What to do in Leeds

Activities, attractions and tours
Leeds which includes heritage architecture

Leeds Attractions

Let Expedia help you to experience the best that Leeds has to offer! If you’re planning a trip to Leeds, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling to Leeds with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Places of interest in Leeds

Leeds is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay in Leeds, and make it a breeze to explore Leeds and the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Leeds to make sure that you enjoy your holiday to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit to Leeds, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights in Leeds.

Leeds attractions

Leeds has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions in Leeds to keep you entertained. Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Leeds.

Looking for things to do in Leeds can be time-consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine of Leeds or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Leeds attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season. Happy trails!


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Top places to visit

1. University of Leeds

Renowned for its research and teaching, the University of Leeds is also set apart by its campus, which unites a variety of divergent architectural styles in a celebration of British architecture throughout the 20th century. Grouped on well-manicured lawns just outside the Leeds city center, it welcomes more than 30,000 students each year from a variety of backgrounds. The university was the first in the region to accept women, Catholics and other disadvantaged groups. Go on a walking tour of its many striking buildings and have a picnic on the grass, as you watch the students go past.
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Late Victorian and award-winning brutalist and modernist architecture house the classes and students of Leeds’ namesake university, established in 1904.

2. First Direct Arena

When First Direct Arena opened in 2014, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John set a high bar for the quality of artists who would appear here. Since then, a huge variety of entertainers have come, from Drake and Miley Cyrus to championship boxing matches to beloved local acts such as the Kaiser Chiefs. Don’t miss any of the action in the arena’s fan-shaped configuration. It is unique in the U.K., with the rear seats only 230 feet (70 meters) from the stage, rather than the usual 330 feet (100 meters).
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Its honeycombed exterior glowing like a beacon at night, Leeds’ modern music venue draws crowds nightly to its shows featuring local and international stars.

3. Royal Armouries

The Royal Armouries Museum is a comprehensive museum that displays a vast collection of weaponry spread across six galleries. Explore the extensive galleries and find displays of arms and armor organized into intriguingly curated exhibitions. Check out over 2,500 objects in the Hall of Steel or learn about the art of warfare and the history of hunting. Catch a live demonstration of jousting at the Tiltyard.
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Royal Armouries showing interior views as well as a small group of people

4. O2 Academy Leeds

One of the city’s most popular venues for music gigs, O2 Academy Leeds is based in the historic Coliseum. This iconic site has long been at the core of the city’s cultural events, having hosted political meetings, variety shows and a circus. Go to see some of your favorite groups and solo artists in this majestic arena.
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If music is your religion, this impressive entertainment venue may become your place of worship; its Gothic façade even looks like a church.

5. Leeds Grand Theatre

A historic venue in the heart of the city, the Leeds Grand Theatre offers an eclectic program of opera, ballet and musicals. Dating back to the late 19th century, the landmark stands out with its redbrick façade covered in Romanesque and Scottish baronial designs. Attend a performance in the majestic setting of the theater’s 1,550-seater auditorium.
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The Gothic features of this tiered theater make a glorious setting for the diverse array of plays, music gigs and stand-up acts that are performed on its stage.

6. Temple Newsam House

Be transported to the days of the Tudors at the stunning Temple Newsam House. This heritage house has been restored to its former grandeur and displays the fascinating array of artifacts and period furnishings that once decorated the rooms of royals and nobles. The mansion is best known as the birthplace of Lord Darnley, the infamous husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.
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Temple Newsam House featuring a castle and interior views

7. Roundhay Park

Roundhay Park is a public park with a wide diversity of environments and manicured gardens to discover. Find a selection of formal gardens, two picturesque lakes, a sports arena, a Greek-revival mansion and a collection of greenhouses that mimic different climates from around the world when you explore this 700 -acre (2.8-square-kilometer) park.
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Roundhay Park featuring a garden, a fountain and a river or creek

Popular places to visit

Explore areas of Leeds

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Leeds City Center

4.5/5(1,029 area reviews)

Based around an expansive central square, this lively quarter showcases performing arts venues, fascinating museums and countless bars and nightclubs.

Leeds City Center
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Holbeck

4/5(75 area reviews)

The redbrick and terracotta architecture recall Leeds’ industrial past, while the soccer club and its impressive stadium look to the future.

Holbeck
Royal Armouries which includes interior views

Leeds Dock

Shopping, restaurants and waterfront views are some highlights of Leeds Dock. Make a stop by Royal Armouries or Cultural Quarter while you're exploring.

Leeds Dock

Beeston

While visiting Beeston, you might make a stop by sights like Elland Road Stadium and Middleton Park.

Beeston
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Harehills

2.5/5(8 area reviews)

While Harehills isn't home to many top sights, Thackray Museum of Medicine and West Yorkshire Playhouse are some notable places to visit nearby.

Harehills
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Hunslet

A waterside weapons museum and a rusty factory serving as a bohemian art gallery are among the treats when you venture south of the city center.

Hunslet

Day trip destinations from Leeds