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Leeds

England, United Kingdom · Europe

About Leeds

Leeds is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Chapel Allerton, 45km from Snake Pass.

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 city

Read 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.

Read more on Wikipedia

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

Police
999
Ambulance
999
Fire
999
Non-emergency police
101
Driving side
left

112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.

Full driving guide for United Kingdom

Tags

EuropeUnited KingdomEnglandCity

Worth the detour from Leeds

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

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

cafe

Squires Cafe Bar

One of Yorkshire's most famous biker cafes near Sherburn-in-Elmet, hosting regular bike nights and rallies.

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

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

ancient ruins

Fountains Abbey

Largest and best-preserved Cistercian monastery ruins in England, set within the elegant Studley Royal Water Garden UNESCO World Heritage Site.

35 km · about 40 min drive

cathedral

York Minster

One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe, famous for its medieval stained glass.

36 km · about 40 min drive

photogenic

The Shambles

Medieval York street where overhanging timber-framed shops nearly touch across the lane, some dating to the 14th century. Once a row of butchers' shops; the meat-hooks and wide sill-boards survive.

36 km · about 40 min drive

famous road

Snake Pass

A twisting road through the Peak District connecting Sheffield and Manchester, beloved by motorcyclists and driving enthusiasts.

45 km · about 50 min drive

Driving roads near Leeds

  • 45 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.
  • 53 kmMam TorKnown as the 'Shivering Mountain' for its unstable layers, this Peak District summit offers spectacular views along the Great Ridge to Lose Hill.
  • 53 kmWinnats PassA steep, narrow limestone gorge with towering pinnacles on either side, creating one of the Peak District's most dramatic drives.
  • 66 kmCat and Fiddle ViewpointA high-altitude viewpoint on the A537 between Macclesfield and Buxton, one of England's highest roads with expansive moorland vistas.
  • 67 kmCat and Fiddle RoadA thrilling moorland road between Macclesfield and Buxton in the Peak District, one of the UK's most famous driving roads.

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.

Holbeck

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

2 km awayPop. 5,505

Chapel Allerton

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 km awayPop. 18,206

Gildersome

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km away

Morley

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km awayPop. 57,385

Pudsey

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 km awayPop. 25,393

Horsforth

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

8 km awayPop. 19,350

Shadwell

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

8 km awayPop. 1,352

Lofthouse

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

8 km awayPop. 23,458

Plan a trip around Leeds

United Kingdom road trip plannerLeeds → Edinburgh drive · 4 hr 23 minLondon → Leeds drive · 3 hr 54 min

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence