15 Best Things to See in Leeds (England)

Leeds is located in Yorkshire, which is part of England. One of the beauties of the north, it offers the ideal contrast between Victorian and modern architecture that most tourists don’t get the opportunity to view in one location. It is not surprising that many people find themselves wishing to visit Leeds while they are in the north of England, given that the city draws millions of tourists and students each year. This list of the top things to do in Leeds will give you the chance to discover just how much fun there is to be had and how family-friendly the city really is. It is ideal for both lone travelers and families because many of the attractions concentrate on pleasing a younger clientele.

Abbey House Museum

Are you trying to find a family-friendly activity for the day? You may anticipate that from this attraction because it was once a finalist for the Museum Family Friendly Award. It has elaborate sets that are designed to resemble the charming streets, stores, and homes you may have seen in the Victorian era. If you need a quick break, you can sneak into a model of a Victorian tavern that has been faithfully reconstructed and engage with the actors dressed in period attire. Children will like the exhibits that illustrate some of the toys that were popular in the 19th century, though they might start to wonder what they did for entertainment in comparison to the toys available to kids now.

City Varieties Music Hall

If you were informed that you could share the stage with thinkers like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harry Houdini, what would you say? In fact, you can. Over three centuries, the City Varieties Music Hall has remained almost unaltered. You won’t have many opportunities to visit a hall like this one because most Victorian buildings have long since vanished into history. Known mostly for its pantomimes, it offers a small, unique venue that most tourists like. Don’t worry about tall travelers—one thing that most people notice is that you have lots of legroom in the building!

Kirkstall Abbey

Kirkstall Abbey is the ideal location if you want to learn about the kind of history that, given how far back it dates, can catch your imagination. One of the most comprehensive medieval Cistercian abbeys still standing in Britain. Additionally, it has a playground and picnic space for kids, but don’t worry if you forget to pack food. There is also a café there. Since the abbey is located by the River Aire, most visitors prefer to visit it in the summer when the weather is favourable. There are many designated walking paths to choose from along its banks. If you plan ahead, you might even be able to attend a live Shakespeare performance in the ruins during the summer.

Jackrabbits Café

If you have kids, you are probably aware of how challenging it can be to keep them occupied in a café. Fortunately, Jackrabbits, a ceramic café, offers the ideal one-step answer to it. So, you may choose from a variety of clay pieces to paint as you sit and enjoy cake and sandwiches. There is a £5 charge per painter, but it remains the same whether you paint one object or several. Their prices range from £1 to £30. When you paint anything, from mugs to animals, let your imagination run free. The only drawback is that each item takes 7 days to glaze, so you have to leave it at the café for a week, so be sure to visit at the beginning of your stay!

The Alchemist

Have you ever thought about how entertaining it is to watch a mixologist create something that appears to be the product of some sort of hidden alchemy? That is what The Alchemist is all about; it is located on the second level of Trinity Shopping Centre and offers breathtaking views of Leeds City Centre both during the day and at night. Drinks with names like Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and White Chocolate and Raspberry Martini are among those they refer to as “molecular lunacy.” However, they also serve straightforward homemade drinks with a rustic aesthetic, including the Surprise Strawberry Daiquiri and Strawberry Cup. You’ll be envious of how well-served they are and want to watch them mix more and more drinks.

Moments Café

What would your trip to the north of England be like without the chance to enjoy an English fry-up, a typical breakfast, or a combination of foods that shouldn’t go together but do? Depending on where you are in England, you might hear one of those first two things, but many of you will initially assume the opposite after trying one. One of the best English breakfasts you can get is served at Moments Café in a cosy, family-friendly setting. There is never a crowd, and they can accommodate any special dietary needs you may have!

Tropical World

Tropical World, which is really located in Roundhay Park, nicely fits our criteria. This is great for you because it offers you some shelter from the weather should it get inclement, in addition to being a well-liked attraction. Although there is a little admission price of £5 for adults and £2.50 for kids, it is well worth it given what you will see. Enter the structure to observe the butterfly house, which is home to up to 40 different species of butterflies. After leaving the rainforest, travel through Australia’s outback and finally through the desert. In addition to that, there are other uncommon birds, reptiles, and bats, so you won’t simply get your money’s worth. But the Meerkat family, the cheekiest family you’ll find in Leeds, is the star of the show!

