Student Accommodation

Leeds

The University of Leeds

The University of Leeds is a Russell Group university with a large campus close to the city centre, with research and academic study at its core. Leeds University Union has more than 300 student-led clubs and societies, along with bars, venues and cafés, and it’s a big part of student life.

Leeds Beckett University

Leeds Beckett University, formerly Leeds Metropolitan University, took its current name in 2014 and traces its roots back to the Leeds Mechanics’ Institute of 1824. It has two campuses. The City Campus is in the city centre, close to the University of Leeds, and the Headingley Campus is in around 100 acres of parkland at Beckett Park, about three miles north of the city centre. The university is known for its sport, business and creative courses.

Leeds Trinity University

Leeds Trinity University is a small campus university in Horsforth, on the north-western edge of Leeds, with a second site in the city centre. It’s known for its focus on employability, with professional work placements built into every degree. Courses include media, journalism, film, sport, psychology and primary teaching.

Leeds Arts University

Leeds Arts University is a specialist arts university that traces its roots to 1846 and gained university title in 2017, having previously been called Leeds College of Art. It teaches fine art, photography, animation, fashion design and other creative subjects. It has two buildings in the city centre. Blenheim Walk, at the top of Woodhouse Lane opposite the University of Leeds, teaches higher education courses, and Vernon Street, near Millennium Square, teaches further education courses.

Leeds Conservatoire

Leeds Conservatoire, formerly Leeds College of Music, changed its name in 2020 and teaches music and performing arts to more than 1,200 students. It opened in 1965 and is based at Quarry Hill, close to the city centre. It was the first music institution in Europe to offer a bachelor’s degree in jazz and holds All-Steinway School status. Its facilities include recording studios, a 350-seat auditorium and the Leeds Music Library.

Trinity Kitchen (Trinity Leeds, Albion Street)

Trinity Kitchen is a food court inside the Trinity Leeds shopping centre at 27 Albion Street. Alongside permanent eateries such as Archie’s, Rola Wala, Thatziki and Jerk Junction, it hosts a rotating line-up of independent street food vendors, with a new selection arriving every few weeks. Many vendors have vegetarian and vegan options, so it’s a good choice for groups with different tastes.

Greasy Pig (Victoria Road)

Greasy Pig at 74 Victoria Road, in Hyde Park near Headingley, is a student favourite for breakfast and brunch. Its signature dishes include the Load of Breakfast (a loaf of bread stuffed with a full English) and the Paralyser, and the menu includes vegetarian and vegan options. It’s a popular spot after a big night out.

LS6 Cafe (Headingley Lane)

LS6 Cafe on Headingley Lane is an independent café and one of the longest-running independent businesses in Leeds. It serves brunch, lunch and evening meals, with a dedicated brunch menu and vegetarian and vegan options. It’s popular at weekends, so you may need to wait for a table.

Nights Out

Leeds has a lively nightlife scene with plenty of student-focused nights, from the Union to city-centre clubs. Here are a few to try.

Leeds University Union (University Square)

Leeds University Union runs weekly club nights, and its best-known is Fruity, held on Fridays. It runs across three rooms, each with a different music style, and is billed as Leeds’ longest-running student club night. The venues are on campus at University Square, so it’s an easy option if you’re studying at the University of Leeds.

Mischief at The Warehouse (Somers Street)

Mischief takes place on Wednesday nights at The Warehouse, 19 to 21 Somers Street, and is popular with university sports teams and societies. It’s known for fancy dress and a high-energy atmosphere, and tickets are usually limited, so it’s worth getting them in advance. The Warehouse is one of Leeds’ longest-established clubs.

Fuel at The Key Club (Merrion Street)

Fuel is The Key Club’s Friday night for rock, alternative and metal fans, at 66 Merrion Street. It plays rock, pop-punk, indie and heavier music across different rooms, and it’s a staple of the city’s alternative scene.

Spaced at The Space (Hirst’s Yard)

The Space is a long-running club at 11A Hirst’s Yard that holds student nights through the week. Its Thursday night, previously called Skint, has been replaced by a new night called Spaced, with two rooms and drinks offers, so it’s worth checking what’s currently on.

The Otley Run

The Otley Run is Leeds’ best-known student pub crawl, running from Headingley into the city centre, and usually done in fancy dress. It usually takes in at least ten pubs, so pace yourself.

