Area Guide: Leeds City Centre

Posted 2 years ago

Want a lively student experience? Choose Leeds City Centre

If you’re looking for a lively student experience, living in Leeds city centre is for you!

Right at the heart of all the action and within walking distance of the University, it’s a terrific location for those wanting to enjoy the hustle and bustle of city living whilst still being close to campus.

Local amenities & travel

A city rich in culture, you can spend your weekends exploring the many museums and art galleries in the centre and learning more about the history of Leeds during your time here!


The Leeds Street Art Trail has pieces located all around the city centre for you to admire, so you might find a masterpiece right on your doorstep. For entertainment, you’ll have your pick of amazing theatres and venues like The Grand, O2 Academy and Belgrave Music Hall, so it’s easy to see the latest show or enjoy local gigs.


Leeds city centre is also a fantastic location for shopping, with everything from large shopping centres like Trinity, full of high street names, havens for independent retailers such as the Corn Exchange and Kirkgate Market, and even luxury arcades like Victoria.


If you’re a food and drink lover, Leeds is known as a foodie capital of the North and is home to a wide range of culinary delights, with cuisines from all around the world and options to fit any budget.

You have two options: 


St John's Post Office 

Location: 116 Albion Street, Leeds LS2 8LB ~0.2 miles


The Markets Post Office

Location: 6 - 16 New York Street, Leeds, LS2 7DZ ~ 0.36 miles 

There are many ways to travel from Leeds city centre to the University of Leeds.


Walking is the simplest and most popular choice, as the campus is only about half a mile away, taking roughly 10–15 minutes along Woodhouse Lane.


Cycling is even quicker, with dedicated bike lanes and hire schemes available, reducing the journey to around 5–7 minutes.


If you prefer public transport, frequent buses such as routes 1, 6, 8, 27, 28, 56, and 97 run along Woodhouse Lane and stop near the university, with travel times of 5–10 minutes and fares typically between £1 and £2, especially with student discounts.


Taxis and ride-hailing services like Uber or Bolt are also an option, costing around £5 - £15 for a 5 - 10 minute trip (prices vary depending on what time of the day and day of the week you travel).


Driving is possible via Woodhouse Lane, but parking on campus is limited, so nearby car parks like Merrion Centre or Woodhouse Lane Car Park are recommended. 

Supermarket              DistanceKey Features

Tesco Express (Bond Street)          

~0.2 mi          

Convenience chain; offers Clubcard points

Sainsbury’s Headrow Superstore

~0.2 mi

Full-service with meal deals, bakery, deli

Aldi (Regent Street)

~0.6 mi

Discount grocer with weekly “Special Buys”

Morrisons (Merrion Centre)

~0.2 mi

Larger store with bakery, deli, café

Leeds City Centre is known for having some amazing food places, our recommendations include: 


Kirkgate Market: A wide variety of food stalls offering different types of cuisine such such as sushi, fish and chips, Thai, pizza and more! 

Trinity Kitchen: A rotating lineup of food stalls under one roof. Similar to Kirkgate Market, you will find a range of food options such as tacos, gyozas etc.

Rudy's Pizza Napoletana: Authentic Neapolitan sourdough pizzas

Bundobust: Indian street food 

Mummy Thai:  Authentic Thai food with great lunch deals