Leeds is well known for its huge number of high street shops, shopping centres, malls and department stores. Thousands of people visit Leeds every week to peruse these shops at their leisure, but many are likely to miss the abundance of unique and boutique stores that the city has to offer. Often located just out of view from the city centre, these hidden gems could go unnoticed. There are a handful of independent confectioners, bakers, furniture stores, clothes stores and antique shops.

Here are five of the best.

All American Vintage

Situated in Leeds’ renowned Corn Exchange, All American Vintage is a vintage store with a bit of a twist. All clothes, bags, shoes and accessories are sourced directly from New York including pieces from 1940’s – 80’s. Leeds is home to a growing number of vintage and vintage re-production stores, however this one is definitely the most unique.

The ‘second-hand / recycling ethic’ amongst environmentally friendly shoppers is on the rise, as is interest in vintage fashion in general. Anyone can buy vintage re-production pieces from high street brands, but why not opt for something more unique, whilst also saving pennies and the planet?

An absolute must for bargain hunters and vintage enthusiasts alike.

Crash Records

Crash Records was established in 1985 in a tiny shop on Woodhouse Lane, and since moving to The Headrow in ’87, has played a fundamental role in establishing the local Leeds music scene. Spread out across two floors, the store is small, but boasts a broad variety of CDs, vinyl, cassettes, DVDs and merchandise.

The range of Rock/Indie and Punk/Hardcore on the ground floor is more than impressive and includes a handful of rare/limited edition vinyl. Crash Records caters for almost any music fan and is also a ticket agent for a number of venues across the UK. You can often catch well known acts performing in-store.

Radish

Radish is a unique and independent bookshop stocking music, films, art and fair trade clothes. Its three rooms house a whole range of cool and unusual items such as recycled gifts, eco-friendly furniture and handmade cards.

Book-wise, regardless of their size and affiliation with any larger bookshop, Radish stocks a vast and varied range of literature and reading materials, with emphasis on books detailing green issues, politics, cookery and gardening as well as devoting a large section of their shelves to children’s and young adults. A refreshing and unique book-buying experience in a fair trade and eco-friendly environment.

Travelling Man

The self-declared ‘comic book geeks’ at Travelling Man are on a mission to get everyone in the world to love at least one comic book. With such an excellent range of graphic novels and comic books, they make it hard to pick just one. Selling all types of graphic novel which dabble in issues ranging from religion to politics. Travelling Man really stands out as a unique comic book retailer.

They also sell playing cards, figurines and collectables, merchandise and clothing. Perfect for hardcore comic books fans, or anyone interested in a little bit of light reading. Keep an eye out for in-store for singings from various well known characters and artists.

Mki Miyuki – Zoku

Hailed as the ‘newest, freshest and most exciting addition to the Leeds fashion scene’, Mki Miyuki – Zoku is a concept store based on a group of Japanese youths who were the first to adopt and adapt the ‘Ivy League look’ in 60’s Japan. Mki stock simple, but high quality clothes from a number of up and coming and underground clothing brands. Their apparel is unique and eye-catching. Based on the look of a more underground social movement, Mki is now setting the trend in street fashion.

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This guide was syndicated from My Life in Leeds where you will find more Leeds Travel Guides like this.

Independent shops for Leeds shoppers

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Dining out in Leeds certainly never gets boring as there’s plenty of restaurants in the city centre, and a great variety. Whatever you fancy, there’s plenty of choice available in cuisines from around the world, from Italian and Indian to Mediterranean and East Asian. I’ve chosen five of my favourites from the vibrant restaurant scene in Leeds which I’d definitely recommend.

Akbar’s

With a reputation which precedes them, Akbar’s chain of restaurants are renowned for their high quality Indian dishes, and with good reason. There are two restaurants in Leeds, located on Eastgate and Greek Street, both bustling with hungry locals at the weekends.

Their menu is packed full of authentic starters and chef’s specialties, and (at the Greek Street restaurant) all prepared and cooked in a busy kitchen in view of the patrons. They cater for everyone’s tastes in hot and spicy food: whether you’d prefer a korma, a vindaloo or something completely different. Each restaurant has its own contemporary theme and atmosphere and the staff are friendly and efficient. Akbar’s is the place to go for a brilliant Indian feast!

