racetrack
Harewood Speed Hillclimb
The longest hillclimb course in England at 1,598 yards, climbing Yorkshire moorland on the Harewood estate with sweeping open views over Wharfedale from the spectator banks.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Leeds
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Leeds
Leeds works well as a base: 5 minutes from Chapel Allerton, 32km from Brimham Rocks.
Leeds is a city located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 536,280, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Leeds sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Leeds to your route.
About Leeds
Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. The cityRead more
was a small manorial borough in the 13th century and a market town in the 16th century. Leeds expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries by becoming a major production and trading centre (mainly with wool). It was awarded a city charter in 1893 by Queen Victoria.
Leeds developed as a mill town during the Industrial Revolution alongside other surrounding villages and towns in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It was also known for its flax industry, iron foundries, engineering and printing, as well as shopping, with several surviving Victorian era arcades, such as Kirkgate Market. City status was awarded in 1893, and a populous urban centre formed in the following century which absorbed surrounding villages and overtook the population of nearby York.
The economy of Leeds is the most diverse of all the UK's main employment centres, has seen the fastest rate of private-sector jobs growth of any UK city and has the highest ratio of private to public sector jobs. Leeds is home to over 109,000 companies, generating 5% of England's total economic output, at £60.5 billion, and is also ranked as a high sufficiency city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Leeds is considered the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area.
Leeds is also served by five universities, and has the fourth largest student population in the country and the country's fourth largest urban economy. The student population has stimulated growth of the nightlife in the city and there are ample facilities for sporting and cultural activities, including classical and popular music festivals, and a varied collection of museums. The city is home to the Leeds United football club.
Leeds has multiple motorway links such as the M1, M62 and A1(M). The city's railway station is, alongside Manchester Piccadilly, the busiest of its kind in Northern England. Public transport, rail and road networks in the city and wider region are widespread. It is the county's largest settlement, with a population of 536,280, while the larger City of Leeds district has a population of 812,000 (2021 census). The city is part of the fourth-largest built-up area by population in the United Kingdom, West Yorkshire Built-up Area, with a 2011 census population of 1.7 million.
Where to Stay in Leeds
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best things to do in Leeds?
Leeds offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
How do I plan a road trip to Leeds?
Plan your road trip to Leeds with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Leeds as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.
Where is Leeds located?
Leeds is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 53.7965 latitude, -1.5478 longitude.
What is the population of Leeds?
Leeds has a population of approximately 536,280 people, making it a city in United Kingdom.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 536,280
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 53.7965, -1.5478
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Leeds
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cafe
Squires Cafe Bar
One of Yorkshire's most famous biker cafes near Sherburn-in-Elmet, hosting regular bike nights and rallies.
17 km · about 20 min drive
museum
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
500 acres of 18th-century parkland near Wakefield displaying open-air work by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and changing international artists.
20 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Harrogate
Yorkshire tea-room institution founded by Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont in 1919, still family-owned and famous for Fat Rascals and its art-deco interior inspired by the Queen Mary liner.
22 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Haworth
The steep-cobbled Pennine village where the Brontë sisters lived and wrote, with the Parsonage Museum and moorland walks to Top Withens.
27 km · about 30 min drive
ancient ruins
Bolton Abbey
Romantic 12th-century Augustinian priory ruins on the banks of the River Wharfe, surrounded by 30,000 acres of moorland and woodland.
31 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Brimham Rocks
Wind-carved millstone grit outcrops on a Nidderdale moor, a natural playground of balanced boulders.
32 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
The Strid, Bolton Abbey
A narrow chasm where the whole River Wharfe squeezes into a few feet of rock - beautiful and genuinely lethal.
33 km · about 40 min drive
Driving roads near Leeds
- 36 kmHolme MossA 524 m Pennine pass on the A6024 topped by a landmark transmitter mast, a celebrated cycling climb used in the 2014 Tour de France.
- 39 kmWoodhead PassThe A628 trans-Pennine route over bleak moorland past the Woodhead reservoirs, frequently closed by snow and high winds.
- 45 kmSnake Pass (A57)The Woodhead-era Telford road over the Pennines between Glossop and the Ladybower reservoirs, with fast curves and frequent winter closures.
- 46 kmSnake PassA twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.
- 46 kmSnake Pass SummitThe highest point on the A57 crossing the Pennines, with moorland views stretching across the Dark Peak landscape.
- 49 kmBamford EdgeA short gritstone edge with what many consider the finest view in the Peak District, straight down onto Ladybower Reservoir.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Leeds.
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