The 22 best things to do in Leeds right now

What is it? The River Aire and the Leeds-Liverpool canal run through the heart of the city and lead towards scenic spots like Rodley Nature Reserve, a thriving wetland wildlife haven. 

Why go? Created on a floodplain in Kirkstall Valley to bring wetland wildlife back into the Leeds area, it’s entirely possible to spend hours here. From lagoons and marshes to meadows, woodlands and grasslands there are plenty of places to species spot in tranquil surroundings. 

Don’t miss: Look out for events and activities like birdwatching and pond-dipping. 

What is it? A short trip out of town, Kirkstall Abbey and its adjoining Abbey House Museum lets guests wander through the ruins of a Cistercian monastery and learn about how the monks lived. 

Why go? This 900-year-old abbey is an architectural marvel as well as a haven for wildlife.

Don’t miss: In the summer months you can enjoy alfresco cinema among the ruins. 

What is it? A number of elegant, ornate shopping arcades comprising the Victoria Quarter, Grand, Queens and Thorntons. 

Why go? The major draw of these neat and pretty rows of covered shopping malls is that there are practically no chains to be found. Walk along the elegant walkways and admire the art nouveau shopfronts full of high-end designer shops, boutiques and cool indie businesses. For luxury fashion head to the Victoria Quarter, which houses shops like Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Reiss and a huge Harvey Nichols, swig down a stiff drink at Santiago’s in the Grand Arcade, and find cool independents like magazine shop Village and Weekend Skate Store in Thorntons. 

Don’t miss: Leeds’s arcades aren’t all vintage. The city’s newest shopping arcade Victoria Gate is a snazzy £165 million development that wouldn’t look out of place in Dubai. It houses the North’s flagship John Lewis store and a Clarins spa. 

What is it? A handsome-looking eighteenth-century pile on the outskirts of Leeds set in 100 acres of lush Yorkshire countryside. 

Why go? Head inside Harewood House to explore the ornate, stately rooms and see one of the finest art collections in Britain. The mansion is also home to a flock of hopelessly cute Humboldt penguins. Take the whole family along in summer to enjoy the bird garden and farm and to witness the daily feeding sessions.

Don’t miss: Head into the wider grounds of the estate to take a peek at the otherworldly ruins of Harewood Castle – the oldest building in the grounds, which sits on a steep north-facing slope with spectacular views up and down Wharfedale. Keep an eye out for Red Kites soaring overhead. The birds of prey were released on the Harewood estate in 1999 as part of a UK conservation initiative.

What is it? Brewtown tours offer novices and connoisseurs alike the chance to try an array of beers from three top-notch local brewers.

Why go? Yorkshire is riding high on the trend for craft beer and real ales, and Leeds is a great starting point to sample the best the county has to offer (it’s chock-full of independent breweries and pubs).

Don’t miss: A chance to sip pints at Northern Monk and North Brewing Co – two of the best craft breweries in Leeds. 

What is it? A sprawling walk all around Leeds taking in some of the visionary street art that lines many of the city’s walls.

Why go? To experience art in a different way, in a different environment – and without paying a penny. The Street Art Trail is also an amazing way to get to know the city and explore parts of it you may be less familiar with, while gaining a newfound appreciation for the sheer volume (and variety) of street art that is featured so heavily across the city. 

Don’t miss: If you’re a football fan then the several Leeds United murals scattered across the city may appeal, such as one by P19 on The Calls. For more of their art, check out the side of Wharf Chambers where you’ll find a colourful but carbon-conscious and waste-aware mural. This was created using Graphenstone Biosphere paint and the mural will absorb the same amount of CO2 as an adult tree in only three years.

What is it? An imposing Tudor-Jacobean mansion with grounds landscaped by Capability Brown.

Why go? Sometimes described as the ’Hampton Court Palace of the North’, Temple Newsam provides a breathtaking journey into history. Framed within acres of beautiful parkland and sculpted gardens, the house is filled with centuries-old artefacts. Explore the Grade I-listed building’s many rooms, packed with period pieces such as weaponry, clothing, tableware and furniture.

Don’t miss: A stroll down the vibrant rhododendron walk and a look at the herb arrangements, rose bushes and floral display. There are plenty of great picnicking spots here too. 

