Leeds City Centre walk

9.0 km (5.6 mi), with 55m cumulative ascent/descent. For a shorter walk, see below Walk Options.

2 out of 10, with 2 hours walking time.

This route leads through the centre of Leeds – the self-proclaimed ‘Capital of the North’.
It is the largest city in Yorkshire, known both for its history as a centre of textile making and trading and of light industries and for being a very green city in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. From the train station, you emerge onto the City Square and then pick up the River Aire where it rushes through four large arches under the elevated railway station. The route leads through some areas west of the city centre dominated by former wool merchants’ houses and warehouses, now largely occupied by law and finance firms, with grand old buildings and the tranquil Park Square pleasing the eye.
Large civic buildings along The Headrow (Town Hall, Library, Leeds Art Gallery, Henry Moore Institute) are passed before a loop past the Catholic Cathedral and across Millenium Square leads to the Victorian Quarter, home to many fascinating shopping arcades (a few of which are walked through) as well as the large indoor Kirkgate Market and the former Corn Exchange with its eclectic mix of shops.
Next up is the area of The Calls along the River Aire, full of converted warehouses and including the Anglican Minster Church, followed by a crossing to the south bank of the Aire, where you pass converted industrial buildings as well as the Armouries Museum and assorted river and canal basins with largely sympathetic housing developments.
The route finishes with a short exploration of the Holbeck Urban Village and Granary Wharf areas, formerly dominated by light industry, now filled with new housing and atmospheric pubs and eateries.

Bus and Water Taxi stops are never far from the route to enable shorter walks.
Outbound and return route are never far from each other to enable shorter walks.

OS Explorer: 289 (Leeds)
OS Landranger: 104 (Leeds & Bradford)

Leeds City Station, map reference SE 299 332, is 272 km north north west of Charing Cross, 32m above sea level and in West Yorkshire.

Leeds City Station is the terminus of the Leeds branch of the East Coast Main Line from London King’s Cross, with usually two trains per hour (journey time from 132 mins Mondays-Saturdays, longer on Sundays).

Numerous options are passed on or just off the route. They are highlighted in the text.

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You can also upload photos to the SWC Group on Flickr (upload your photos) and videos to Youtube. This walk's tags are:

National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Sep-24 Thomas G