Leeds is one of the largest cities in the UK and one of the most populous urban areas. It is also the cultural, commercial, and financial centre of the West Yorkshire region. Leeds offers numerous options for higher education, as well as schools devoted to music, dance, and art.

Leeds Arts University

Founded in 1846 as the Leeds School of Art, the school gained university status in August 2017. Leeds Arts University is the only specialist arts university in the North of England. A new, state-of-the-art building expansion was completed in 2019, adding an auditorium and industry-standard film and photography studios. It also includes a postgraduate study suite, fashion design studios, and specialist arts and research library.

Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett University was established in 1824 and is located on the Northern side of Leeds City Centre. With more than 28,000 students from over 100 countries around the world, the university is a vibrant, inclusive location.

Its City Campus includes several administrative and academic buildings, spacious classrooms, conference facilities, and modern lecture halls, in addition to specialist health facilities and hi-tech biomedical and environmental laboratories. Three miles from the City Campus, the university has a 100-acre campus in Becket Park, with sport science labs, animation and music studios, and computing labs.

Leeds Trinity University

Leeds Trinity University is located six miles from the city centre, in the suburban and rural outskirts. While some will consider the location somewhat less convenient, it has an enrolment rate of about 3,500 students, allowing it to provide a more personalised learning experience, which is a point of pride for the university.

University of Leeds

With their main campus located approximately one mile north of the city centre, the University of Leeds is conveniently situated near the popular student neighbourhoods of Woodhouse, Hyde Park, and Headingley.

The university has more than 38,000 students, including 12,000 international students from more than 130 countries.

The University of Leeds had the first students’ union in the UK to be awarded Excellent status by the NUS (National Union of Students) and is also the first to have been awarded two gold standard awards from the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative. Students here will receive an unparalleled experience and education of the highest quality.

Looking for more than a place to drink? Seeking a bit of culture during your time in Leeds? You won’t be disappointed, as the city has lots to offer.

 Abbey House Museum

Abbey House Museum offers you the opportunity to step back in time to the Victorian era. Explore a recreated street filled with shops, a drinking house, a Methodist Sunday school, and Childhood Galleries, where you will discover an assortment of toys from the 19th century.

 Leeds owl trails

Leeds Owl Trails are an excellent way to see the city and its landmarks. Two trails, the first starts at Millennium Square at Civic Hall, exploring Leeds City Museum, Central Library, and Leeds Town Hall. The second trail starts on South Parade and takes you through Trinity Leeds, Kirkgate Market, and the Corn Exchange before finally reaching Leeds Minister.

Victorian Quarter & Queens Arcade 

Shopping is a cultural affair with Leeds’ historic arcades. They include the Victorian Quarter, featuring intricate ironwork, beautiful marble, and gilded mosaics, under the largest stained-glass roof in Britain, as well as Queen’s Arcade with its bright and colourful shop fronts and unique stores.

Sometimes all that will satisfy a craving is something good to eat. Once again, Leeds has you covered. Whatever you are craving, you will find something to love. Some places to consider include:

eat your greens

While the name suggests, Eat Your Greens serves vegetarian cuisine as well as a small amount of meat available. It’s the organic, seasonal vegetables that are the stars of the show here, however. Eat Your Greens is also noted for giving the friendliest customer service in the city.

da vito ristorante

Da Vito Ristorante, as you could probably guess – an Italian restaurant offering homestyle dishes with vegan and gluten-free options also catered for. Classic recipes and new-age fare alike are crafted with the freshest sustainable ingredients, resulting in an authentic Italian meal in a homey atmosphere with excellent service.

bulgogi grill

Feeling adventurous? This Korean barbecue restaurant might be for you. Grill your own meal as cuts of marinated pork, beef, duck, prawn, and squid are brought to your table. Bulgogi Grill provides you with lettuce, veggies, rice, dips, and sauces to add to your meal however you see fit.

home

They say there’s no place like home, or in this case, Home, where you will find a restaurant born from a love of fine dining, but focused on making visitors feel like they are, well, at home. Of course, you probably don’t have 8, 10, or 12-course tasting menus at your own home.

street food vendors

While fancy restaurants always make a great night out, grabbing street food is a top choice here. Leeds offers a number of vendors such as TripAdvisor’s top-rated The Falafel Guys, who create their own hummus, falafel, and tahini fresh every day, or the Yorkshire Wrap Company, where you can grab a giant Yorkshire pudding wrap.

Leeds has some of the best nightlife in the country, drawing many people to the city. In addition to the locations mentioned above, you will find craft alehouses, jazz bars, cocktail bars, and more.

brudenell social club

Speaking of music, Brudenell Social Club, situated in Hyde Park, features live bands and cheap drinks. Don’t let the rough exterior fool you—the interior is comfy and lively and has hosted some of the finest local and international talent. Day or night, Brudenell Social Club is one of the most popular student locales.

the otley run

If you are heading for a night of drinks, The Otley Run is one of the most famous pub crawls (having a drink in each pub in the ‘crawl’ before walking to the next pub, popular at universities) in England. With 20 pubs, it starts in Headingly, continues through Hyde Park, and comes to an end just north of the city centre.

Often occurring within the first few weeks of term, the Otley Run is an opportunity to not only discover some of the livelier areas in Leeds but also get to know your new classmates.

university of leeds students’ union

The student union holds regular club nights and live music. It’s the perfect spot for getting to know other students, eating, shopping, or perhaps studying. One of the best students’ unions in the country, it includes two bars, three nightclubs, a theatre, a games area, and more.

Anyone who studies in Leeds will find something to do that appeals to them. Here are some of the best attractions for you to check out:

roundhay park

A quick 20-minute bus ride from the city centre, Roundhay Park is a vast park featuring lovely gardens, beautiful views, and an open-air swimming pool. Roundhay Park is an excellent location for a scenic walk or a summer picnic with classmates.

hyde park picture house

For anyone who loves film, Hyde Park Picture House is worth checking out and is a 10 minute walk from our Leeds student accommodation, Hyde Park. This cinema, built in 1914, is one of the oldest in the country and has endured two world wars and an unknown number of student date nights. It was threatened with closure in 1989 before being rescued and taken over by Leeds City Council.

 Today, it hosts not only big new releases and art-house movies but also musical performances.

Leeds City Museum

Just 14 minutes away from our student accommodation Royal Park, this museum is a treasure for all history enthusiasts. Perfect activity for a rainy day, stroll through the collection of archeological items.