Leeds Student City Guide
Heading to Leeds for a new adventure at university? Then this city guide is for you. With a vibrant nightlife scene, student-friendly shopping and amazing cultural attractions, this northern hub has something for everyone. Here are all the thrills, spills and new horizons that await you in Leeds.
Where To Stay in Leeds
Benefitting from convenient access to the university campuses and ideally located near the city centre, our stylish student accommodation in Leeds is the perfect home for your new adventure. The Refinery features rooms that suit all needs, such as private studios and ensuites in shared apartments, and amazing amenities to help you live your student life to the fullest. The property has amazing social spaces for making new friends, space to study when it's time to work hard and all-inclusive bills for easy budgeting.
Cafes and Coffee Shops in Leeds
Leeds has a thriving café culture, with lots of charming cafes and independent coffee houses. A short walk from our student apartments, Galleria is a trendy café by day and a bustling bar by night, making for a great study spot before shutting down your laptop and unwinding with happy hour cocktails. In the city centre, you'll find Laynes Espresso, a local institution renowned for its freshly roasted coffee and hearty breakfasts, and 92 Degrees, which offers student discount, so you can enjoy your morning latte for less. Over in the historic Grand Arcade, you'll find Sonder. It's one of the most aesthetic cafés in the city, serving picture-perfect drinks and desserts in a cosy, design-led setting. Leeds also has all the usual high-street favourites like Caffe Nero, Pret and Starbucks, where you can pick up your favourites to go or sit in for a study session.
Restaurants in Leeds
There are so many places to eat in Leeds, you're certain to find something to suit your taste and budget. In the city centre, Kirkgate Market has a host of street food vendors delivering authentic dishes, from Jamaican jerk chicken to American burgers to Vietnamese bánh mì, all at reasonable prices. White Cloth Hall is another indoor foo hall, serving up everything from breakfast and brunch to lunch, dinner and drinks, from a selection of independent kitchens. If you're searching for somewhere to go for a meal with your new friends without breaking the bank, look to chain restaurants that offer student deals and discounts like Franco Manca, Turtle Bay and YO! Sushi.
Nightlife in Leeds
Leeds and lively nightlife go hand in hand. At the heart of this buzzing scene lies Call Lane, a vibrant area in the centre with some of the city's best independent bars, clubs and LGBTQ+ venues. Whether you want a cosy date-night cocktail bar or a wild all-nighter, it's the place to go.
Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen is a large venue spanning three floors, including a roof terrace. It's the place to go to tase delicious street food while enjoying art, music and film. Plus, you can get deals on cocktails and food every day. Headrow House is another venue spread across multiple floors, with a beer hall, roof terrace and restaurant. There's an event on most evenings, from stand-up comedy to live DJs and club nights with student drink offers.
The Otley Run is a student rite of passage and one of the most famous pub crawls in the UK. Covering 20 bars and pubs, it goes from Headingly through Hyde Park and past the universities before finishing on the edge of the city centre. While fancy dress is optional, it's highly encouraged.
Shopping in Leeds
Leeds city centre is a shopping haven with high-street brands, department stores and independent boutiques offering something for everyone. If you're looking to stretch your budget, head to the Trinity Centre, which houses several high-street fashion and lifestyle stores that offer student discounts. Elsewhere, the historic arcades showcase smaller boutiques, including big-name brands like Levi's, Vans and Dr. Martens, where you can make savings with exclusive offers for students.
If you prefer to shop pre-loved items, you'll be pleased to know that Leeds has lots of charity and vintage shops. In addition to the usual names like Oxfam and British Heart Foundation, you'll find stores such as Pop Boutique and Glass Onion, where you can shop authentic, retro pieces from famous labels.
Fitness and Wellbeing
As a Leeds student, you can easily look after your body and mind. The city has a selection of gyms offering discounted student memberships, including Nuffield Health, PureGym and Anytime Fitness. You can also find boutique fitness studios, such as RYDE, which delivers spin and Pilates classes, and TRIB3, where you can participate in science-backed HIIT sessions. If you want to fit in a workout before or after lectures at the University of Leeds, head to the on-campus fitness centre, The Edge. It features a 250-station gym, exercise studios, sports halls, climbing walls and a swimming pool, all accessible to students via discounted memberships.
Nature and Outdoor Spaces
Leeds boasts some beautiful parks and gardens where you can relax between lectures. Bordering the University of Leeds, Woodhouse Moor – often called Hyde Park – has lots of grassy areas and tree-lined pathways, offering a slice of tranquillity close to campus. In the north of the city, Roundhay Park covers 700 acres of serene green space, with lakes, woodlands and formal gardens to explore. South of Leeds lies Yorkshire Sculpture Park, a unique outdoor venue showcasing a dynamic collection of sculptures created by global artists, all set within a 500-acre expanse of breathtaking landscapes.
Leeds’s Cultural Attractions
The cultural scene in Leeds features interesting attractions to inspire passionate minds. Engage with the arts at galleries like Clarendon, a contemporary space in the Victoria Quarter, and Leeds Art Gallery, which showcases exhibitions and collections of modern and contemporary British art. For performing arts, venues such as Leeds Playhouse and Leeds Grand Theatre put on productions that showcase drama, comedy and music. Meanwhile, the Northern Ballet presents classic and contemporary dance performances. Leeds also has a great selection of live music venues, including Brudenell Social Club and First Direct Arena, where you can go to gigs and concerts by a diverse range of artists.
Ready to begin your new adventure at our Leeds student accommodation? Explore the room types and book your perfect home at The Refinery.
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