Culture Guides
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There’s plenty of things 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 cuisine, culture and history. Leeds has a packed calendar of events meaning that the city centre has a constant buzz of activity. Priding itself on its rich cultural diversity and history, Leeds plays host to the decades-old West Indian carnival every August.
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, radical touring theatre company, Red Ladder and the influential Leeds Playhouse, which has recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
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 across 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 the local brewery, or dance till the AM at one of the DIY club nights showcasing the city’s vibrant live music scene.
Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022
Leeds International Festival, the UK’s leading metropolitan festival of new ideas and innovation, is back in 2022, with a focus on tackling some of the most crucial questions of our time.
A State of Matter: Modern and Contemporary Glass Sculpture at the Henry Moore Institute
Subverting the decorative properties and practical uses of glass, A State of Matter: Modern and Contemporary Glass Sculpture offers surprising and innovate perspectives.
Porridge Radio at Leeds Irish Centre
Porridge Radio are one of the most vital new voices in alternative music, having gone from being darlings of the DIY underground to one of the UK’s most thrilling bands in the space of less than a year.
Full English at Theatre Royal Wakefield
Devoted to anyone who has ever experienced difficulties or injustice because of their ethnic background, Full English plays in Wakefield.
Opera North’s Parsifal at Leeds Grand Theatre
Parsifal – Wagner’s final opera expressing his ‘farewell to the world’ comes to Leeds Grand Theatre this June.
Lungiswa Gqunta at The Henry Moore Institute
Lungiswa Gqunta’s largest exhibition to date internationally, will be on display at The Henry Moore Institute this July.
Emily Hesse: The Witches’ Institution (W.I.) at The Tetley
Emily Hesse imagines what a cultural institution run by a community of witches would look like for her brand new show ‘The Witches’ Institution (W.I.)’ at The Tetley.
Humanising – An Exhibition of Artwork, Stories and Photography at Left Bank Leeds
An exhibitions that humanises refugees and asylum seekers, and paints their stories through positive emotions.
Bubu Ogisi at The Tetley
Nigerian artist Bubu Ogisi presents new work at The Tetley, produced during her 2022 residency, made in collaboration with young creatives in Leeds.
Howes3 at Belgrave Music Hall
Belgrave Music Hall welcomes Howes3, an exciting Brighton-based jazz funk/gospel fusion trio, part of the resurgence of jazz-influenced music in the UK.
Places to go / stay / shop / eat / drink
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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