Leeds for a day?

[fernsandlilies]

I'm going to visit DD in her first year at uni in Leeds. She said she hasn't had time yet to explore the city, so we'd love some ideas of where to go for a few hours walking about on a Saturday.

We like history, museums/art galleries, quirky places, outdoor sculpture, interesting little streets.
Shopping is welcome but not the main focus.

Also where shall we go for brunch?

DD lives in Headingley and I'm staying near the main station.

The wonky tiger plus goth exhibits( hopefully still there) at Leeds City museum are worth a look.
Roots and Fruits for lunch.

Wolfox is nice for brunch www.wolfox.co.uk/leeds

The arcades in the centre are good as are the market (especially the food stalls) and the Corn Exchange. The Calls and the docks are nice to walk around.

The main art gallery is worth a visit.

Headingley is an attractive place to wander around.

Kirkstall Abbey is also worth a visit.

OP this is so weird! I read the thread title and your first post and wondered if I had written it, but forgotten I had!

I am also visiting DD at uni in Leeds in a couple of days. She also lives in Headingly, and I am also wondering what to do. In fact I posted a question about it on MN earlier today!

The only difference is that my DD is in her third year and I have visited a couple of times before. So, I can tell you that the city art gallery is good and has a nice cafe. This time we are planning on walking along the canal path to Kirkstall Abbey, both of which I have heard good things about. I also have theatre tickets for the evening.

DD really loves Leeds and is happy there, but says there isn't much to do for visitors and. much as I like it there too, I have to agree with her.

I miss the brewery tour, tbh.
The Royal armouries is worth ( especially the Waterloo diorama) a look and free!

If the weather is nice you could do the owl trail (or some of it) which takes in most of the places recommended. You can download a map but paper ones are better, you can buy them in the art gallery http://www.leedsowltrail.com/owl-map/

Sadly Roots and Fruits has closed down @hugoagogo - I noticed when I walked through the Grand Arcade the other day

Moose cafe for brunch but you’ll have to book.

If you can get on a tour at armley mills industrial museum then that’s well worth it (less so if it’s self guided). The museum at Kirkstall abbey is surprisingly good

Will you have a car? If so, and you like outdoor sculpture, pop down the M1 to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at J39/Wakefield . It fabulous, and a pita to get to on public transport.

Thackeray medical museum is excellent for something quirky and indoors! Or the royal armouries

Saltaire...less than 15 mins on the train

Shame about Roots and Fruits Bloody covid!
I love these answers- what can I do in Leeds? Answer- go somewhere else

Go to the Queens Hotel Pacific bar...just had massive refurbishment and it is amazing. Right next to the train station.
There's a record fair on at Leeds Market today...historical Victorian building.

Shopping at the Corn Exchange, close to the train station. A couple of hours at the Royal Armouries, 15 mins walk from the Corn Exchange. Plenty of nice places for lunch, we like Tapped, a craft ale and pizza place right in the centre.

It’s a while since I was in Leeds, but in the city centre you have the Art Gallery and Henry Moore Institute, and the Leeds City Library and museum right next to each other.

Within walking distance you also have the Armouries museum.

Back in the centre, you can walk through all the old arcades - well worth a visit just to look up and see the architecture. In fact always look up - above many of the modern facades you can see the original stonework. There’s also Trinity Arcade (modern) to keep dry if it’s raining, with the Trinity Kitchen on the top floor for street food if that’s your kind of thing.

Outside the city using public transport you can get to (amongst many places) Kirkstall Abbey and the Abbey House museum of Victorian life (with a re-created street), Armley Mills, Roundhay Park with its Tropical house and butterflies, or the Middleton Railway.

From Headingley you can walk out to the Meanwood Valley Trail and walk all the way up to Golden Acre Park if you’re feeling energetic.

There’s also usually a Christmas market at this time of year, just behind the art gallery.

I now want to go for a weekend break to see all my old haunts.

The Tetley is really nice. I’d go there for food and a look around the art gallery then maybe a short walk by the canal on your way to the royal armouries.

Have fun!

The Tiles Hall Cafe at the art gallery is a beautiful room. Well worth a stop for a drink or a snack.

Tiled not Tiles!

Oh thank you all for such fab suggestions.

CommonRoom I found your thread about the canal walk - that's a good one to keep in mind for another time.

I'm thinking brunch at the artgallery followed by the owl trail, and cocktails at the Queen Hotel bar would be a good way to end my visit as I can stagger straight onto the train afterwards, whilst DD will just be getting warmed up for the night.