Leeds is one of the most accessible cities in the heart of England, with rail access to every corner of the country.. West Yorkshire has a population of almost 2 million, with Leeds being the largest city of almost 1 million inhabitants. Bursting at the seams with culture and economic vibrancy, the city has a jammed packed schedule of events and festivals, as well as a shoppers-dream with the state of the art Trinity Shopping Centre and more traditional shops in the Grand Arcade. Home to national corporations such as PwC, EY, KPMG, Asda, and Yorkshire Bank, Leeds creates a cosmopolitan space to enjoy culture, music, arts, and retail therapy.
We’ve put together a guide to make the most of your time in Leeds, from things to do, eating out and apartments to rent, we’ve got you covered!
Things to Do
Where to start? Depending on what you enjoy, Leeds has plenty to offer. We’ve summarised our favourite things to do in Leeds:
The Royal Armouries - A museum dedicated to arms and armour, housing the national collection. Their collection includes armour from Henry VIII’s armour, war histories and experimental weaponry. Admission is free, so don’t worry about bringing your wallet, and the list of activities for you to enjoy is endless. This includes escape rooms, Sword-fighting and Fantasy Heroes entailing live action combat, entertaining shows and an interactive green-screen experience.
Leeds Water Taxi - I bet you didn’t know you could travel by boat in Leeds! The water taxi has two pick up points, Granary Wharf, located at the new South Entrance of Leeds Train Station, and Leeds Dock. For just £2 per person (under 5s free) it’s a great new way to see the city, cruising down the fresh River Aire. Conveniently, the Leeds Dock stop is located next to The Royal Armouries. Definitely something different for everyone to enjoy.
First Direct Arena - If you're more into music and performance, the First Direct Arena is the perfect place for you. The beginning of the year sees some great headliners with acts to suit everyone. If you prefer comedy, Peter Kay and Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club are sure to get you laughing. The wide range of musical acts include The 1975, Florence and The Machine, and Tom Grennan, along with many more. These nights are bound to draw a huge crowd and are always an enjoyable evening. Some other events include Strictly Come Dancing and Disney on Ice, there really is something for everyone.
Other notable mentions include Tropical World, home to exotic animals and plants. Also Leeds Festival, one of the biggest in the country, attracts headliners from all over the world. And finally a wide selection of parks and reserves includes Roundhay Park, perfect for those Sunday morning strolls.
Places to Eat
Leeds is jam packed full of mouth watering eateries and an endless supply of cuisines for all palettes. We’ve selected our favourite standout restaurants:
Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana - A pizza lover's dream! This restaurant currently has two locations in the city centre and Chapel Allerton with plans to open a third in Headingley this spring. With the pizza being the main focus of the menu, the dough is all prepared in store, left to rest for 24 hours and cooked in 60 seconds. It’s soft, light and floppy, so if you prefer eating with your hands and folding it up, you can!
Mowgli - This picturesque restaurant is full of twinkling lights and swings, with Indian street food and twists on English dishes on offer. Himalayan Cheese Toast is their play on cheese on toast, the Indian pickle works so well and compliments the dish perfectly. So if an aesthetic location and flavoursome food is what you’re after, Mowgli is the place for you!
Blackhouse | Grill on the Square - This steakhouse is a favourite amongst many in Leeds, open from 12:00 till 23:00, and they offer a lunch and evening service. This includes lunch time deals. They also offer event space for small and large groups, from 10 up to 70, also offering private dining. This is in their Conservatory space at the back of the restaurant which has a retractable roof and heaters, depending on weather. They describe this as the perfect corporate venue, so one to keep in mind for business travels.
Shopping in Leeds
Leeds has a vast range of shops, many in the city centre and also expanding out to retail parks with free parking available:
Trinity Leeds - Leeds main retail focus is the Trinity Shopping Centre, including 120 shops, restaurants and a cinema. This includes popular shops like Primark, Marks and Spencers and Apple, with restaurants including Wagamama’s, Giraffe and Trinity Kitchen, which is full of different food vendors and units with a shared seating area, perfect if your group has different tastes. A whole day can be spent browsing the shops and spending the evening in the cinema.
White Rose Shopping Centre - Just a 12 minutes drive (free parking) or bus ride using the number 3, the White Rose Shopping Centre is easily accessible. With 129 shops and eateries to choose from, you’ll never run out of options. The food court upstairs has the option to sit in the open seating or there are sit-down options available including Nandos and TGI Fridays. The shops entail a range of clothing stores including Zara, River Island and JD. A perfect use of free time.
Birstall Retail Park - This retail park is a little further out of the city centre, but the shops totally make up for it. There is a huge IKEA, The Range, and every other home lover's dream shops. Definitely a must for finding the finishing touches for your perfect home. Again, no worries on where to eat as there is a wide variety or restaurants and drive-thrus. This includes McDonalds, Chiquitos and Krispy Kreme. A must after a long day of retail therapy.
Getting Around in Leeds
Leeds is a highly connected city, with trains running to each end of the country and also around the city itself. Leeds also has a number of buses which run to every part of Leeds, both of these transport services have highly accessible apps which will share the easiest and quickest route to your chosen destination. Leeds-Bradford Airport is located just a half an hour drive from the city centre, and conveniently the A1 bus runs directly to the airport from the city centre.
Apartments to Rent in Leeds
Here at Livinc we offer a number of serviced apartments/ houses in Leeds, all which are fully-furnished apartments/ houses, all with flexible leases and bills-included meaning you don’t have to stress. We simplify everything with one monthly rate with no hidden costs, you know exactly what you’re paying for. These luxury apartments offer an elegant stay in a central location. Here is a selection of our favourite properties in Leeds:
Northern Street Serviced Apartments - Situated on the top floor in the heart of Leeds City Centre, this apartment is within walking distance from Leeds Train Station. With high-speed Wi-Fi coming as standard in all apartments, along with fortnightly cleaning and a parking spot, this apartment has some standout features. This two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with modern furnishings is the perfect place to call a home when renting in leeds.
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Luxury Apartments Headrow - This recently renovated building has three serviced apartments available, located in a central location on the Headrow with bars, restaurants and shops within a short walking distance. While also being right next to transport links, including buses and trains. With three different apartments including a studio, executive suite and two-bedroom, something to suit everyone’s needs. Modern furnishing to complete the city centre luxury feel.
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Westbourne Ave House - If you’re looking for a more homely feel, this two-bedroom house is the one for you, with modern interior and roomy feel. The downstairs comes fully-equipped with a newly fitted kitchen, a cosy living area to enjoy your favourite show on Netflix, why not make the evening even cosier by pulling out the sofa bed. The perfect coliving space in Leeds. This house also comes with an allocated parking spot and all the usual amenities included WIFI and bills-included. For sports fans, Leeds United Football Stadium is a six-minute drive away or a 21 minute walk.
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The Calls Apartments - Located in the sought after area of Brewery Wharf, these one and two-bedroom apartments are the perfect place to call home. Close to the River Aire and a ten-minute walk to Leeds Trains Station, the ideal location for commuters or those wanting to travel. Again restaurants and bars are a five-minute walk, if you want to enjoy your evening with a lovely meal and enjoy Leeds’ bustling nightlife, or if you’d prefer to cook at home the fully-equipped kitchen has everything you need. These apartments also benefit from weekly cleaning, meaning another thing you don’t have to worry about. Fantastic luxury apartments in Leeds.
Here at Livinc we have numerous serviced apartments in Leeds which will make your experience in the city relaxing and enjoyable. To start your journey, get in contact with our Livinc Agents today who will help you find your perfect property. Leeds is such an inviting and friendly city, in an ideal location with transport links to every end of the country,with everything on your doorstep to focus on the things that really matter!