Blackhouse Grill

What’s your favourite steak? Rump, ribeye, sirloin and fillet are all on the menu at Blackhouse, which can be found on East Parade. They specialise in excellent steak and seafood dishes, served in stylish surroundings. With an extensive wine list, cocktail menu and ‘beers of the month’ to be enjoyed, it is the perfect place to relax with a few drinks and enjoy the live music which is regularly performed to accompany your dinner.

The atmosphere is lively and entertaining, and the restaurant is also family friendly as kids eat free from the children’s menu when adults order from the main menu. With welcoming staff that are happy to help, it all combines to make Blackhouse worth treating yourself to.

Pizza Express

Everyone’s heard of the Pizza Express chain, and probably visited a few too, as their pizzas are great and don’t break the bank. There are three restaurants in Leeds city centre: one positioned behind the corn exchange at The White Cloth Hall, the second at Clarence Dock and my personal favourite at Park Square.

All three are popular and have their own character, but Park Square Pizza Express is located further away from the bustle of the main shopping streets and right next to the lovely haven of Park Square. They serve a range of dishes: thin and lighter pizzas with a range of appetizing toppings and plenty of pasta to choose from. Consistently good quality food, and with money-saving vouchers regularly available, Pizza Express rarely misses the mark.

Ego

If you fancy a taste of the Mediterranean, then the Ego restaurant on King Street is the place to try. Their menu is influence by Spanish, Italian and Greek cuisine with a variety of dishes on offer with something to suit everybody. They offer a great value ‘Lunch Rapido’ menu – the salmon fishcakes and Tuscan meatballs are really good, and also available on the main evening menu.

The restaurant is large and nicely decorated with a suitably Mediterranean theme, and they have an emphasis on using local organic produce in their seasonal menus. As a little extra indulgence, there’s also a range of delicious desserts and liqueur coffees to finish off your meal.

Tampopo

Tampopo is a small chain of East Asian restaurants, with their Leeds site located on South Parade in the city centre. Their menu is jam-packed with so many delicious looking options that it’s hard to choose what to try first! There are small dishes to start or share with friends, salads, hearty noodle soups, stir-fries, curries and noodles and rice dishes cooked in the wok. It’s guaranteed that no two trips to Tampopo will be the same.

There’s influence from Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia among others, and a guide on the menu which tells you where each dish comes from, as Tampopo aims to faithfully reproduce authentic dishes from all over East Asia. The restaurant has long benches which are shared with other diners, and chop sticks for those of you who are dexterous enough to use them!

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Recommended restaurants in Leeds

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Leeds is a city which is rich in history and packed full of interesting places to visit. One of the most versatile of these is provided in the gorgeous house and fabulous gardens of Harewood House. If you are looking for somewhere to take the family during the school holidays then a visit to Harewood estate is highly recommended.

Harewood House tour

Harewood House is a stately home only 15 minutes drive from Leeds. It was built in the mid-18th Century and boasts Robert Adam interiors, Chippendale furniture and gardens designed by Capability Brown. Don’t be fooled, however, into thinking that you can only enjoy Harewood if you are a history lover: there is more than enough going on there to provide a great experience for anyone who cares to visit.

Harewood house bird garden

There are, for example, over 100 acres of gardens in which you can picnic, play and feel generally as if you belong in a 1920s world where afternoon tea and boating after lunch were par for the course. Best of all (in my humble opinion) is the bird garden, which includes such exotic delights as parrots, flamingos and even penguins.

Over one third of the 90+ species of bird living at Harewood are threatened or endangered, so as a nice little philanthropic aside you can adopt a bird whilst visiting and help with their vital conservation. You can also get involved with feeding the penguins at certain times throughout the year.

Playground area for children

For children, Harewood is home to one of the best adventure playgrounds in Yorkshire. It includes a 20m zip wire, aerial walkways and climbing nets: kids of all ages will find something here to enjoy. The playground in its entirety, including a picnic area, covers more then 3 acres of ground.

