Things to do in Leeds

You do not have to spend a fortune to go out in Leeds, there are many activities right on your doorstep.

This page will link to things to do around Leeds (on a budget). Click on the links for further information.

Roundhay park has been one of the city's favourite public spaces since it was first opened in 1872. The park is also a venue for high-profile music and cultural festivals in the summer, and provides hundreds of  acres of wooded walks, horticultural displays and sports facilities. The abundant bird life on Waterloo Lake can be observed from the park's waterside cafe. A stone's throw away are the Canal Gardens and the Tropical World Botanical Gardens tourist attractions that boast over 750,000 visitors a year. Admission to the park is free.

 

It's hard to believe that this used to be one of the most rundown areas in the city. Now, thanks to an innovative redevelopment scheme, the waterfront has been given a whole new lease of life. Long-forgotten mills have been transformed into smart offices and trendy apartments, giving the area a vibrant, exciting feel. The Royal Armouries is nearby and there's also a host of enticing shops, restaurants and bars. Granary Wharf , another of its key attractions, is an atmospheric market place in converted vaults beneath Leeds City Rail Station. Towpaths - forming part of the Waterfront Heritage Trail - give walkers access to the waterfront's canal side attractions, as well as to those in the city centre.

 

The Royal Armouries Opened in 1996, the spectacular building which is the new home for the national collection of arms and armour is situated in the rejuvenated waterfront area, just a five-minute walk from the city centre. The Royal Armouries provides display case upon display case of guns and weaponry in five separately theme galleries covering War, Tournament, Self-Defence, Hunting and the arms and armour of the Orient. Dynamic live action displays, interactive demonstrations and thought-provoking historical interpretations guarantee an enjoyable and educational day out. If you can, visit in summer when you will see thrilling displays of jousting, falconry, and horsemanship, along with the opportunity to get up close to the animals in the Menagerie. Admission is free.

 

There are lots of things to do in Leeds without having to spend lots of money!

Armley Mills, once the world’s largest woollen mill, is now an award-winning industrial museum.

Exhibits dating from the 18th and 19th centuries show the history of textiles, clothing, engines and locomotive manufacture in the area. The museum also illustrates the history of cinema projections, including the first moving pictures taken in Leeds, as well as 1920s silent movies. During the regular 'working weekends' several exhibits are operated including water wheels and a steam engine.

There have been mills on this site since the 17th century, the original buildings having been developed in the late 18th century when a woollen mill and a corn mill were built. A fire in 1805 destroyed these mills but they were rapidly replaced with the building which can be seen today. From the early 19th century Armley Mills became one of the world's largest woollen mills, continuing the cloth-making tradition until Leeds City Council took over the mills in 1969 in order to create a museum illustrating the mills' and the city's industrial past.

 

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