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Central business district of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Photo: Paul Holloway from Birmingham, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Central district of Leeds. It contains the following notable areas:
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
There is generally something going on! A great public space home to some gorgeous civic architecture (including Leeds Civic Hall - council offices built in 1933), concerts, exhibitions, ice rinks, Christmas markets.
The Leeds Story is the main draw for visitors, but there are also galleries of natural history and ancient Roman and Greek history. The museum is in the imposing Leeds Institute building.
The city's symbol and pride and joy, one of the world's finest Victorian buildings, and home to a dazzling array of concerts, particularly during the city's popular and extensive International Concert Season. The restored interior is stunning.
Leeds City Art Gallery
The world of modern and classical art is at your disposal here in Leeds. It has a small but interesting range of exhibits, plus an ornately-tiled cafe, and is a great place to kill half an hour or more. It is co-joined with the Henry Moore Institute, which exhibits sculpture. Free.
Small sculpture gallery and library.
When the Victorian civic authorities sought to improve the sights and foul smells of Briggate and the city centre, they demolished some of the city's dirtiest yards, alleyways, shambles and lanes and built covered shopping arcades filled with fine establishments. These catered for the refined tastes of the growing moneyed classes of Leeds. This rebuilding continued into Edwardian times and the legacy is some of Europe's finest, most elegant shopping locations. Today these arcades are home to some of the most exclusive designer shops in Great Britain (Vivienne Westwood, Hugo Boss, Luis Vuitton and Harvey Nichols to name a few).
This traditional British market is the largest in Europe. Housed in an opulent late Victorian palace to commerce, it has both indoor and outdoor stalls. Marks and Spencer had their first establishment here called, 'Marks Penny Bazaar'.
Shopping in surroundings to rival any of Leeds' fine arcades. Located just to the south of Kirkgate markets on Vicar Lane. Designed by Cuthbert Broderick and architecturally based on the Paris corn exchange. A largely elliptical building, crowned with a great glass dome roof, that allows light to stream in even on the greyest Yorkshire winter mornings - necessary because grain traders required good lighting to determine the quality of the grain. (Broderick was also architect of Leeds town hall and the Leeds Mechanics' Institute, Millennium Square, Two shops designed by Broderick still survive opposite the Mechanics Institute on Cookridge Street, now converted into a cocktail bar.)
A stunning building built in an ornate Middle Eastern style, with minarets, complex stone carvings, and colored tiles on the facade.
A lovely Georgian square reminiscent of Dublin, and is often an overlooked haven of tranquility in the city centre. (Hard to find without a map)
With old Post Office and imposing Queens Hotel.
Cathedral Church of St Anne
Small, but an extremely interesting example of an Arts and Crafts, 19th-century Catholic cathedral - unique within the UK.
Hidden away within peaceful gardens lies this true gem, built just before the English Civil War, it has beautiful ornate woodwork in its charming interior, and architecturally it is an extremely rare example of a 17th-century double nave design.
Lovely 19th-century, red-brick baroque church.
Minster and Parish Church of Saint Peter-at-Leeds
An attractive and fairly large neo-gothic church with a renowned choir and concerts from time to time. During the rebuilding of the Parish church in Victorian times, the original Saxon crosses where Leeds folk would have worshipped in the 8/9th centuries (well before the first church of Leeds had been founded) were unearthed in the medieval tower and is permanently on display inside.
An unassuming location and exterior hide an elegant baroque interior, built for the merchant class by subscription and donation so they could worship well away from the lower working classes of the city. The Iconic spire of Holy Trinity has dominated the skyline of the city for hundreds of years and was restored in 2006/7.
Home to the city's impressive range of amateur dramatic and musical groups, including the acclaimed Leeds Youth Opera
World famous and has even had Charlie Chaplin tread the boards. Home to a mix of shows.
Major shows (often straight from the West End); also this is the home of the world famous (and extraordinarily good) Opera North who perform a wide repertoire of operas and operettas.
More adventurous and often performs world premiers and encourages local talent - well worth a visit. Lucky travellers may arrive in time for one of the themed, almost festival-style programmes.
Modern 13-screen multiplex cinema with huge screens.
Cinema complex in the Trinity shopping centre.
An expanding Bradford-based chain of quality curry houses. Traditional Indian and Pakistani cuisines available
A chain of excellent curry houses. Try the masala fish!