The Royal Armouries

What about history? In that case, head over to Leeds’ Royal Armouries. The free-entrance attraction has 8,500 pieces spread across six themed galleries, so there is undoubtedly a lot to see. You can find items devoted to hunting, peace, conflict, competitions, self-defense, and even oriental items. The collection, whose origins date all the way back to the middle ages, was purposefully made for viewing by visitors. The Tower of London held the remaining items from the Royal Armories. Your interest and imagination will be captured by anything at the national museum of arms and armour.

Thackray Medical Museum

Be forewarned, dear travelers, that while certain displays are appropriate for kids, very young kids may find them upsetting. However, the staff are welcoming and will answer any queries you may have about which exhibits to skip if you are traveling with young children, in true Yorkshire fashion. Both locals and visitors to the museum frequent it frequently because it offers knowledge and fun. You might learn about the filthy streets of Leeds in the 1800s or the impact of scientific advancements on our daily life. The Life Zone offers a fascinating and engaging learning environment where younger guests can progress through the human body. They will be entertained by looking at their teeth and finding out just how high they can jump.

Murgatroyds

Chances are, everywhere you go around the globe, you’ll run into folks who automatically associate English people with fish and chips. We can happily live up to this cliché, and you should definitely immerse yourself in this culture fully when visiting. If you don’t make a reservation, you could have to wait in line for a while at Murgatroyd’s, which is arguably the best fish and chip shop in England. Haddock fillet and chips cost £9.95, which is slightly more expensive than the average fish and chip shop, but it’s well worth it for the high-quality, freshly prepared meal you get. For travelers who might not enjoy fish and chips, they also offer chicken breasts, lasagne, cheese, and tomato pizza. So there is something to satiate your palate.

Grand Theatre

If theaters are more your style, as is a phrase you’ll frequently hear in Leeds, you should stop by the Grand Theatre. As a reaction to the custom of lowering the tone of entertainment with the type of humor given at your average pub-based venue, it was built with a pretty funny objective. It completed the task perfectly, and with architecture influenced by many different styles, including Gothic and Romanesque, it is a sight to behold for many tourists. Check out the schedule; it may include everything from stand-up comedy to ballet or even family-friendly programming.

Roundhay Park

Beautiful green spaces are frequently challenging to come by in English cities, yet they are common outside of the towns. Just three miles north of Leeds City Center, there are 700 acres of rolling grassland, two crystal-clear lakes, and endless woods. In addition to the surrounding natural splendor, there are two playgrounds and a number of formal gardens to amuse your traveling kids. You may, therefore, easily board one of the buses that frequently run from Leeds City Centre and have a lovely family adventure while escaping the hectic pace of the city.

Leeds Kirkgate Market

An unusual experience is first visiting Leeds Kirkgate Market. The size of the market is what draws thousands of tourists each month; when people think of markets, they frequently don’t picture them on quite this magnitude. Numerous stalls with anything from high-quality, fresh food to jewelry, gadgets, and fishmongers may be found. The fact that each person selling their product truly knows about their product, with many of them doing it for decades, makes it a pleasant experience. But the building’s construction will amaze you, especially with its striking glass roof from the Victorian era. You won’t regret spending an hour or so there while passing through Leeds’s downtown.

Trinity Shopping Centre

Without a shopping center, the city wouldn’t be considered English, so make sure to stop by one while you’re there. The Trinity Shopping Centre has an influence on many residents of Leeds as well as numerous visitors. Along with offering entertainment, it has places to shop, eat, and relax. But if you happen to be in Leeds during the winter, you may enjoy the stunning Christmas decorations that magically materialize, complete with Christmas trees and lights that transform the city into a winter paradise. You can enjoy yourself under the canopy of the Trinity Shopping Centre by treating yourself to something new or by stopping by the Chicago Rib Shack for a bite to eat.

Leeds Corn Exchange

This shopping center, in contrast to most contemporary ones, is housed in one of the most delicate Victorian structures still standing in the north of England. demonstrating that it is a masterpiece of architecture and one of the cultural symbols that makes Leeds the city that it is today. This is where you belong if you choose small, locally owned retail businesses over big-box stores. You may satiate your wanderlust there with everything from independent music stores to some lovely hand-crafted jewelry stores. Explore Twit-Woo Vintage, take a coffee at Vanilla, or eat at Humpit, one of Leeds’s original hummus and pita bars.