Places to visit in Leeds

Recommended for modern and contemporary art, Leeds Art Gallery is a free museum in the city centre and features pieces by Lothar Götz and Antony Gormley. Before you leave, be sure to check out the Tiled Hall Café, with its hefty marble columns and intricate mosaic ceiling.

Join a guided food tour and visit six independent eateries that showcase the best of Yorkshire cuisine, and Leeds’ ever expanding culinary scene. Each stop has been carefully selected for its use of locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include a pub, a food market and a modern restaurant. Led by a local tour guide, your afternoon will also feature a cheeky alcoholic tipple, should you wish.

This dapper boutique hotel, just a five-minute walk from Leeds station, is a stylish setting for 40 winks. There are 84 bold bedrooms and features include Smart HDTVs and rainfall showers. Downstairs, you can dine at the effortlessly edgy Dakota Grill, with its brasserie-style dishes and succulent steaks, and enjoy cocktails at the glamorous Dakota Bar.

If the food tour has whetted your appetite, sample a bit of everything at one of Leeds’ street food markets, Kirkgate Market, which serves tasty global treats. Chow down on the likes of American hot dogs at Fat Annie’s, syrupy baklava at Istanbul Bakery and Yorkshire's pièce de résistance, the all-in-one Yorkshire pudding wrap (yes, really!)

One of the UK’s leading arts organisations, Opera North is lauded for its bold and innovative work that frequently tours around the country and appears in international arts festivals. Alongside its opera repertoire, which includes classics such as The Magic Flute and Così fan tutte, you can also enjoy film score performances with a live orchestra, such as Top Gun: Maverick.

Kick off your second day with a leisurely breakfast at Fleur, one of the best restaurants in Leeds. Overseen by MasterChef finalist Bobby Geetha, the menu blends contemporary British cuisine with far-flung flavours – try the Naanza, a pizza-inspired keema naan bread! If you’re feeling adventurous, pair it with a mimosa or another tempting cocktail.

This black granite-clad gallery has one of Britain’s best collections of home-grown sculpture – it’s one of Leeds’ most unique places to visit. Expect to see everything from medieval sculptures to provocative works by leading contemporary sculptors, capped off with a world-class research library, an archive and a programme of thought-provoking events.

High-street, designer and independent brands can all be found in this series of heritage shopping arcades. The beautiful Victoria Quarter is the place deluxe buys amid mahogany facades and stained-glass windows. Nearby, the Grade I-listed Corn for Exchange is packed with character and is fast becoming a creative hub where you can buy one-of-a-kind items made by locals.

Open for brunch, lunch and dinner, Laynes is a firm favourite with locals. In the afternoon, Laynes pairs fresh European coffee with delicious lunch bites to refuel you throughout the day. Conquer a plate of savoury buckwheat pancakes or choose from a selection of vegan options.

Round off your trip with a visit to this national museum with an impressive collection of historical weapons and armour. There are spears, crossbows (you can shoot them on the fifth floor), guns and shiny suits of armour worn by jousting knights. Look out for Henry VIII’s immense suit of armour. Granted, he was a large man, but even this suit pales in comparison to the 18-stone elephant armour on display in the Oriental Gallery.