There are numerous trails and walks through the grounds, all of them offering stunning examples of horticultural architecture. The Terrace gardens provide fantastic views over the countryside and also contain the Terrace Tearooms, with both indoor and outdoor seating so you can enjoy a cuppa whatever the weather.

Lakeside walks and picnics

There is also a beautiful lakeside walk, with glades that are especially rewarding in springtime, and woods that I would recommend visiting in the autumn, when the sumptuous reds and gold’s of the leaves are reflected in the lake. Situated within the grounds to the north of the house you can find All Saints Church. This beautiful building dates back to the 15th Century and is home to one of the largest collection of alabaster tombs in any English churchyard outside a cathedral.

One of the great things about Harewood is the amount that has been done to bring the place to life for a modern audience as well as keeping its historic integrity very much intact: ‘Art at Harewood’ is a programme of temporary exhibitions which take place throughout the house and grounds each season, making it possible to find something new despite numerous visits.

Impressive Harewood House

Moving into the house itself, you can see the beautifully decorated rooms complete with Chippendale furniture and a tea service that once belonged to Marie-Antoinette. You can’t fail to be impressed by its, well, impressiveness, but if you are anything like me the knowledge that the house was commissioned by Edwin Lascelles with money made from the sugar (and therefore slave) trade may dim its grandeur somewhat.

Harewood House events

As if all of the above wasn’t enough, you will also find events at Harewood throughout the year such as vintage car rallies, red kite walks, family story telling and open air concerts: check out their website to see what’s coming up. I have been to Harewood House many times since moving to Leeds, and each visit has provided a different experience that I remember with pleasure. I thoroughly recommend that you go and check Harewood House out for yourself.

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Take a family day trip to Harewood House

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Not only is Leeds home to one of Europe’s largest indoor markets, but in the environs of Leeds you will also find some very pretty market towns that hold regular indoor and outdoor markets, where you can shop for a bargain and stock up your veg rack.

Leeds Kirkgate market

Housed in a beautiful domed Edwardian building on Vicar Lane, and extending all the way back to the bus station, Leeds Kirkgate Market has over 400 stalls selling everything from fine foods to flowers, haberdashery to electrical goods, along with a good selection of little cafes and eateries.

You can buy a profusion of goods here that includes toy walking elephants, delicious cream cakes, furry textiles, Caribbean vegetables and carnivores will be glad to see that there is even an entire row of butchers, all competing with each other to offer you a good bargain.

There is a traditional outdoor market too, with stacks of fresh fruit and vegetables, electrical goods, army surplus gear, and budget clothing. At the outdoor market you’ll find lovely vintage clothing on Mondays, and an interesting flea market on Thursdays. Look out too for the farmers market selling fresh produce on the first and third Sundays of the month from 9.00 till 2.00.

Pudsey market

The attractive stone built market town of Pudsey was listed in the Domesday book, and its traditional market place is still thriving with a lively open market on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Here you’ll find fruit, veg, flowers, household goods, clothes, arts and crafts, and other items at reasonable prices. Watch out too for the farmers’ market on the last Thursday of every month from 9.00 till 2.00pm.

Morley market

Morley Market is known for being good for food, and also has a cafe where you can draw breath over a coffee and a sandwich in between doing the shopping. The market is in the centre of Morley and has two sections, with the original market hall and its new extension. In the old market hall you can buy fine foods including fish, meat, fruit, vegetables and deli items.

In the new hall you will find textiles, electricals, tanning and piercing salons, nail bars, and other interesting stalls and shops. The market also has a generous number of delis and bakeries, so you won’t be short of something to snack on as you wander around.

Otley market

On the serene River Wharfe and close to the green countryside, the pretty market town of Otley is renowned for its number of pubs and (amazingly) its number of troupes of Morris dancers. There are claims that Otley Market has been on the go for some thousand years, and the market even received a mention in the BBC’s League of Gentlemen.

