Creative neighbourhoods
From the regenerated refinement of Holbeck Urban Village (a major hub for creative, digital and media industries, such as Versa Studios, Robot Food and Flaunt Digital) to the student-filled streets of Headingley and Hyde Park (home to Leeds institutions like Hyde Park Picture House, Hyde Park Book Club and Brudenell Social Club), Leeds’ creative districts are spilling over with creative activity.
Across the city centre, you’ll find studios, agencies, galleries and co-working spaces, with plenty of opportunities to roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty. During a trip to Leeds, you can try your hand at pottery-making courtesy of Sunken Studio, drink and draw at Pinot and Picasso or sit back and enjoy an intro to photographic film at Take it Easy Lab. Outside the centre, Sunny Bank Mills and Left Bank host regular creative workshops, and they’re beautiful buildings to while away the hours in.
You might also want to explore:
Mabgate & East Street Area – A hotspot for artists, creative partnerships and community-driven projects
Leeds Dock – A modern, waterside creative hub that mixes culture with innovation
Chapel Allerton – A community of strong, artistic young professionals with a mix of independent cafés and boutiques.
Studios, coworking and creative hubs
Whether you’re looking for an all-day workspace or a quick meeting point, Leeds has the spot. Bag a hot desk or meeting room for the day at Clockwise on Greek Street, Wizu Workspace in the Leeming Building, Avenue HQ on East Parade, Department at Leeds Dock, or Neighbourhood on Sheaf Street – they all have slightly different vibes, from designer chic (Department) to community collab (Neighbourhood).
Many of them host regular evening network events, too, such as Process Events by Right Aligned Academy or Creative Boom IRL, where you can connect with local freelancers and agencies. They’re full of nice folk! Pro tip: Bookmark Pencil It In, Leeds, to see if there’s anything on during your stay.
If it’s a professional spot for a client coffee you need, try Leeds Art Gallery’s stunning Tiled Hall, the modern Santander Work Café on Park Row or industrial-cool Fearns or cosy North Star Coffee Roasters at Leeds Dock. Straight from the station? It’s Laynes Espresso all the way – you can’t miss its bright yellow frontage.
Galleries, exhibitions and events
Leeds Art Gallery and the nearby Henry Moore Institute are central to the city’s cultural scene, but there are lots of other independent and contemporary spaces to explore. Assembly House, an artist-led project space in Armley, Colours May Vary, a design-focused bookshop and gallery, and Mr Bragshaw’s, a ‘gallery of chaos’ in Chapel Allerton, are just a handful of the many alternative ways to experience art in the city. In fact, there are so many museums in Leeds that there’s a dedicated website listing everything that’s going on in them. From Kirkstall Comedy Festival to Miffy’s 70th Birthday celebrations, you’ll be amazed at what’s available.
Leeds has so many events throughout the year that it’s hard to pick just a few. But creatives, you should mark these firmly in the calendar: Leeds International Festival of Ideas, where famous faces challenge norms, Leeds Film Festival, where you can catch the world’s best indie films and Leeds Digital Festival, where tech and innovation collide. Leeds List and Welcome to Leeds regularly post updates on what’s on and what’s new – it’s worth checking them out ahead of your trip.
Independent shops and design retail
Again, the choice is endless, so these are just a few of our faves. First off, the Corn Exchange is a must. Not only is it one of the most stunning buildings you’ll ever enter, but it’s also home to some fantastic design-led independents like book an art shop Colours May Vary, vintage household goods store Goods In, as well as regular artisan markets. Just a short walk away is Fred Aldous for all your art and craft supplies. Keep going, and you’ll reach Leeds Kirkgate Market, where you’ll find everything from haberdashers to repair shops, the best street food spot in town and, depending on the day, pop-up events like vintage and record fairs.
There’s no shortage of vintage clothing and homeware stores in Leeds – we could write another full article on those – but try North Home for eclectic, arty finds, the iconic Blue Rinse for classic vintage, and Best for handpicked and reworked finds you won’t see anywhere else. For the high-end designer skate-chic look you see other creative-types wearing, visit Welcome or HIP. You’ll also find one of Leeds’ best independent bookshops, Village, above Welcome, another one, Holdfast (a bookshop on a barge is worth a visit if you’re at the dock end of town.
Cafés, bars and music hangouts
Leeds’ bar scene is iconic. From Call Lane and Greek Street to the Freedom Quarter, at the heart of Leeds LGBTQ+ community, the city buzzes with joy and life. Creative hangouts you can’t miss? Too many! Good places to start are Belgrave Social Club & Canteen and Headrow House, both with multiple floors, great food and drinks, and regular live music events. Don’t miss Belgrave’s ‘secret’ rooftop garden in summer. Other bars you can’t miss are Roland’s on Call Lane (also with a garden) and Outlaws Yacht Club, which attracts the best mix of creatives.
Other live music venues you mustn’t miss are Brudenell Social Club for exciting indie acts (including big names like Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand), The Wardrobe for jazz, funk, soul, R&B and more, and The Key Club for rock and alternative and The HiFi Club for all genres. Just out of town, Project House hosts live music and other events, including roller discos and yoga sessions. And of course, O2 Academy and First Direct Bank Arena are your go-to for big-name acts. I mean, with so much good stuff on offer, it’s fitting it all in that’s the problem, isn’t it?
Green space and thinking time
You’ll need to head outside the city centre for serious forest-bathing – Kirkstall Abbey, Roundhay Park and Hyde Park/Woodhouse Moor are probably the closest, but the city is not without the odd quiet, leafy spot. Aire Park is a flourishing new district on Leeds South Bank, flanked by The Tetley at one end and North Bar/Neighbourhood at the other. Walk towards town through Aire Park’s landscaped gardens, and you’ll find Yinka Shonibare’s vibrant Hibiscus Rising sculpture – a perfect selfie spot if ever we’ve seen one. Park Square is a well-manicured garden in the business district, filled with the scent of roses in summer.
Several canalside walks criss-cross the centre – check out the Canal and River Trust site for suggestions. And, if you’d rather not walk, Leeds’ two Dutch yellow river taxis, Twee and Drie, offer a super peaceful way to tour the city for a few pounds. Just sit back and relax as you glide from Leeds Train Station to Leeds Dock. It’s a great way to get to the Royal Armouries if you’re travelling by train.
By Vicky Zaremba
northwords.co.uk
vicky@northwords.co.uk