Staying Fit

Leeds has a strong sporting culture, with professional football, rugby and cricket in the city and plenty of ways to take part yourself. Whether you want to watch a match, join a team or keep fit, there’s something to suit.

Leeds United FC (Elland Road)

Leeds United were founded in 1919 and play at Elland Road, one of English football’s best-known grounds. The club has a long history, with legendary players such as Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter, and a matchday at Elland Road is a popular day out for sports fans studying in Leeds.

Rugby and Cricket at Headingley

Headingley Stadium is a multi-sport venue in Headingley, in the north-west of the city, and it’s the home of both Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Leeds Rhinos play in the Super League and are one of the most successful clubs in rugby league, with trophies including the Super League, Challenge Cup and three World Club Challenge titles. Yorkshire County Cricket Club plays County Championship and white-ball cricket at Headingley, which also hosts Test matches and international fixtures.

Cycling in Leeds

Leeds and Yorkshire have a strong cycling heritage. The Tour de France Grand Départ in 2014 started in Leeds, and the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding roads are popular with cyclists. Leeds has also hosted the World Triathlon Series and the Tour de Yorkshire, so there’s a large cycling and triathlon community in the city.

Take Part in Sports

If you’d like to take part rather than watch, the city’s universities offer a wide range of sports clubs and societies, from competitive teams to social groups. The University of Leeds is also home to the Brownlee Centre, a £5 million purpose-built training facility named after Olympic triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, who studied at the university. It’s the UK’s first purpose-built triathlon training centre and the permanent home of the Leeds Triathlon Centre, at Bodington Playing Fields.

The Best Places to Shop

Leeds has a good mix of high street shops, Victorian arcades, designer stores and markets, so you’ll find something for most budgets.

Trinity Leeds

Trinity Leeds is the city’s main shopping centre, with more than 120 high street stores over three floors, including M&S, Next and Primark. It’s next to the railway station and has Trinity Kitchen, a food court with a rotating line-up of street food vendors.

Independent Arcades

Leeds has a number of arcades with independent shops. Queens Arcade is home to independent labels such as Accent Clothing, and the Leeds Corn Exchange is a Grade I listed building that opened in 1864 and now holds around 30 independent fashion, vintage, record and design retailers under its domed roof.

Designer Shopping

For designer shopping, head to Victoria Leeds, which combines the historic Victoria Quarter and the modern Victoria Gate. The Victoria Quarter’s Victorian arcades have stores such as Louis Vuitton and Harvey Nichols, whilst Victoria Gate has brands including John Lewis, Anthropologie, The White Company and Calvin Klein.

Kirkgate Market

Kirkgate Market on Vicar Lane is a Grade I listed market and is described by Leeds City Council as the largest covered market in Europe, with around 800 stalls. It sells fresh produce, flowers, fashion and hardware, and it’s the birthplace of Marks & Spencer. The Market Kitchen street food hall is a good place for an affordable lunch.

Shopping on a Budget

For student-friendly shopping, Primark at Trinity Leeds is a good starting point, and there are charity shops around Hyde Park, Headingley and other student areas. For vintage, Blue Rinse on Call Lane and BEST on New Market Street are both popular with students.

Events and Attractions

Leeds has a busy events calendar, from music festivals to film and community celebrations, as well as galleries, museums and parks. There’s too much to cover in a short section, so here are a few highlights to get you started.

Leeds Festival

Leeds Festival takes place at Bramham Park, just outside the city, over the August bank holiday weekend. It has been held there since 1999 and brings a mix of rock, indie, alternative, hip hop and dance acts. It runs from Thursday to Sunday in 2026, so it’s popular with students who’ve just arrived for the autumn term.

Leeds Pride

Leeds Pride is an annual LGBTQ+ celebration in the city centre, featuring a parade through the streets, stalls and music, and it’s one of the biggest free Pride events in the UK. It’s held in the summer, and dates change from year to year, so it’s worth checking the website.

Leeds International Film Festival

Leeds International Film Festival takes place across venues in the city each November, and in 2026 it marks its 40th year. The programme includes new releases, independent films, documentaries, short films and cult classics, over a period of around two and a half weeks.

Live at Leeds

Live at Leeds is a multi-venue music festival that takes place across the city centre on the weekend of the May bank holiday, and showcases emerging artists. The organisers have confirmed that it’s taking a break in 2026 and plans to return in 2027, so check their website for updates.