Wonderful Italian food served in a fantastic Art-Deco restaurant - packed with local regulars who know a good thing when they eat it!
Multi-award winning Japanese place.
Highly recommended Chinese restaurant.
All-you-can-eat buffet restaurant on Headrow.
Excellent authentic Keralan food.
Owned by world famous chef Raymond Blanc.
Renowned Leeds branch restaurant has been going strong for years with an innovative menu tailored to the seasons. Despite the swanky location, it is surprisingly unpretentious and not ridiculously pricey.
Fantastic dining experience below street level in this exclusive-but-well-worth-it restaurant. Does a very good value early bird menu, but you need to book in advance at the weekend.
Rapidly expanding Leeds bagel chain, with a massive range of bagels and fillings, all extremely tasty.
An espresso bar that is open until 10 or 11PM most nights. Excellent coffee and good food.
High quality treats that won't break the bank.
Top quality sandwich deli and juice bar.
Quality vegetarian café with a relaxed atmosphere.
A magnificent tiled hall linking the city library and city art gallery next to the Town Hall. A must for any visitor, and pop in the gallery and library for a free look round.
A 'locals' pub.
High-quality champagne bar.
Thought of by many as having the best drinks in the city, and is on one of the city's busiest bar strips.
Sexy and stylish, has bucket-loads of atmosphere and great drinks.
Bohemian, has bucket-loads of atmosphere and great drinks. DJs and often a bit of dancing too.
Old favourite still going strong with a wonderful, friendly atmosphere and drinks to die for.
Unrivalled beer selection! Was named best place to drink in Britain by The Observer.
Real ales.
A refurbished Victorian gem.
A great 18th-century historic pub, one of the most impressive (and oldest) in Leeds.
Famed for its diverse range of quality live music, including a strong jazz offer. With bar and food.
Laid back, loungy bar, also does great food.
Regularly voted the best club in the city, it has a range of quality nights out playing excellent music in easy-going yet chic surroundings... expect everything from jazz to reggae to hip hop. Featuring live Comedy every Saturday evening and live music at The Sunday Joint every Sunday, HiFi is the truly diverse venue that every city deserves!
Stinky's Peephouse
Home of one of the UK's biggest club nights: Back to Basics (Sa).
Great Thursday nights (Habit) and great weekends sometimes too! Although Fridays and Saturdays are to be avoided unless you know it will be busy, it's not really a Friday or Saturday night place.
Wire pushes quality underground music in a personal setting. The club is powered by a full Funktion One Sound system, fuelled by an eclectic range of spirits and beer from around the globe, and is a favourite home to world class DJs.
A hostel with a twist. Each room exhibits works by local artists, which understandably makes this more expensive than your average hostel, but not bank-breakingly so.
Perhaps Leeds' only true backpacker hostel.
Independent hotel right next to the Leeds City railway station in a historic building. Rooms and interior are a little outdate to modern standards, but a good choice for a night or two when visiting Leeds. The hotel has spread out to neighbouring buildings, leading to a maze of lifts and corridors to get to rooms. Don't bother paying the £7.50 extra for breakfast, it's not worth it.
A short walk from the train station, Harvey Nichols, and the finance district. Award winning Aparthotel right in the heart of Leeds' vibrant City Centre in the Swinegate area. LCD TV, Apple Mac computers, free Wi-Fi and free Grab & Go Breakfast.
Offering boutique luxury in a quiet waterfront setting only minutes from the bars and clubs of the Exchange Quarter and the city centre shops.
Three minutes walk from the City Rail Station, in the Swinegate area of the city.
formerly Hotel Metropole
A 4-star hotel offering 120 bedrooms, 18 event suites and a restaurant, housed in a Grade II listed building built with a Victorian terracotta façade.
Funky hotel in a prime location with great views on the upper floors.
Stunningly refurbished building housing one of Leeds' finest and most luxuriant hotels in a prime location.
One of Leeds' oldest hotels, its dramatic Art Deco façade and old world charm and style ensure it remains a favourite.
The Radisson Blu, Leeds is a Grade II listed building located in the city centre.
Residence 6
Serviced apartments in the Old Post Office.
Over 30 apartments available, in 9 apartment blocks. All apartments are in city centre locations, and all are en-suite.
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Leeds, West Yorkshire · International · LBA
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