The Best Things to Do in Leeds That’ll Keep Both Solo Explorers and Squads Buzzing
Anyone who’s ever set foot in Leeds is unlikely to stop raving about it. And as much as it might get on your nerves, you can’t really blame them; the place is fan-freaking-tastic.
In one day, solo explorers and groups alike can marvel at Victorian architecture, sip pints in old-world pubs, and wander through unspoiled greenery. Toss in the shopping centres and local fauna, and you’ll see why everyone has Leeds on their lips.
No need to just daydream, though. Our list below will show you the city’s finest, all without the wallet-draining cost of a tour guide.
Marvel at the ruins at Kirkstall Abbey
– From leeds.life
Address: Abbey Rd, Kirkstall
Contact Details: 0113 378 4079
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 10 am to 4 pm
The 900-year-old Kirkstall Abbey is why history buffs and architecture nerds hop on flights to Leeds. Visitors can wander through the ruins of a Cistercian monastery and get a taste of the monks’ life who lived there centuries ago.
Beyond the history, Kirkstall Abbey offers a lovely parkland setting, fit for strolls and lazy afternoons. In summer (June to August), it gets even better with an alfresco cinema screening films among the abbey’s ruins.
Tip: Bring your picnic essentials. Kirkstall Abbey has loads of terrific picnic spots, especially the area by River Aire.
Feast your eyes on top-tier sculptures at The Henry Moore Institute
– From henrymooreinstitute
Address: 74 The Headrow
Contact Details: 0113 246 7467
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
The Henry Moore Institute, with its three spaces for one-off exhibits, never fails to get our art geeks amped up. Our November 2024 visit was a surreal delight—quite literally—thanks to a display of surrealist, post-WW2 sculptures by German-speaking women.
Not your thing? No worries; you can still pop by to get a taste of Leeds’ sculpture history by checking the permanent exhibit. The shop is also impeccable, packed with artsy goodies like sketchbooks and paintings that are perfect as mementoes.
Tip: Visit during an event for a unique experience!
Shop ’til you drop at Trinity Leeds
– From trinityleeds
Address: 27 Albion St
Contact Details: 0113 394 2415
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 9 am to 8 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 5 pm
Boasting 120 brands and over 1 million sq ft, Trinity Leeds is what your shopaholic friend dreams of. That’s no exaggeration on our end. Our team regularly nabs their gear here, whether it’s a Zara skirt or Claire’s necklace.
Our foodies can’t resist Trinity Leeds either, and we can thank Trinity Kitchen for that. Street food stars in this electric section, with rotating vendors dishing out global flavours under one sunny roof.
Tip: This spot is massive! Get a hold of the free map to avoid confusion.
Catch a flick at Hyde Park Picture House
– From hydeparkph
Address: 73 Brudenell Rd
Contact Details: 0113 275 2045
Hyde Park Picture House has been around since 1914, and it’s still one of Leeds’ finest. Not that it’s hard to see why. It’s the oldest gas-lit cinema in the UK, boasting a mesmerising Edwardian design, posh terracotta lettering, and Roman ionic columns.
The best bit? It’s movies galore here. Week after week, you can catch new releases, cult classics, or family flicks, all for a price that’ll make you loathe overpriced new-age movie theatres.
Tip: You can hire the venue for a private shindig.
Get merry at Whitelock’s Ale House
– From whitelocksalehouse
Address: Turk’s Head Yard
Contact Details: 0113 245 3950
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 11 am to 11 pm
- Thu to Sat – 11 am to 12 am
- Sun – 11 am to 11 pm
Speaking of old haunts, Whitelock’s Ale House has been going strong since 1715. You can trust that their British fare, real ale, and craft beer are absolute KOs if they’ve lasted over 300 years.
Their Sunday lunch is also a proper classic, especially when you tuck it out in the cobbled courtyard. We’re all about that beer-battered haddock—light, malty, and perfect with a side of their famous Yorkshire pudding.
Tip: Know what’s coming by checking their Insta.
Catch world-class plays at Leeds Playhouse
– From leedsplayhouse
Address: Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill
Contact Details: 0113 213 7700
Leeds knows its theatre, and the award-winning Leeds Playhouse is one solid proof. New productions are the main buzz, but you’ll still catch big, international musicals from time to time.
For instance, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is back by popular demand, running from 18 November 2024 to 25 January 2025. They also love to get experimental—case in point, Feel Me, a November 2024 show where we answered live questions while watching.
Tip: Budding artists can take advantage of their training programs.
Enjoy a show-stopping performance at Leeds Grand Theatre
– From operanorth
Address: 46 New Briggate
Contact Details: 0113 243 0808
They weren’t kidding with Leeds Grand Theatre. The “grand” is well-earned. From the Gothic, Scottish baronial aesthetics and jaw-dropping chandelier to the heart-rending opera and ballet shows, everything here is made to impress.
Most days, you’ll catch avant-garde or classic performances by local legends like Northern Ballet and Opera North. Beyond that, they mix it up with rock pantos, live hypnotism, and comedy gigs.
Tip: Groups of 10 or more can score discounts! Just make sure to reserve by emailing [email protected] or calling 0113 297 7040.
