10 Best Things to Do in Leeds

Millennium Square is something of a social hub in the centre of Leeds. It is surrounded by major landmarks, including the Town Hall, Leeds City Museum and Leeds Civic Hall, as well as a number of theatres and galleries.

The square itself regularly hosts special events and attractions, including a Christmas Market, concerts, an outdoor ice rink and the screening of major sporting events. There’s a diverse selection of cafés, pubs and restaurants nearby, making this a pleasant place for your morning coffee. Or you can choose to have your coffee from the comfort of your own hotel room by choosing accommodation situated near Millennium Square.

The historical grandeur of Leeds is nowhere better demonstrated than in its grand shopping arcades. There are several around the city, but the best is Victoria Quarter. A palace of luxury shopping, it's home to big-name outlets like Harvey Nichols, Vivienne Westwood and Louis Vuitton.

Even if you’re only window-shopping, Victoria Quarter is worth a visit. Its dramatic wrought-iron and marble structure is home to some first-rate restaurants and cafés. To complete the cosmopolitan atmosphere, the Victoria Gate Casino is just a short walk away.

The Royal Armouries Museum is home to a lot of military hardware. The collection dates as far back to medieval swords and suits of armour up to current generation firearms, including artefacts from around the world. Conveniently close to the city centre, right by the River Aire, the museum is free to enter.

Perhaps the most famous attraction of the museum is the arena, where you can see live-action re-enactments of famous battles, duels and jousts. These special events take place throughout the year, usually on weekends.

The Emmerdale Studio Experience is simply the former set of the popular ITV soap opera, now open to public tours. You can take an 80-minute guided tour of the fictional Yorkshire village and the indoor sets, including the iconic Woolpack pub. The tour also includes the opportunity to learn some of the skills behind making the TV series.

For the really hardcore Emmerdale fans, the outdoor set is also open to visitors. It’s on the Harewood Estate, about 3 miles north of the Studio Experience.

Leeds Corn Exchange is another beautiful example of Victorian-era construction and was almost certainly one of the most ostentatious farmers’ markets of its time. It is one of very few exchanges in the UK which is still primarily a place for shopping, but the goods on sale now include fashion, homeware and musical instruments.

The Corn Exchange is renowned as an ‘alternative’ place, featuring mostly independent stores and very few big brands. Keep an eye out, in particular, for Humpit. It’s a dedicated hummus restaurant and is widely regarded as one of the top places to eat in all of Leeds.

The Thackray Medical Museum on Beckett Street is a fascinating place, telling the often gruesome story of the development of medical technology around the world. The building was once a workhouse and then became part of the neighbouring hospital, so it’s fair to say that there are probably quite a few ghosts around. In fact, it’s said to be one of the most haunted buildings in Leeds.

As if the dioramas and exhibits weren’t scary enough during the day, the museum regularly opens its doors in the evenings for ghost nights. If you’re lucky (or not, as the case may be), you might see the mysterious woman in 18th-century clothes waving or hear ghostly knocks and bangs.

Leeds has an astonishingly diverse dining scene, with many first-class independent restaurants to choose from throughout the city centre. It’s virtually impossible to pick out an individual street or area which stands out more than any others because you can find great restaurants on every corner.

The choice of South Asian restaurants is especially noteworthy, rivalling Birmingham’s famous curry scene. Look out for Hansa’s on North Street, Tharavadu on Mill Hill or Bengal Brasserie on Merrion Way. You’ll also find great Thai, Japanese, Italian and, of course, British restaurants around the city.

To have everything at your doorstep, consider booking a hotel located in the city centre.

You can’t talk about Leeds without mentioning the music festivals. Admittedly, they’re not usually the kind of thing you can do in a day, but they are certainly not to be missed. The Leeds Festival, in particular, is one of the UK’s biggest, attracting big-name bands to Bramham Park during the August bank holiday.

There are dozens of festivals around the city throughout the year, though mostly between June and September. Live at Leeds and Slam Dunk Festival are both conveniently right in the city centre while Otley Folk Festival and Let’s Rock Leeds! are a little further afield. All sorts of musical genres are represented, from classical to ‘80s to modern rock and pop.

If you're only visiting for the weekend, and specifically to attend an event, it may be of interest to browse the budget-friendly accommodation available in Leeds.

The Kirkgate Market has been housed in a charming historical building in Leeds City Centre since 1857. It now spills out across the square behind it so that it spans a huge total area. Conveniently right next to the bus station and a short walk from the train station, it’s an especially good place to find a lunchtime snack.

The market contains around 200 stalls, with fashion, jewellery, hardware and haberdashery vendors alongside the fresh local produce and snack bars. It’s as diverse as the city itself, with a Chinese supermarket alongside curry and kebab stalls and old English butchers.

Call Lane has developed a reputation very much like that of Manchester’s Canal Street – basically of being the best place for a wild party. Particularly LGBT-friendly, the street is practically lined with bars and clubs and is pedestrianised at weekends, making it ideal for bar-hopping. The music selection is varied and eclectic, so just keep hoping until you find the place that suits you.

Popular names along Call Lane include Jake’s, Wire and Call Lane Social. Oporto is especially famous for its live music while Neon Cactus is renowned for its choice of tequilas and potent cocktails.