What is it? Stretching over 700 acres, Roundhay Park is a go-to for picnickers, dog-walkers, joggers and sun-worshippers. 

Why go? It’s the only park in Leeds that has a family of meerkats as residents. There are also lakes, woodland, gardens and the pièce de résistance, ‘Tropical World’, which is home to all things wild and wonderful. 

Don’t miss: Hop on board the park ‘train’, which does circuits of the park every 15 minutes in the summer setting off from the Lakeside Café to the main park gates and back again. You’ll also find Leeds’s biggest bonfire and fireworks here on Guy Fawkes Night. 

What is it? Part retail space, part food hub, in a stunning Victorian building.

Why go? Resembling the cross-hatched and cavernous inner chamber of some great airship, the Grade I-listed building is breathtaking to step inside. And you’ll quickly be distracted by quirky shops selling handmade jewellery, vintage cameras and more. The Corn Exchange is home to an array of indie shops and boutiques that beckon shoppers away from the chain stores outside.

Don’t miss: The lower ground level has also been transformed into a hub for independent food traders. Plus, look out for regular craft fairs and street food festivals. 

What is it? All the benefits of an outdoor festival under one cosy roof – whether you want street food, local craft ales, live music or just somewhere to lounge around.

Why go? What was once a large nursery school in the city’s Northern Quarter is now a vibrant, youthful, multi-storey hangout. Belgrave is also one of the city’s best live music venues thanks to the fact it’s the brainchild of the Beacons Festival organisers. The first floor is dedicated to high-quality, reasonably priced street food and local craft beer and there’s a gig space upstairs.  But it’s the rooftop terrace, which is the venue’s secret delight, with great views and benches to while away long summer evenings with friends.

Don’t miss: Belgrave is one of the main venues for the city’s Live at Leeds festival where you can catch gigs from emerging local bands and big names. 

What is it? Leeds is home to some of the best cocktail bars in the UK.

Why go? Of the top 50 cocktail bars in the UK, four of them are in Leeds, making it one of the most highly represented cities in the country outside of London. So go and sample literally some of the tastiest and most innovative drinks concotions being made in the country. The four that featured in the top 50 are: Jake’s Bar & Still Room, Roland’s, Below Stairs and Hedonist.

What is it? A world-renowned contemporary sculpture gallery, where you can take in towering three-dimensional art, attend lectures on architecture and eyeball art at one-off exhibitions. 

Why go? To survey work inspired by (rather than created by) Henry Moore. Those familiar with the great sculptor should know that his own work can be found at Yorkshire Sculpture Park or his estate at Perry Green. The Henry Moore Institute makes for a great city-centre culture-fix. 

What is it? Opera voices reverberate, ballet dancers pirouette, and panto villains shout ‘oh no he didn’t!’ with theatrical gusto on the Grand’s stage.

Why go? Leeds Grand Theatre lives up to its name with ornate ceilings, an enormous, glittering chandelier, sweeping staircases and seating levels stretching up high into the clouds. This is a key venue for local troupes Opera North and Northern Ballet, which regularly put on classic, avant-garde or lesser-known productions (and showcase world-class talent). 

Don’t miss: Pub-restaurant The Reliance, just around the corner, has a great pre-theatre menu on weekdays. 

What is it? A vast free-entry museum containing more than 8,500 war-related treasures such as Henry VIII’s tournament armour, elephant armour, and objects from popular culture such as the ‘Aliens’ pulse rifle.

Why go? You won’t need a strong interest in history to find the Armouries captivating, or to be bowled over by the 70,000 artefacts on display. A globally diverse collection of arms, armour and artillery dates from antiquity to the present day, and includes royal armour for kings and horses with swords and helmets through the centuries, before charting the invention and rapid evolution of guns as we know them today. Bullets, uniforms, knives, chainmail, pistols and cannons are meticulously laid out in immersive exhibitions alongside painted portraits and drawings depicting war or those involved in it.

Don’t miss: Look out for a daily programme of dramatic performances, tours, talks and live combat displays bringing history to life.

What is it? A wonderfully dark yet incredibly informative museum offering an immersive journey through the hit-and-miss history of healing. 

