Leeds Waterfront Guided Tour

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Book now

Leeds Waterfront Guided Tour

1 November 2024-29 June 2025
Date
Time
Session Features
01 Nov 2024
11:00 am-1:00 pm
03 Nov 2024
11:00 am-1:00 pm
08 Nov 2024
11:00 am-1:00 pm
10 Nov 2024
11:00 am-1:00 pm
15 Nov 2024
11:00 am-1:00 pm

See website for more sessions

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

A docked narrowboat next to a heritage crane and surrounded by buildings and blue sky at Granary Wharf in Leeds
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired
Book now

Leeds has rapidly developed in the past couple of decades and no place in the city has felt quite as transformed as the waterfront. Having shaken off the hangover from its industrial past, whilst keeping some of the aesthetic charm, this area has become home to cultural institutions, award winning bars, breweries and restaurants as well as Leeds’ much loved water taxi.

One site you’ll visit on the tour is Marshall’s Mill. Thought to have been the largest in Europe back in the day, you’ll explore the fascinatingly unexpected Egyptian temple-themed architecture. You’ll also stroll along to the Leeds end of the Leeds Liverpool canal and trace the remnant signs from an era where this vital transport link made Leeds the thriving industrial hub it became. En route you’ll find Leeds Dock. An area that was previously a hub of commerce and industry but now plays host to many companies which have become household names.

Moving forward in time you’ll visit Aire Park, a recently developed area of the city on the site of the old Tetley Brewery. After going through several transformations Aire Park is in the process of becoming an area with an eight acre public park as well as hundreds of new homes, businesses and office spaces. The old Tetley Brewery will remain standing after being taken on by Kirkstall Brewery in 2024.

In between the oldest and newest parts of the waterfront sit the communities that have been steadily growing over the past few years. These include Granary Wharf and the thriving food and drink scene around the area. While on the tour it’s great to walk through and spot where you may call on for some refreshment after.

Whether you’re a curious visitor or a life long resident keen to learn more about the past and future of the area, you’ll walk away having your perception of the canal changed. The tour is led by local independent tour guide Mike. He has recently won the ‘Best Specialist Tour Guide’ accolade for Yorkshire 24/25, so you can be sure you’re in good hands.

Where to go near Leeds Waterfront Guided Tour

Manchester
Gallery
Black Redstart Gallery

Black Redstart Gallery is located in the Northern Quarter and runs a busy programme of exhibitions from emerging and established artists.

RJC Dance Xmas Show
Leeds
RJC Dance

RJC Dance, based in Chapeltown, Leeds, champions youth and education, leading inclusive Black dance in the North through national partnerships.

texture logo
Manchester
Gallery
texture mcr

Possibly one of the city’s most mysterious art galleries, texture is a small and perfectly-formed independent space in Ardwick.

The Beacon at Cliffe Castle Park
Bradford
Park
Cliffe Castle Park

Cliffe Castle Park hosts the Beacon, a stunning performance space that will be touring the district throughout Bradford UK City of Culture 2025.

Hern Food
Leeds
Restaurant
Hern

This produce-driven bistro in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, prides itself on cooking with the only finest ingredients and his headed up by Cordon Bleu-trained chef Rab Adams.

Indie Makers
Leeds
Shop
Indie Makers

Indie Makers, located in Leads’ corn exchange, trades in art and gifts from independent makers across the UK.

Plant Point
Leeds
Shop
Plant Point

Plant Point is designed to help you bring the jungle into your urban or suburban space. The home of beautiful plants in Leeds.

Leeds
Restaurant
Eat Your Greens

Eat Your Greens is a vibrant, organic restaurant bringing a hint of European flair to the city’s plant-based dining scene.

What's on:

Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts
FamiliesManchester
Haphazard 2025 at Z-arts

A free day of bizarre behaviour and exciting live performance at Z-arts. Expect the unexpected. Playful, unpredictable, and not easily forgotten.

Free entry
Amy Webber comedian
Until
ComedyChapel Street
Greater Manchester Fringe 2025

Greater Manchester Fringe Festival 2025 offers a fascinating and diverse programme of performance with ticket prices that won’t break the bank.

From £5.00
MusicManchester
John Talabot at The White Hotel

A quietly radical force in contemporary club culture, John Talabot returns to The White Hotel for one of his signature all-night sessions.

From £13.00
NightGarden Festival
Festivals
NightGarden Festival

Somewhere in Trafford, behind an unmarked gate, a former garden centre hosts one of Greater Manchester’s most original festivals.

From £20
Manchester Town Hall
TourManchester
The Magical Mystery Bike Tour

Hop on your bike for this guided cycling tour, exploring fascinating corners of Manchester you may never have seen before.

From £25.00

Culture Guides

Two women stand next to an orange car.
Cinema in the North

August brings a huge LGBTQ+ film festival, plus a reggae classic and a spotlight on Japanese animation.

Theatre in Manchester and the North.
Theatre in the North

From outdoor shows to drama in the dark, our theatre guide celebrates genre-pushing work, new writing and contemporary performance.

Author portrait
Literature Events in the North

Our latest round-up features plenty of one-off live literature events to wrap your ears about, so get those diaries ticking over...

Blondshell by Hannah Bon.
Music in the North

From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.