10 Great Reasons To Live In Leeds

Leeds is a great city to live in. From it’s great shopping scene to the independent coffee shops, this little northern powerhouse of a city is fast becoming a firm favourite for those wanting to set up base somewhere affordable and lively. If you’re thinking of moving, here are 10 great reasons to live in Leeds.

There’s Loads Of Independent Coffee Shops

If you like your coffee, you won’t be short of indie coffee shops to try out in Leeds. Yes, you’ve got your standard Starbucks and Costas dotted around the city but I urge you to try out places like North Star Coffee, La Bottega and Laynes Espresso. The list goes on but I bet you, these local coffee haunts will quickly become one of your favourite things about living in Leeds.

Read More: 22 Of The Best Independent Coffee Shops In Leeds

It’s Close To The Country Side

You don’t have to go far from Leeds to reach the fresh air of the countryside. Within 90 minutes, you can be in the Yorkshire Dales or the Peak District and in less than 2 hours, you could be tramping the hills of the Lake District. Nearer to the city, there are plenty of canal trails to walk on, Otley Chevin Country Park, nature reserves, and plenty of other places to escape from the city for a few hours.

Read More: An Easy Guide To The Malham Cove Circular Walk In The Yorkshire Dales

Culture Is Everywhere

From the Leeds Playhouse to Hyde Park Picture House, there’s a wealth of culture bustling under the surface of this city. You can go see a gig somewhere nearly every night of the week, stroll through Leeds Art Gallery on a weekend, go to a live comedy show at Leeds Town Hall or Leeds City Varieties after work… Outside of the city centre there’s Kirkstall Abbey, Temple Newsam, and Harewood House – all beautiful buildings just waiting to be explored.

Read More: Here’s Your Ultimate Guide For A 3 Day Weekend In Leeds

Check Out The Cool Suburbs

It’s not just the city that’s got it going on. Head out to the bustling suburbs of Farsley, Headingley, Chapel Allerton, or Horsforth, and you’ll discover a hive of cool cafes, lively high streets, and areas of Leeds that will definitely keep you entertained for an afternoon or two.

Read More: Coffee, Cake, and Cocktails At Fika North, Headingley’s Coolest Cafe

The Water Taxi

Name another city that has a cool water taxi to get you from A to B. Well, Leeds has two and you can take a journey on them from Leeds Dock to Granary Wharf. It’s ideal if you’re arriving in Leeds at the train station and need to get to places like the Royal Armouries. They’re the perfect way to travel through the city and, if you’re lucky, the skipper of the boat will give you a little info about the history of the canal and the buildings surrounding it. Best of all, it’s only £1 per person and you can track where the water taxis are using TaxiTrak.

It’s A Good Central Hub

Located next to the M1 and a short distance from the M62, it’s easy enough travel by car to other major cities around the UK including Sheffield, Manchester, and York. Alternatively, if cars aren’t your thing, take advantage of Leeds Train Station where you can travel to every corner of the country with ease.

It’s A Compact City

Compared to places like London and Manchester, Leeds is a pretty compact city and that’s surely one of the great reasons to live in Leeds. You can walk from one end to the other in 30 minutes. That’s right, you don’t need to get a bus or a tram anywhere – it’s easy enough to walk to walk wherever you need to go.

Markets With Lots Of Fresh Food

Leeds Kirkgate Market is THE place to go for fresh food. Fruit, vegetables, meat, fish… you name it, they’ll more than likely have it here. There’s also plenty of stalls with herbs and spices meaning you could easily do your weekly shop here while supporting the local vendors. If you just want a quick bite to eat though, there’s also plenty of street food stalls selling delicious food for your lunch break…

It’s Great For Shopping

Trinity Leeds, Victoria Gate, Briggate, Victoria Quarter, the Corn Exchange, the arcades… If you want to shop until you drop, Leeds is the place to be for everything from high street fashion to high end designers. Why not make a day of it and stop off in some of the bars in between the shops…

The Bar Scene Is Epic

Speaking of bars, whether you’re hunting down the best rooftop bars or looking for a place to drink a decent pint, Leeds has a great selection for any kind of bar dweller. Make sure to check out Headrow House for it’s rooftop and beer hall, Rolands for its espresso martinis, and Belgrave for cool music and vibes all year round.

Would you ever live in Leeds? If you do, what do you think is so great about it and what are your reasons to live in Leeds?