Independent Shops in Leeds

Ian Jones, Food and Drink Editor

Last Updated 23 May 2023

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 in recent years, 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

1. Colours May Vary

Colours May Vary, Unit 1A, Munro House, Duke Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, LS9 8AG - Visit now

You can spend hours browsing in Colours May Vary for unique and hard-to-find greetings cards, stationary, homeware and magazines. Of especial interest are the one of a kind ceramic ornaments.

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2. Jumbo Records

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Jumbo Records, Street, 1-3 Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8NG - Visit now

If music’s your bag, look no further. Jumbo Record is Leeds’ leading independent record shop, covering everything from rock to jazz. If these guys don’t know it, it isn’t worth knowing.

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3. 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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4. Chirpy

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Chirpy, 148 Harrogate Rd, Leeds, LS7 4NZ - Visit now

At heart, Chirpy is a design shop, selling everything for all your creative needs, alongside a bunch of quirky gifts and accessories. But it also hosts regular workshops, teaching skills such as embroidery and candle-making.

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5. OK Comics

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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.

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