Check out historical weapons at the Royal Armouries Museum
– From royalarmouriesmuseum
Address: Armouries Dr
Contact Details: 0113 220 1916
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 10 am to 5 pm
True to its name, the Royal Armouries Museum is brimming with weaponry—about 4,500 pieces, if you’re counting. The collection spans different eras, with our crew spotting ancient tusk swords and Henry VIII’s foot combat armour, first commissioned in 1520.
And as a cherry on top, there’s a stash of famous movie weapons and props here. We specifically saw a couple of James Bond’s go-to firearms and some well-known Lord of the Rings and Alien memorabilia.
Tip: You can bring assistance dogs, but pet animals are a no-no.
Rock out at Brudenell Social Club
– From nath_brudenell
Address: 33 Queen’s Rd, Burley
Contact Details: 0113 275 2411
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 12 am
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 12 am
You haven’t truly done Leeds until you’ve rocked up to Brudenell Social Club. This old working man’s joint is now the lifeblood of local music, with a banging lineup of up-and-comers and bona fide legends, which often throw secret gigs.
The place doesn’t mess about capacity either, fitting up to 400 folks. But the best part? It has that warm, come-as-you-are vibe; anyone can rock out and knock back a pint without so much as a side-eye.
Tip: They provide a personal assistant ticket for customers needing a PA’s support to attend a show, provided they have their own ticket. You can arrange this by sending an email to [email protected].
Soak up the natural beauty of Roundhay Park
– From rabiasalman.786
Address: Mansion Ln, Roundhay
Contact Details: 0113 378 6002
Operating Hours: Daily – 24 hours
Kicking back doesn’t get better than Roundhay Park. Spanning 700+ acres of green, lakes, and woods, it’s a hotspot for a picnic or just a good old wander.
If you need to break a sweat, the playgrounds, courts, and skate park will sort you out, too. To top it off, the zoo Tropical World is in the park, and it has one of the UK’s largest tropical flora and fauna collections.
Tip: Dial the digits above to book the tennis courts or football pitches.
Birdwatch at Rodley Nature Reserve
– From tomhalsonphotography
Address: Moss Bridge Rd, Rodley
Operating Hours: Wed, Sat, and Sun – 9 am to 5 pm
Since we’re mad for birdlife, Rodley Nature Reserve has always been one of our go-tos. Spring and autumn are peak magic, and the last time we swung by, we had a good look at tufted ducks, gadwalls, and little grebes all chilling in flocks.
And don’t even get us started on the scenery. It’s a postcard come to life! There are lagoons, marshes, wildflowers, dragonfly ponds, and fields of crops, all bustling with birdlife and colour year-round.
Tips: There’s onsite parking over the River Aire. Also, if you’re heading by bus, take routes 9/9C, 16A, and 60/60A.
Dive into the history of medicine at Thackray Museum of Medicine
– From thackraymuseum
Address: 141 Beckett St, Harehills
Contact Details: 0113 244 4343
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 5 pm
Thackray Museum of Medicine isn’t your average museum. It’s the UK’s largest independent medical one, loaded to the brim with history and stories that’ll leave you informed, amazed, and maybe a bit queasy.
The learning is done in the galleries, where you can study diseases, medical advancements, and the practices of Victorian Leeds. There’s also a research room with lecture notes and pics of public health issues, but you must call before barging in.
Tip: Score some gifts from their online shop.
See the treasures of Harewood House
– From harewoodhouse
Address: Harewood
Contact Details: 0113 218 1010
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 5 pm
As one of England’s Treasure Houses, the 18th-century Harewood House is full of must-see attractions. To start, it has a large art and ceramics collection and 100 acres of landscaped gardens, featuring a lake and an Italianate terrace.
Animal enthusiasts will also be chuffed with this ever-evolving place; there are around 250 deer, mainly red and fallow, alongside amphibians and butterflies. As for the little ones, they get a sprawling play area with big slides and even bigger forts.
Tip: You can bring pups here, but check out the restrictions first.
Grab your Insta-worthy shots and coffee fix at Tiled Hall Café
– From yasminsophiya
Address: Leeds Art Gallery, 16-18 The Headrow
Contact Details: 0113 535 1370
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Sat – 10 am to 5 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 3 pm
There’s no shortage of coffee joints in Leeds (coffee leeds), but Tiled Hall Café is hard to beat. What was once a library reading room and sculpture court is now a spot with Victorian grandeur plastered across its marbled columns and vaulted ceilings.
It’s not just a place to flex on your ‘Gram, though; the food is fantastic (and decently priced), too. We always keep it no-frills—a robust espresso and deeply bold brownie usually do the trick.
Tip: Come by around lunchtime to dine with live piano music.
Get hands-on with rural life at Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
– From meanwoodfarm
Address: Sugar Well Rd, Meanwood
Contact Details: 0113 262 9759
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 4 pm
Honestly, who needs to fork out a small fortune for a farm experience when Meanwood Valley Urban Farm is just 10 minutes from the Leeds city centre? Here, you can hang out with alpacas, goats, and pigs, all while soaking in the pristine rural views.
Not in the mood to muck about with the animals? No problem, as there’s always something on, from pottery to hatha yoga. Or, you know, you could just chill with a sandwich under one of the shady picnic spots.
Tip: Check out the map before your visit.