where to stay in leeds ( best area & hotels )

What is the best area to stay in Leeds?

By Laura Haley. November 13, 2023

Leeds is a friendly and vibrant city in West Yorkshire with something for everyone. Not just for students, everyone can find what they’re looking for in Leeds. If you enjoy nights out, Leeds has more than a hundred pubs and bars to explore. For foodies, Leeds’ large restaurant scene means you’ll be spoilt for choice. Sports fans can choose between seeing Leeds United play at Elland Road, Leeds Rhinos at Headingley Stadium, and a variety of cricket too. Leeds has great shopping, fantastic museums, friendly people and there’s even a cat cafe for those missing their feline friends they’ve left at home.

Leeds City Centre is a convenient place to stay to have everything the city offers on your doorstep. If you’re in the city for Leeds Restaurant Week, Leeds Light Night or Leeds International Film Festival, staying centrally will be best for you. The train station is right in the city centre and if you’re in the city for a gig, staying close by means there’s no need to worry about late finishes and finding a taxi afterwards. It’s easy to drop shopping back at your hotel and with so many food options, staying in the centre means you’ll be eating not long after waking up.On the map, which shows the best area to stay in Leeds, you can see a selection of some of the best located hotels.

If you were interested in finding out where to stay in Leeds, you may also be interested in knowing where to stay in Manchester or where to stay in York.

Leeds City Centre, the best areas to stay in

First Time / Festivals

Leeds City Centre has many different hotels to choose from and it might be worth choosing a hotel closest to the things you really want to do. Most of the better bars are near the bottom of the city centre, so using Call Lane as a starting point would be good.

Museums are more towards the top, around Millenium Square would be useful if you want to base yourself near those. Leeds Dock, a ten minute stroll along the canal, will be nice and quiet at night, and in the morning you’re right next to the excellent North Star Coffee for brilliant cuppa. The Royal Armories Museum is right on your doorstep, there’s paddle boarding on the water and Hold Fast, a book and plant shop on a barge, is a must visit.

The Canary has bottomless brunch and a Wednesday night quiz, and for transport with a difference you can take the water taxi back into the city centre.

Hotels in Leeds City Centre

Other areas to stay in Leeds

Headingley

Nights Out / Sports

Sports fans will want to make sure they’re staying in Headingley. The Headingley Stadium complex has both Headingley Cricket Ground and Headingley Rugby stadium so you won’t need to go far to get to the match you’re there to see.

Headingley is also home to Box Bar, a sports bar showing most sport, and they do really good food. When in Headingley don’t miss Fat Hippo for delicious burgers, Santorini Bar and Grill for Greek food and a cocktail in a bathtub, and Arcardia for craft beer. Headingley is also good for those who are planning to do Leeds’ Otley Run, the famous fancy dress pub crawl, as you’ll be staying right in the middle of the route.

Look out for the crowds of people dressed as a smurf, Barbie, a tiger and many other weird and wonderful things when you’re around Headingley, it’s so fun to watch them.

Hotels near Headingley

Roundhay

Walkers / Families

People who enjoy walking and being outdoors will want to consider staying in Roundhay. Roundhay Park, at 700 acres, is one of the biggest parks in the UK and walking round all of it, including it’s two lakes, will take a good few hours.

Families will also enjoy Roundhay, with the park boasting more than one brilliant playground and lots of space to run around in. Across the road is Tropical World, a small attraction with a decent sized indoor butterfly house, a reptile house, some monkeys and even meerkats. Entry is really reasonable, their cafe is good and the gift shop has lots of options for presents. If you fancy a drink after all that walking, The Roundhay Fox, which is nearby, is a lovely country style pub with good food and dogs are welcome too.

It’s easy to get into the city centre from Roundhay by bus or taxi.

Hotels near Roundhay

Bradford

City of Culture / Onward Transportation

Anyone who wants to see Leeds whilst also exploring another city should think about staying in Bradford, the nearest big city to Leeds. Bradford has two train stations and a bus station so it’s an easy thirty minute train or forty five minute bus from Leeds.

The 2025 city of culture will be hosting all sorts of events to celebrate their new title and you won’t want to miss them. Bradford is also home to the National Science and Media Museum, the Police Museum, the Alhambra Theatre, fantastic asian food, and the famous Mirror Pool in City Park. Shopping is plentiful and from Bradford train station you can quickly get to Saltaire, Ilkley, Skipton and many other beautiful places.

Bradford has ice skating, bowling, laser quest and a cinema, so teenagers will be kept entertained, and parents can relax in Bradford’s many bars and cafes.

Hotels in Bradford

Otley

Relaxing / Small Groups

Market town Otley, on the River Wharf, is perfect for couples, families and anyone wanting a quiet, village feel during their trip. Time your trip right and you may manage to be there for the Otley Show, Otley Carnival or one of their Christmas events.

The Otley Chevin is a beautiful walk where you can spot wildlife and see a great view of the town from the aptly named Surprise View. There’s a fantastic childrens playground in Wharfemeadows park and if you look across the river from the playground, you’ll see the two Archimedes screws, which use the flowing water to generate green electricity. There’s a version of these in the playground for children to play with too. Otley has lovely little shops to explore and the town isn’t short of restaurants to try out.

Mdeena has great Mediterranean and Moroccan food and there’s regular pop up offerings at the Milk Bar cafe.

Hotels in Otley

Chapel Allerton

Performers / Couples

Chapel Allerton, known as “The Notting Hill of the North”, is a great place to stay for couples who want to spend time in a less touristy area. It would also be good for families, as it’s nice and quiet compared to the city centre. Chapel Allerton’s main attraction is Seven Arts, an independent performance venue, gallery and bar, which food and drink during the day.

They also host various performances and films. It’s a great way to see something a bit different during your trip to Leeds, with a real community feel. Nearby Meanwood, an up and coming area of Leeds, is small and compact but pretty.

Vegan friendly Humbl Coffee comes highly recommended, gluten free people will enjoy the bakery at Wild Craft and the excellent Hanamatsuri is an Omakase Japanese dining experience. You’ll need to book this in advance as they only have eight tables.