Why go? Get hands-on with history, and learn about the past without even realising it’s an educational experience. At the Thackray Museum of Medicine you can learn all about the development of medicine by wandering through the streets of Victorian Leeds, watching gruesome operations in a nineteenth-century operating theatre and visiting a seventies-style sexual health clinic. 

What is it? A walk along Leeds’s lovely canals.

Why go? Travelling via canal boat on the Leeds-to-Liverpool route is a popular holiday activity but for those wanting to enjoy similarly serene vibes in the centre, the city itself offers many decent walks. Of course you can do parts of it in smaller sections here and there but if you want to tackle the whole thing then there is a whopping 13-mile option. Starting at Leeds Station, you’ll get to take in Kirkstall Abbey, Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve, Bramley Hall Park, Rodley Nature Reserve, Calverley Woods and Buck Wood. 

Don’t miss: A beer at Saltaire brewery. The walk finishes in Saltaire, a beautiful Unesco World Heritage Site, so put your feet up, enjoy a few and then take the train home – or walk back if you’re feeling superhuman.

What is it? Roughly translated, ‘tharavadu’ means keeping traditions alive, and that’s exactly what happens at this highly rated Keralan restaurant.

Why go? Tharavadu's menu looks beyond the predictable kormas and tikka masalas to feature a mouthwatering selection of south Indian dishes. Tuck into delicately spiced novelties such as a whole crab cooked in coconut sauce, fluffy fried lentil doughnuts and toffee-filled steamed rice cake. 

What is it? Formerly known as West Yorkshire Playhouse, this famed theatre at Quarry Hill stages world-class theatre from some of the country’s largest touring plays and ballets.

Why go? Every famous production imaginable has toured via the Leeds Playhouse, but the theatre isn’t afraid to take risks, with lesser-known or more challenging works. Children are particularly well catered for, with plenty of shows on during school holidays, featuring fairy tales, pantomimes and sing-alongs staged to engage young minds. 

Don’t miss: The on-site restaurant serves good-quality food all day long, and you don’t have to be a ticketholder to dine. 

What is it? With a history spanning more than a century (it opened just after World War I), Hyde Park Picture House is one of the UK’s oldest cinemas and the only surviving gas-lit cinema in the country. 

Why go? It promises a vastly superior experience to your usual mammoth screen complexes, with pocket-friendly prices, half-time ice-cream vendors and a programme of art-house, indie and foreign films. It’s also a stunning place to sit in. The Grade II-listed building still has its original gas lamps, a beautiful Burmantofts tiled surround, terrazzo flooring, stained-glass windows and vintage signs.

Don’t miss: Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the cinema has undergone a much-needed redevelopment that will improve access at the Edwardian venue and upgrade it to modern standards. 

What is it? Leeds’s biggest escape game centre and a veritable noodle-scratcher of an experience. 

Why go? One of the most popular attractions in Leeds is the mysteriously titled Tick Tock Unlock, where visitors are locked in a room with a series of riddles and puzzles and the challenge of escaping within 60 minutes.

What is it? A working men’s club turned music venue that’s arguably the jewel in Leeds’s music-scene crown.

Why go? To see the best new bands from both sides of the Atlantic and eat a pie, all under one roof. The Brudenell Social Club might be a bit of a trek away from Leeds city centre, but there’s a reason that it’s still one of the area’s most treasured venues. In the live rooms, you’ve got a lovingly programmed bill of bands from new faves to established big hitters; in the bar area, you can play darts and chow down on grub from Pieminister. What’s not to love?

Don’t miss: The iconic venue plays host to the annual Live at Leeds and Gold Sounds festivals.

What is it? Often likened to Manchester’s famous Canal Street, Call Lane is a city-centre ‘strip’ that’s has earned a nationwide reputation for wild nights out. 

Why go? Stuffed with bars and clubs in every building, the entire road is pedestrianised at weekends to play host to thousands of revellers hopping from one bar to the next before finding their groove in one of the many clubs. Roland’s, Call Lane Social and neon bar Cuckoo are among the most popular venues, while Smokestack, Neon Cactus and Oporto provide alternative experiences without straying from the beating heart of the action.

Don’t miss: Most of the bars along Call Lane are open until around 3am, but if you really want to stay out to the wee hours head up the street to indie club Wire or around the corner to Space for house music.