Britain. Charge points: Zapmap (opens in new tab).

To and from other regions

Straight-line distance from our region centers, and the fastest train time that National Rail publishes on its destination pages (not a schedule; it may include a change). Where we found no figure we say so. The full table is on getting between regions.

Distance and fastest published train time from Leeds to other regions
To or from	Straight line	Fastest train (National Rail)	Notes

Figures retrieved Oct 25, 2026 for the intercity data. Schedules change.

Stations in our data

14 stations and stops (Leeds)

OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Overpass API. Fetched 2026-11-03. This is the list behind the near-me page, not a complete list of stations.

Away Supporters Coach Park (bus), Leeds City Council
Bramley (rail), Northern Trains
Bramley Centre Bus Station (bus)
Burley Park (rail), Northern Trains
Cottingley (rail), Northern Trains
Elland Road Park and Ride (bus)
Headingley (rail), Northern Trains
Horsforth (rail), Northern Trains
Kirkstall Forge (rail), Northern Trains
Leeds (rail), Network Rail
Leeds City Bus Station (bus)
Leeds Dyer Street Coach Station (bus), National Express
Leeds Supporters Coach Park (bus), Metro
Moor Road (heritage), The Middleton Railway Trust

Official links

National Rail: Leeds station (opens in new tab): facilities, step-free access and departures
Leeds Bradford Airport (opens in new tab): buses, taxis and car hire
West Yorkshire Combined Authority (opens in new tab): buses, rail and the Weaver Network
Leeds City Council (opens in new tab): local information
Visit Leeds (opens in new tab): official tourism website

More on Leeds: Leeds guide · how to get there

Questions people ask

Can I get around Leeds without a car?

We have not yet assessed getting around Leeds. The official links below, and the region guide, are the place to start.

Do I need to check a driving zone in Leeds?

We found no charging or low emission zone for Leeds in the official pages we read. Check the council site before you drive in.

Sources

Fetched and read on Oct 25, 2026. Rules, prices and schedules change: check the source before you rely on it. Where a page blocked automated access we say so and link it.