There’s so much to do in Leeds, a hub of northern creativity, the metropolis of Yorkshire and one of the greenest cities in the UK. With a population of over 750,000 and ambitious regeneration plans, the city is one of the largest and most rapidly developing in the country.

Tech companies are formed, record labels created and arts organisations promote social change. No wonder then, that this climate produces countless celebrations of the city’s culture, cuisine, and history. And with LEEDS 2023 — an explosive, bold and imaginative Year of Culture — comes event more celebrations of creativity, from Leeds International Festival of Ideas to Leeds International African Arts Festival.

Leeds Grand Theatre houses resident companies Opera North and Northern Ballet, both admired for their innovative and risk-taking approach, and their ability to reach diverse audiences through bold performance and fully inclusive participation projects. The city is also home to Phoenix Dance, one of the UK’s leading contemporary dance companies, as well as radical touring theatre company Red Ladder and the influential Leeds Playhouse, which is now well into its fifth decade.

Part of the prestigious Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, head to Leeds Art Gallery to discover one of the best collections of 20th century art before hopping to the Henry Moore Institute next door. Leeds Dock is home to the Royal Armouries Museum and its six themed galleries holding the national collection of arms and armour.

If you look past the shiny facade of the Trinity and Victoria Gate shopping centres, you’ll find plenty of independent shops and eateries, coffee roasters and pop-up food places across Kirkgate Market, the Corn Exchange and the Victorian arcades. And the nightlife has an unmistakably northern vibe; whether you choose to have a chilled one in a boutique bar owned by a local brewery, or dance till the AM at one of the DIY club nights showcasing the city’s vibrant live music scene.

And live music is a big part of Leeds’ nightlife. The city is home to some excellent venues, from the nationally adored Brudenell Social Club to a bunch of slicker, younger places like Belgrave and Headrow House. The latest venue to land in the city is Project House, a joint venture from some of the best-loved names in the worlds of music, culture, food and drink in Leeds. The collaborative nature of this venue really sums up the spirit of Leeds’ arts and cultural scene, which is interconnected and fuelled by very obvious passion.

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy what is shaping up to be a massive cultural summer for Leeds. You’ll find some of our top picks below.