Leeds, a city in the UK, is a fantastic place to visit when you’re in the area! It’s a lovely city with a deep history, it has a vibrant food, drink and nightlife scene, and so many fantastic activities to do. We’re here with 5 of the highlights to help you narrow down the options so you can make the most of your time in Leeds.
Visit The Museums (Including Kirkstall Abbey)
Firstly, with the depth of history that Leeds has, there are some fantastic museums for you to enjoy if you want part of your trip to be educational. There are so many great ones to explore, including Leeds City Museum, the Leeds Industrial Museum, the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds Discovery Centre, Abbey House Museum, Horsforth Village Museum and so many more. This is a great way to explore this new city! Another place that is definitely worth a visit is Kirkstall Abbey, which gives you the opportunity to explore history, nature and wildlife whilst you’re in Leeds. It’s considered as one of the best preserved monasteries in England, with roots over 850 years old. You can explore the ruins, enjoy a market of specific days and learn about the history of Kirkstall Abbey. Although not a traditional museum experience, this is great for all the family.
Stroll Through The Iconic Shopping Arcades
If you’re looking for a bit of retail therapy whilst you’re in Leeds, then you’re in for a treat. There are fantastic shopping centres in Leeds that offer lots of different things, but something they have in common are stunning buildings. The Victorian Quarter, home to Victoria Leeds, is particularly fantastic. You can walk around beautiful ornate buildings and enjoy everything from luxury designer fashion houses through to shops unique to Leeds, with plenty of delicious food and drink venues also available. Victoria Leeds combines history with contemporary to create an unforgettable shopping experience.
If you’re into vintage shopping, then you also have so many wonderful options in Leeds. Ryan Vintage, Cow Vintage and Blue Rinse are all in the very centre of Leeds and have fantastic vintage clothing, vinyls and homeware for you to explore. Set aside an afternoon to have a good explore as there are endless hidden gems just waiting to be found.
Try The Otley Run
If you enjoy drinking and want to experience the British pub scene, then the Otley Run is the place to go. This is a pub crawl that people come to from all over the country, which includes 19 pubs over the course of nearly 3 miles in and around Leeds. This isn’t for the faint hearted, so you could stop off for a couple of drinks around lunch time if you wanted something more chilled, or you could go all out and try and complete more of the stops. There are some people who think the tradition started when farmers headed into Leeds for market day and stopped off along the route to have a drink, with it then developing from there. We’d recommend stopping for food somewhere along the way if you are trying the whole thing, and expect to bump into quite a few students, stag do’s and hen do’s!
Visit The Wardrobe For Life Music
Leeds has a great music scene, and one of the highlights is The Wardrobe. As well as music, it’s a bar, kitchen and arts space in the heart of the city. However, the music is the highlight. From local bands to smaller touring bands, it’s over 10 years old and repeatedly provides its visitors with a fantastic experience. It’s family owned and they’re really invested in local music, so you’re sure to have an authentic experience along with enjoying live jazz, indie, funk and soul music. We’d recommend booking tickets because some events do sell out, so you’re not disappointed if you’re only in Leeds for a short amount of time!
Eat At The Swine That Dines
Last but certainly not least, we’ve got to include one of the food highlights in Leeds, which is The Swine That Dines. This venue serves modern British cuisine that focuses on local, seasonal produce and executing uncomplicated food exceptionally well. The interior is simple yet effective, creating a great combination of delicious, high quality cooking, with a relaxed interior that puts people at ease. They also offer a really affordable Saturday lunchtime menu which is a great option, or chicken focused evenings on a Wednesday! Great food, a great time and a unique concept, what more could you want?!