Ideas for short breaks on the Leeds waterfront

Summer views of Granary Wharf

Leeds Waterfront was, in the past, one of the most rundown areas in the city. Thanks to a massive regeneration project it has completely turned around, and now offers a plethora of activities, bars and restaurants for everyone to enjoy.

Leeds waterfront areas

The main areas of the Leeds waterfront are Brewery Wharf, with a good collection of bars and restaurants nearby. Clarence Dock, location of the Royal Armouries museum and designer shops. Then Granary Wharf home of the Pannier Market and Mint Hotel.

The Leeds City Sightseeing Bus

New to Leeds, the open topped sightseeing bus has 12 departure points as it visits the must-see spots of the city, including Millennium Square, The Victoria Quarter and the Leeds Waterfront. Tickets are valid for 24 hours and buses run throughout the day, so passengers can enjoy a hop-on hop-off service, giving them plenty of time to catch a bout of jousting at the armouries, a spot of shopping in the city, or a relaxing lunch.

You can buy tickets on the bus itself, or from the Leeds Visitor Centre at the Train Station.

Leeds City Cruises

Also new to the city, the cruise boat travels from Clarence Dock, along the River Aire to Brewery Wharf and then on to Granary Wharf. The boat leaves every hour from each section of the waterfront. The Leeds City sightseeing bus and cruise boat run from May to September. A brilliantly different way of seeing all that the waterfront has to offer!

The Leeds Waterfront Heritage Trail

If you are looking for something a little more energetic than browsing market stalls, walking along the Waterfront can be a surprisingly quiet and peaceful experience, considering it is in the heart of the city. The Heritage Trail stretches from Kirkstall Abbey House Museum, through the Abbey Grounds.

Then down to the canal and then along past the marina (where you are bound to see at least a couple of beautifully decorated barges), near Granary Wharf. It is around four miles altogether, but if you are pushed for time or don’t want to start so far out of town, any stretch of the canal is a pleasure to walk along.

Restaurants and Bars

There are numerous places to eat and drink on the Waterfront, to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. From Pizza Express, this offers good value and tasty pizza and pasta dishes, to delicious Indian food at Mumtaz, the hugely successful restaurant which began in Bradford and has opened a branch at Clarence Dock.

The Alea casino also offers restaurants and bars as well as a cheeky gamble, and the food is very reasonably priced. For a more relaxed bar feel, you could do much worse than Oracle, which does a good line in ciabattas, and has an outdoor seating area for when the weather picks up.

Hotels near to the Leeds riverside

If you are planning a weekend break to Leeds, there are a number of hotels adjacent to the waterfront. Malmaison is only a short walk from the canal, and provides comfy, classy accommodation. On the other side of the canal by Brewery Wharf, and to suit a slightly tighter budget, you can find the Jury’s Inn. Holiday Inn Express is located a short distance from Clarence Dock.

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Leeds Waterfront Festival

In July the annual Leeds Waterfront Festival takes place, with live entertainment, on the water activity and arts and culture galore. There will be an art walk, street entertainers, dressed boats and a variety of live music including jazz and rhythm and blues. If the weather is good it will definitely be the place to be!

The Waterfront has something for everyone, no matter what it is you enjoy, and really gives you a different, unexpected and relaxed atmosphere for an area in the heart of a busy city.

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