Living in Leeds

Leeds is a great place to live and work. It's a bustling city surrounded by beautiful countryside, and our campus is just a short walk from the city centre.

Housing

House prices vary across the UK but you should be able to get great value for your money in Leeds if you’re looking to buy a property. As with any major city, rental and purchase prices vary considerably depending on where you choose to live.

Transport

The University is just a 10-minute walk or a short bus ride from the city centre.

If you’re looking to travel further afield, Leeds is well connected to the rest of the country, with rail services from the main train station taking you to London in around 2 hours and 15 minutes, Edinburgh in around 3 hours and Manchester in just under an hour.

The city is also home to Leeds Bradford International Airport, which offers flights to destinations across Europe. And if you can’t find a suitable flight from Leeds, Manchester Airport is about an hour’s drive away.

Countryside and the outdoors

Head out of the city centre and you’ll find an abundance of picturesque places to visit, from the beauty of Roundhay Park in the north of the city to the gardens of Temple Newsam and Harewood House, there are plenty of beauty spots to visit.

Leeds is set amongst some of the UK’s most striking landscapes. Just a short drive or train ride out of the city centre will take you into the stunning Yorkshire countryside. Here you can find brooding moors, green dales and dramatic coastlines along with a whole host of historical sites.

Famously, the picturesque moors around Ilkley and Haworth were the setting for many of the novels by the Bronte sisters and the Yorkshire Dales are ideal for outdoor activities such as walking, horse riding, climbing and cycling.

Culture and entertainment

From the city’s Grand Theatre and Opera House to its numerous art galleries and museums, Leeds really does offer a thriving cultural scene to suit almost any taste.

The Royal Armouries is Britain’s national museum of arms and armour, and one of the most important museums of its type in the world. The Henry Moore Institute is great for those looking for sculpture and culture and the Leeds City Museum can provide you with a wealth of information about the city. 

The Leeds Art Gallery holds a vast collection of twentieth century British art to peruse. The Tetley, a contemporary art gallery opened in the city by University of Leeds alumnae, Pippa Hale and Kerry Harker, houses numerous exhibitions and hosts events and activities for the public throughout the year.

To find something that grabs your interest, take a look at Leeds Museums and Galleries.

Sport 

Leeds has a strong sporting heritage. The city’s football team, Leeds United, is based at Elland Road stadium close to the city centre. Headingley Stadium, which is a short distance from our campus, is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Leeds Rhinos rugby league team.

If you wish to get active yourself, Leeds has many sporting facilities. The Edge on the University’s campus has a state-of-the-art swimming pool, fitness suite, sauna and climbing wall and there are also many private gyms in the city centre.

To find local sporting facilities, visit the Active Leeds website.

Shopping

Leeds has a thriving shopping scene with something for every budget.

Leeds Kirkgate Market is one of the largest indoor markets in Europe and the Corn Exchange is home to many independent boutiques.

The Trinity Leeds shopping centre has high street stores, restaurants, a street food court and an Everyman Cinema and you’ll find designer stores and a casino in Victoria Leeds.

Music

Leeds city is a fantastic place for music lovers.

If you enjoy live music, First Direct Arena attracts world-famous acts and the Brudenell Social Club and HiFi Club offer lively and fun venues with a range of music catering for lots of different crowds.

Leeds also hosts some impressive music festivals. Live At Leeds celebrates upcoming local bands alongside more established national acts and, every August bank holiday, over 80,000 music lovers descend on Bramham Park for the Leeds Festival.

Religion

Leeds has many places of worship including churches, temples and mosques.

Yorkshire has plenty of chapels and cathedrals to visit too. These include York Minster, the largest medieval gothic cathedral north of the Alps, Leeds Minster, a Grade I listed Victorian building steeped in history, and Ripon Cathedral, an atmospheric building that inspired authors such as Lewis Carroll.

Find out more about Leeds

To find out more about what’s on offer in Leeds and Yorkshire, see the Visit Leeds and Welcome to Yorkshire websites.