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There are times when the big chains simply don’t cut it and you want something a bit more original, along with a personal touch. This is when you hunt out independent shops and thankfully Leeds has plenty.
Of course, online shopping has grown in a big way over the past few months, but that’s why independent shops are so vital, not just for our city centre economies, but for finding those unique one-off items that the corporate behemoths simply can’t compete with. This is why independent shopping has grown so much in recent years, it’s worth going the extra mile to get personalised recommendations and products that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else.
Go independent for valuable, original and bespoke items in the world of design, comic books, art, clothing and more
Plus when it comes to expert advice, you’re not likely to find out insider information and obscure details at mega-chains. You need to go to the small shops, those that value their customers and see them as more than just pound signs.
Whether you’re looking for valuable, original and bespoke items in the world of design, comic books, art, clothing and everything else, you’re likely to have a much more fulfilling and enjoyable experience in one of the shops listed below. And Leeds has an independent spirit like no other.
After all, who really wants to order everything they own from their phone or pour more money into the pockets of big soulless companies? In Leeds, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to local gems, so we thought we’d put together a list of our favourites. Here are our favourite independent shops in Leeds.
Here are our picks
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1. Colours May Vary
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2. Leeds Corn Exchange
Leeds Corn Exchange Leeds Corn Exchange, Call Ln, Leeds, LS1 7BR - Visit now
Packed with independent retailers, the Corn Exchange is the place to go for one-of-a-kind jewellery, piercings, nail techs, gifts and decorations and a great deal more. A great day out, where you will most certainly find that special something as well as a lot of other things you never knew you needed.
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3. Jumbo Records
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4. Village Bookstore
Image courtesy of Village Bookstore Village Bookstore, 3 Thorntons Arcade, Leeds, LS1 6LQ - Visit now
Few things in life are more satisfying than spending a lazy afternoon browsing the shelves of a non-corporate book shop. Welcome to the Village Bookstore, hidden away in Thornton’s Arcade. Here you’ll find a huge range of self-published zines, as well as a mighty stock of art, design and photography books.
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5. Chirpy
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6. OK Comics
CT OK Comics, 19, Thornton’s Arcade, 14 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6LQ - Visit now
Every serious city needs a good comic book shop, and in OK Comics Leeds has one of the North’s finest. Forget comicbook guy from The Simpsons, here you’ll find helpful friendly staff and a vast selection of comics and graphic novels, from top-sellers to the painfully obscure.
Leeds Visitor Guides
Music Venues in Leeds
Boasting a strong musical heritage, Leeds has a wealth of music venues to match: from suburban social clubs and former textile mills to co-operatively run DIY spaces and its recently built arena, the city has plenty of exciting spaces to offer its young, outgoing population.
Theatres in Leeds
From family-friendly fun to unique productions, there’s something for everyone in Leeds. Check out our guide to the best theatres in Leeds.
Art Galleries in Leeds
Leeds and its surrounding region is bursting with some of the best galleries and art centres in the North – and they’re beginning to reopen.
Literary places in Leeds
With Simon Armitage as the University’s first Professor of Poetry, no less, there’s plenty going on literature and spoken word wise in Leeds, including a number of regular nights, events run by literary magazines such as Strix and Zarf, and a thriving festival scene.
Museums in Leeds
The famous, man-eating Leeds Tiger, a 3,000 year-old-mummy that survived WWII, the gothic ruins of a 12th century Cistercian monastery, and ‘the best cinema in the world’ are just some of the treasures waiting to be discovered as you work your way through this hand-picked selection of museums in Leeds.
Luxury Hotels in Leeds
Got a few quid and not afraid to spend it? Live the life you deserve at one of Leeds’s best luxury hotels – here’s our expert guide to the best.
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