The market is to be found, not surprisingly, on the Market Square, with a small market on Tuesdays, and then a larger one on Fridays and Saturdays that spills over into the adjacent streets with almost 100 stalls. You’ll find all the traditional market foodstuffs and household goods here, as well as a more modern twist with stalls selling clothing, jewelry, essential oils, and even Mediterranean produce. There is also a farmer’s market on the last Sunday of each month, 9.00am till 1.00pm.

Yeadon market

The charming old mill town of Yeadon, has a market in the Town Hall Square every Friday, 9.00am till 4.00pm. Here you’ll find fruit, vegetables, and other foods, as well as clothes, tools, books, plants, flowers and household goods. And if you need a break from all this shopping, Yeadon is home to The Oldest Fish and Chip Shop in the World, where you can grab a cod and chips to eat al fresco.

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Shop local at Leeds Markets

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There’s no doubt that Leeds has become a popular city for short breaks and with the influx of hotels over the last few years, travellers now have a good selection of affordable hotels to choose from. In this guide we have featured hotels that are within walking distance of the city centre.

Here is our selection of cheap hotels in Leeds.

Discovery Inn

This hotel is literally on the doorstep of Leeds train station and next door to one of my favourite real ale pubs called the Scarborough Hotel. The rooms are basic but offer good value for money. All of the rooms are en-suite and have a TV, tea/coffee facilities and hairdryers.

Within a 5 minute walk you will find Granary Wharf, home of Japanese restaurant, Wasabi Teppanyaki and the Hop, a great pub and live music venue. During the summer months you can catch a boat to other areas of the Leeds waterfront. The hotel is close to a number of shopping centres and the city square.

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Jury’s Inn

The hotel offers budget accommodation, along with a modern bar and restaurant. Leeds rail station is a short walk away but what I like about this hotel is that it is located near to the riverside and brewery wharf. All of the rooms are spacious with bath/shower, satellite TV and air-conditioning.

Nearby you will find a number of restaurants and bars. In the summer sit outside at the Oracle bar with riverside views. Walk over the bridge and you find some of the city’s best restaurants including Livebait and River Plate. It is only a five minute walk to Kirkgate market, and bus station.

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Cosmopolitan Hotel

The Cosmopolitan hotel went through a period of refurbishment in 2009 and this has drastically improved the hotel rooms and a new open-plan restaurant. The hotel is only a ten minute walk from the coach and bus station. All of the rooms are en-suite, plus free Wi-Fi and Sky TV.

You will be only a five minute walk from Briggate, home to the Victoria Quarter and Harvey Nichols. The hotel is a short walk to Viva, a family run Italian restaurant. The Adelphi, is a must visit pub nearby. On Call Lane you will find a number of bars and restaurants for everyone’s tastes.

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Bewleys Hotel

The hotel is a ten minute walk from the city centre, but has good links to the motorways. Bewleys hotel offers free Wi-Fi and stylish rooms at good rates. All of the rooms have the usual facilities including bath/shower, seating area, and work desk. The hotel has a brassiere and relaxing bar lounge. Ideal for business travellers to Leeds.

Nearby you will find the Midnight Bell and Cross Key pubs; both offer a good choice of beers and food. The hotel has good public transport to and from the city centre and Elland Road football ground. Take a short walk from the hotel and you will find the Engine house cafe and Foundry Wine bar.

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Ibis Leeds Centre

Located just outside of the city centre, the hotel will appeal to both leisure and business travellers. The hotel rooms have the usual facilities, bath/shower, satellite TV, work desk etc. Hotel ibis also boasts a stylish café, and bar with 24hr snacks available.

Over the road from the hotel is a TGI Friday’s and Maxi’s restaurant. The hotel is near Westgate casino and only a short walk from various restaurants and bars on Wellington Street. Take a ten minute walk and you will find the Light, where you will find shops, a cinema, gymnasium, and restaurants.

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Hopefully this guide has given you a few options to help you plan your trip to Leeds, be it for business or leisure. Leeds is home to various museums for families and kids, tons of restaurants, pubs and bars. It’s the shopping district of the North with shops for all budgets.

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This guide was syndicated from My Life in Leeds where you will find more Leeds Travel Guides like this.

Guide to five cheap hotels in Leeds

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