Shopping in Leeds

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

From the big names in high fashion to independent shops based in historic arcades, and all your favourite high street brands, Leeds mixes these worlds together in a retail cocktail best served long.

Leeds’ shopping district, housed within the city centre’s contrasting Victorian and modern architecture, you can easily walk between the grandeur of Victoria Gate to the DIY approach of Leeds’ famous indoor markets. The high street mecca that is the Trinity Centre is not to be overlooked either with its range of familiar names and late opening hours.

However, what elevates the experience of shopping in Leeds is the quality of its independent retailers. From craft and makers cooperatives to the core of vintage and remade clothes shops surrounding the iconic corn exchange. Leeds is a place that encourages style and independence whilst still retaining a wide choice for those who prefer the high street or high-end fashion.

Whether you are looking for a specific cheese, a rare book, or a locally-crafted soap that looks like a tiny cake, no matter how niche trust that Leeds likely has a shop that sells it.

Our top picks

OK Comics

OK Comics, 19, Thornton’s Arcade, 14 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6LQ - Visit now

At OK Cmics you’ll find helpful friendly staff and a vast selection of comics and graphic novels, from top-sellers to the painfully obscure.

OK Comics Leeds
OK Comics Leeds

Blue Rinse

Blue Rinse, 9-11 Call Ln, Leeds, LS1 7DH - Visit now

Blue Rinse are one of the big boys of vintage shops, with outlets scattered all across the North. And for good reason, their shops are piled high with excellent quality items at a reasonable price.

Blue Rinse Leeds
Blue Rinse Leeds

Pudsey Market

Pudsey Market, 1 Market Pl, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 7BE - Visit now

Pudsey Market  is charmingly traditional, featuring everything from second-hand books, fabrics and gloriously fresh local foodstuff, perfectly following suit with its Victorian market town heritage.

pudsey market
pudsey market

Colours May Vary

Colours May Vary, Leeds Corn Exchange, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BR - Visit now

A design and bookshop located on the ground floor of an office block in Leeds and next door to a commercial gallery is home to Colours May Vary. Step inside, however, and you’ll find a store stacked with contemporary design and photo books, magazines, artist-made and limited-edition goods, illustration, ceramics and homewares

Colours May Vary Leeds

Chirpy

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

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

Jumbo Records

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

Jumbo Records is the beating heart of independent music shops in Leeds. Over the many decades it’s been in operation, the shop floor has expanded and the stock broadened out in taste and style. Now, Jumbo is a melting pot of genre that prioritises quality, regardless of style or personal taste.

Jumbo Records

Pop Boutique Leeds

Pop Boutique Leeds, 12-14 Central Rd, Leeds, LS1 6DE - Visit now

Off Central Road, is Semi-independent, semi-chain vintage shop Pop Boutique, crammed with cute and quirky clothes, shoes and the odd bit of kitsch. It even has its own retro fashion range, subverting the very concept of ‘vintage’ itself. The range of stock covered goes right back to the 50s and sometimes earlier, with everything for mods, rockers, hippies, punks, goths, indie kids, and really everyone else. Popular with students, Instagram influencers, television and film

Pop Boutique Leeds
Pop Boutique Leeds

Where to go in Leeds

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.

On The Wall is a funky independent shop that sells a wide range of creative and artistic items including, posters, art prints, canvases, greeting cards and merchandise/gifts. They also offer a bespoke framing and canvas printing service and a screen printed t- shirt service. If you are looking for something more unique and inspiring they also sell work by local artists.
Leeds
Shop
On The Wall

Bright, bold and full of character, On the Wall pairs expert framing with prints, posters and gifts inside Leeds Corn Exchange.

Leeds
Restaurant
Canned Heat

Canned Heat is an independent bottle-shop & bar in the heart of Chapeltown, Leeds. Born out of a passion for Music, Art and Community.

We sell comics, graphic novels, manga, role playing games, board games, collectible card games, merchandise, apparel and much more besides!
Leeds
Shop
Travelling Man Leeds

A quirky little shop for comics, graphic novels, role-playing and board games, with frequent in-store events.

Leeds
Brewery
Springwell

The home of North, with a beautiful taproom over looking the brew house, on Buslingthorpe Lane. Every weekend we open the doors to our brewery and pour incredibly fresh beer next to the tanks where it was brewed!

iStock
Leeds
Shop
Waterstones Leeds

Standing proudly on the busy shopping hub of Albion Street, Waterstones Leeds is a bookshop that also hosts a variety of events

Leeds
Event venue
The Bookish Type

An independent bookshop specialising in literature across the LGBTIQA+ spectrum.

Leeds
Shop
Truman Books

This independent bookstore and café in Farsley, Leeds, boasts a great selection of adult and children’s books.

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