Middleton Park
Middleton Park, Town Street, Middleton, Leeds, UK
My favourite 'discovery' this Summer, I've been to different parts of it over the years, but this year we walked through and connected all the parts. Home to oldest steam railway in the world, an awesome lake & visitors centre, heritage and wildlife trails and Leeds Urban Bike Hub
Golden Acre Park
Golden Acre Park, Leeds, UK
The other side of Leeds is Golden Acre Park which is one my favourite parks to relax and walk, and I always think of as the gateway to the countryside, just a mile north of Headingley.
Sunnybank Mills
Sunnybank Mills, Town Street, Farsley, Pudsey, UK
The town of Farsley is host to some of the most interesting goings on outside of Leeds City Centre, and central is a complex of mills that hosts creative businesses, bars and restaurants, including two of my favourites - Grumpy's Bar & Wood Fired Pizza and Mill Kitchen, the later which also sells produce and craft items to stock up on!
Rodley Nature Reserve / The Canal
Rodley Nature Reserve, Moss Bridge Road, Rodley, Leeds, UK
The canal in Leeds isn't blessed with a large central urban area that shows it off, only Leeds Dock & Granary Wharf which dominate it slightly. My favorite spot is by Rodley, where a small bridge will take you over to a huge nature reserve where you can go pond dipping, bird watching and much more. Walk toward town, and you're pass hidden pubs (The Abbey Inn), woodland trails by Branley Fall Park, through to Kirkstall Abbey and eventually in to the city centre
Eat Your Greens
Eat Your Greens, New York Street, Leeds, UK
Into the city centre now Eat Your Greens is one of my favourite independent lunch spots - cooking up a seasonal selection of hearty dishes, based around roots and beans as well as some chunky and interesting meats and vegetables. Great for a quick coffee and sandwich, sharing plates or a delicious evening meal. Check out their other place at Sheaf St Cafeteria, with fantastic breakfasts.
The Turks Head
The Turk's Head, Turk's Head Yard, Leeds, UK
The Turks Head is my favourite "pub" pub in Leeds city centre, and extension of Whitelocks, one of the oldest pubs in the country, and nestled down a yard right in the thick of Leeds' biggest shopping district. A hipster uptake on Whitelocks, it always has a great selection of beer from loads of great brewerys with a relaxed and intimate bar area, and plenty of hidden space outside
The Watermark
The Watermark Bar, Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, UK
At the end of the evening it's great to find a place for that one last drink, and Leeds has a few with Blind Tyger, The Maven and others, but The Watermark never fails to be welcoming, helpful and friendly to find that final last drink whether it's a beer, glass of wine or a cocktail.
Leeds is amazing place to live, relax and party, and one of the best things about it are the hidden gems and the places that individuals find special that can mean different things to different people, or change dependent on your mood. Writing this after summer, I’ve enjoyed discovering loads of places outside the city centre where you can relax, grab some good food & drink and discover cool activities, art or music.
Middleton Park
My favourite 'discovery' this Summer, I've been to different parts of it over the years, but this year we walked through and connected all the parts. Home to oldest steam railway in the world, an awesome lake & visitors centre, heritage and wildlife trails and Leeds Urban Bike Hub
Golden Acre Park
The other side of Leeds is Golden Acre Park which is one my favourite parks to relax and walk, and I always think of as the gateway to the countryside, just a mile north of Headingley.
Sunnybank Mills
The town of Farsley is host to some of the most interesting goings on outside of Leeds City Centre, and central is a complex of mills that hosts creative businesses, bars and restaurants, including two of my favourites - Grumpy's Bar & Wood Fired Pizza and Mill Kitchen, the later which also sells produce and craft items to stock up on!
Rodley Nature Reserve / The Canal
The canal in Leeds isn't blessed with a large central urban area that shows it off, only Leeds Dock & Granary Wharf which dominate it slightly. My favorite spot is by Rodley, where a small bridge will take you over to a huge nature reserve where you can go pond dipping, bird watching and much more. Walk toward town, and you're pass hidden pubs (The Abbey Inn), woodland trails by Branley Fall Park, through to Kirkstall Abbey and eventually in to the city centre
Eat Your Greens
Into the city centre now Eat Your Greens is one of my favourite independent lunch spots - cooking up a seasonal selection of hearty dishes, based around roots and beans as well as some chunky and interesting meats and vegetables. Great for a quick coffee and sandwich, sharing plates or a delicious evening meal. Check out their other place at Sheaf St Cafeteria, with fantastic breakfasts.
The Turks Head
The Turks Head is my favourite "pub" pub in Leeds city centre, and extension of Whitelocks, one of the oldest pubs in the country, and nestled down a yard right in the thick of Leeds' biggest shopping district. A hipster uptake on Whitelocks, it always has a great selection of beer from loads of great brewerys with a relaxed and intimate bar area, and plenty of hidden space outside
The Watermark
At the end of the evening it's great to find a place for that one last drink, and Leeds has a few with Blind Tyger, The Maven and others, but The Watermark never fails to be welcoming, helpful and friendly to find that final last drink whether it's a beer, glass of wine or a cocktail.