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Town hall
Leeds Town Hall
Cuthbert Brodrick's town hall on the Headrow, built 1853–58; now mainly a concert, conference and events venue.
A mini guide to
City Centre
Victorian arcades, Kirkgate Market and the civic buildings on the Headrow
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
Victorian arcades, Kirkgate Market and the civic buildings on the Headrow
The centre of Leeds lies north of the River Aire. Briggate, the main shopping street, runs up from Leeds Bridge past yards, alleys and the Victorian arcades of the Victoria Quarter, with Kirkgate Market, the Corn Exchange and the Grand Theatre close by.
Along the Headrow are the civic buildings: Cuthbert Brodrick's Town Hall, the Art Gallery and Central Library, the Henry Moore Institute and, behind them, Millennium Square with the Civic Hall and Leeds City Museum. City Square and the station are at the southern edge.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Art gallery
Leeds Art Gallery
Council gallery whose 20th-century British collection was designated of national importance in 1997; linked to the Central Library.
Sculpture gallery
Henry Moore Institute
Sculpture galleries and a research library run by the Henry Moore Foundation, next to Leeds Art Gallery.
Directions Website Report a problem with Henry Moore Institute
Museum
Leeds City Museum
Museum founded in 1819, housed since 2008 in Brodrick's former Mechanics' Institute on Millennium Square.
Library
Leeds Central Library
City library on Calverley Street, linked to the Art Gallery, with art, music and local and family history libraries.
Civic building
Leeds Civic Hall
Grade II* listed civic hall of 1933, its twin towers topped by gilded owls, facing Millennium Square.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows City Centre and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Look up in the arcades
The Victoria Quarter, Thornton's Arcade and Queens Arcade are under cover, which helps on a wet day.
2
Go to the market hungry
Kirkgate Market has indoor halls and an outdoor market off Vicar Lane. Check opening days on the market's own site.
3
Plan around opening days
The Henry Moore Institute and Leeds Art Gallery list different hours for Sundays, and several sights close on Mondays. Check each website before you go.
4
Walk the Headrow
The Town Hall, Art Gallery, Henry Moore Institute and Central Library stand side by side, a few minutes uphill from the station.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Leeds
More areas to explore
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 →Photo credits
- City Centre (area photo): Michael D Beckwith, CC BY 4.0, source
- Leeds Town Hall: Andrew roberts uk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Leeds Art Gallery: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Henry Moore Institute: Betty Longbottom, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Leeds City Museum: Andrew roberts uk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Leeds Central Library: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Leeds Civic Hall: No machine-readable author provided. Jungpionier assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Millennium Square: Rich Tea, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Kirkgate Market: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Victoria Quarter: traveljunction, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Leeds Corn Exchange: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Leeds Grand Theatre: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- City Varieties Music Hall: Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- The Leeds Library: Michael D Beckwith, CC BY 3.0, source
- Leeds Cathedral: Jungpionier, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- St John's Church: Tim Green from Bradford, CC BY 2.0, source
- Holy Trinity Church: Chemical Engineer, CC BY-SA 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
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits