🗞️ Whats on in Leeds November 2023

With the countdown on for Christmas, you’d surely be thinking that the city scene would be quieting down, with businesses and venues taking it steady before the festive boom. Not little old Leeds, however… With December in our sights, we’re only just warming up.

November is a month of music, culture, comedy and theatre, bringing together people of all ages to enjoy the best that Leeds has to offer. From the power of film to the movement of dance, you can watch Leeds come to life with a whole lineup of exciting events to keep you entertained.

For the Culture Lovers…

Leeds International Film Festival 2023

3th-19th November 

Movie lovers unite as the Leeds International Film Festival returns to the city. Beginning in 1987, the festival is the largest outside of London, showcasing the best the film industry has to offer. Year on year, the festival expands, showcasing a staggering 140 films from 78 countries in 2022. In November, you can expect to see films from across the globe, including the opening title ‘Poor Thing’ starring Emma Stone, and the highly anticipated ‘All Of Us Strangers’. 

With a broad range of film types, from documentaries to sci-fi’s, thrillers to shorts, the Leeds International Film Festival is every movie lover’s dream. It will run from the 3rd November for 17 days, even stretching over three weekends for the very first time.

Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival 2023

25 November | South Leeds Stadium

The Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival is back for the eighth year in a row, bringing together an accumulation of vegan foodies to showcase their incredible dishes. With over 80 stalls set to take to the South Leeds Stadium, this is Yorkshire’s biggest celebration of vegan eating. The extravaganza will bring together food from around the globe, letting visitors taste, shop and enjoy a vast array of plant based goodies.

At only £5 per ticket, you can find tickets for the Great Yorkshire Vegan Festival on the link: HERE

For the Family-goers…

Christmas At Thackray 

18th November – 23rd December | Thackray Museum of Medicine

The renowned Thackray Museum of Medicine is decking the halls for a very festive celebration this November, inviting guests to enjoy ‘Christmas At Thackray’. The month-long event will welcome families of all ages to enjoy the seasonal take on the Museum’s retelling of medical history, as they showcase how Christmas is celebrated all around the world. With a fun festive trail, arts and crafts, and a special audience with Father Christmas, this is set to be a fantastic day out for all the family. 

You can find tickets for Christmas At Thackray on the link HERE.

Baby Week at The Tetley

Baby Week is back, working with businesses across the UK to promote activities to give our children the best start in life. One of our Leeds favourites working with the charity is The Tetley, a contemporary art gallery and former brewery, beloved by city goers for its unique and exciting installations. To celebrate Baby Week, The Tetley will be a food and messy play themed installation running from the 15th – 17th November, which has been brought to the city by artist Beatrice Lee Knowles. You can also expect to find a selection of family themed workshops and resources dotted throughout the various galleries on offer, which have been pulled together by early years practitioners from across Leeds.

The Tetley’s ‘Baby Week’ celebration will be a fresh take on taking your little ones out. For more information, follow the link HERE.

For the dancers…

McFly

13th November | O2 Academy Leeds

The legendary McFly are taking to the stage in Leeds this November, delivering their seventh album, Power To Play, to the city for the very first time. The beloved band, composed of Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Harry Judd and Dougie Poynter are set to celebrate all things rock, using their guitars to deliver exciting new tunes and the timeless classics we all know and love. With “heavy metal attitude and punk snottiness”, you can expect to feel the full force of McFly as they appear in the city on the 13th November.

To sing along with McFly, you can find tickets on the link HERE.

World Below – Ewan McVicar

25 November | Testbed

Brand new club series ‘World Below’ is set to take Leeds by storm this November, bringing to the table six cutting edge shows expected to transform the brand new ‘Testbed’ venue into an otherworldly experience. The newly renovated, 10,000 sq foot events space is hosting a series of esteemed DJ’s from October to December, and will be welcoming the famed Ewan McVicar to leave his mark on the Leeds dance scene once again. With electric beats such as ‘Tell Me Something Good’ and ‘Street Rave’, McVicar is set to bring the energy to Leeds this November, and make Testbed a venue to truly remember. 

Tickets for Ewan McVicar can be found on the link HERE.

Oliver Tree

7th November | O2 Academy Leeds

This November, Leeds welcomes Internationally acclaimed, multi-Platinum, chart-topping superstar Oliver Tree to the stage to deliver a performance beaming with energy. Performing at the O2 Academy, the eccentric artist will be performing his third solo album ‘Alone In The Crowd’, bringing in fans to enjoy a new branch of his alternative soundscape. Unique and eccentric in everything he does, Oliver Tree is set to bring an exciting flavour of music to the city of Leeds this November. 

To catch Oliver Tree performing at the O2, you can find tickets on the link HERE.

For the comedy lovers…

Reuben Kaye’s The Butch Is Back On Tour

1st November | City Varieties Music Hall

Reuben Kaye has risen to become an International sensation, bringing his hilariously poignant performances to the attention of audiences from across the globe. All the way from Australia, Kaye is set to perform at the City Varieties Music Hall, backed by a full band and a whole host of topics to discuss with his audience. Set to “tear the world apart and put it back together“, Kaye is renowned for his hilarious performances and frank discussions about the world we live in. 

Truly unforgettable and consistently enjoyable, you can get tickets to see Reuben Kaye on the link HERE.

Russell Howard 

5th November | Leeds Grand Theatre

One of Britain’s kings of comedy is set to take Leeds by storm, offering two performances from his brand new live tour. On 5th November, audiences can enjoy Russell Howard performing at Leeds Grand Theatre, with performances taking place at 3pm or 7pm. The renowned comedian is set to take on the most pressing conversations of our time in an uplifting performance, seeing him put the world to rights in his own unique way. Rated 5 stars by Metro and Mail Online, this performance is certainly not one to be missed. 

You can buy tickets to see the incredible Russell Howard for one night only on the link HERE.

Lucy Beumont

7th November | City Varieties Music Hall

Award winning comedian Lucy Beumont is bringing her ‘The Trouble and Strife’ tour to the City Varieties Music Hall, where she will deliver a hilarious rendition of her roller coaster life. Brimming with unusual anecdotes and off-beat stories, Lucy Beurmont navigates her audience through her exciting life, and tells of her bizarre journey through modern day womanhood. Performing at the City Varieties Music Hall, you can expect to see Beumont take to the stage on 7th November.

Tickets for the ‘The Trouble and Strife’ tour can be found on the link HERE. 

For the theatrical…

Oliver!

24 November 2023 – 27 January 2024 | Leeds Playhouse

Lionel Bart’s award winning musical ‘Oliver!’ arrives at the Leeds Playhouse this November, debuting the timeless classic in all of its glory. Consider yourself part of the family with this heartwarming classic, retelling Charles Dickens’ iconic ‘Oliver Twist’ novel with a musical flare. Following the story of a young orphan searching for a home in London, ‘Oliver!’ brings to the stage its powerful storyline and beloved soundtrack, offering classics such as “I’d Do Anything” and “Food Glorious Food”. Directed by the incredibly talented James Brining, ‘Oliver!’ is a wonderful tale for the whole family to enjoy. 

You can find tickets for ‘Oliver’ at the Leeds Playhouse on the link HERE. 

Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker 

29th November – 10th December | Leeds Grand Theatre 

The Northern Ballet are bringing their captivating rendition of ‘The Nutcracker’ back to the city of Leeds, in what promises to be a performance as beautiful as the last. Famous for its elegant storytelling and enticing performances, The Nutcracker is a classic for dancers and storytellers alike, unveiling the elegance of the Northern Ballet with every performance. Join main character Clara as she is swept away to a stunning winter wonderland, joined by famed characters such as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Mouse King, in this fabulous festive treat.

‘The Nutcracker’ will be in Leeds from the 29th November-10th December, and you can find tickets on the link HERE.