Tucked between Leeds and Bradford, Pudsey is one of those small market towns that has been swallowed up over the years by its sprawling neighbours. It is probably best known for giving its name to Children in Need’s Pudsey Bear. Created in 1985, the famous yellow mascot was made by Pudsey resident and BBC designer Joanna Ball, whose grandfather was also mayor of the town.

With a strongly independent spirit, this is a place that some Leeds residents can think of as being a bit of a trek to get to. However, hop on a train and New Pudsey station is just ten minutes from the city centre. There are plenty of opportunities to support local traders; a regular market takes place on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday offering a range of produce.

Pudsey Park

Much of the area’s architecture dates from Victorian times – there are lots of attractive Yorkshire stone buildings. Of course, one of the great Victorian inventions was the public park, and Pudsey boasts a particularly well-maintained example.

It includes a visitor’s centre, focussing on all sorts of wildlife from the local area, including freshwater fish, birds and a rabbit warren. This seems to have replaced the monkey cages that for many years were kept there! Activities are run throughout the year at the centre, such as bat watching and bird box building.

Also on offer is a well-equipped playground for kids, a skateboard area, a bowling green, and regular performances by brass bands on Sunday afternoons during the summer.

Fulneck Moravian Settlement

A short and pleasant walk away from the centre of Pudsey is a unique Moravian settlement dating back to the eighteenth century. The Moravians were a Czech Christian denomination who settled in England following persecution in the European counter-reformation.

Fulneck is a beautiful area. The incredible school building dates back to 1753. Famous pupils include actress Diana Rigg and cricketer William Booth. There’s also a museum, though it’s worth checking before you visit if it is open, as for much of the year it only opens on a few afternoons a week.

Highlight of any visit to the settlement though should be a trip to one of my favourite restaurants in Leeds. Zachary’s is by no means cheap, but the quality of food and service is superlative. If you’re planning a visit then it is definitely worth ringing ahead, as it tends to book up quickly.

It’s also a lovely spot for an indulgent Sunday roast and if you fancy a nightcap before returning home, the nearby Bankhouse Inn is a relaxed country pub that’s particularly welcoming on a warm summer’s evening.

Places to Eat and Drink in Pudsey

If your wallet isn’t feeling up to a trip to Zachary’s, there are plenty of other restaurants in Pudsey that won’t break the bank. Gi-Gi’s is a very reasonable pizzeria and is next to one of the area’s best watering holes, Bar 57. The Stroom based in a redeveloped Conservative Club, the owners aim for a cosmopolitan feel.

The menu is regularly updated and features a mix of French and traditional English dishes, along with a pleasing wine list. It’s particularly worth checking out their early bird offers.

There are plenty of take-aways in Pudsey, but for me there’s only one choice. The Wetherby Whaler on Lowtown is one of the finest fish ‘n’ chip shops in the area. They also have a small restaurant if you want to sit in. Pudsey may never be considered one of the “trendy” areas of Leeds, but there are plenty of hidden gems to make this one area well worth investigating.

Rate this Leeds guide

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

This guide was syndicated from My Life in Leeds where you will find more Leeds Travel Guides like this.

Things to do and see in Pudsey

Nestled between Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate, Otley is a market town about 12 miles out of Leeds city centre. It has long been used as a location for popular television series such as Emmerdale and Heartbeat, and there is plenty of things to do and see in Otley on a day out.

Chevin Forest Park

If you are feeling energetic, take a walk from the town centre up to the top of Otley Chevin. The distance is less than a mile but is a steep uphill climb (the top is around 925ft above sea level). The view from the top is well worth it though, as is a refreshing pint in The Royalty public house on York Gate, a short walk from the Chevin top.

For the less energetic there is a car park at the summit, accessed from York Gate, from where the views can be found and there are plenty of walks on the lower slopes around the Danefield and Quarry areas, free car parking is also available at these locations.

Wharfemeadows Park

The River Wharfe flows through the centre of Otley and to the north side Wharfemeadows Park can be found between Otley Bridge and Farnley Lane. This is an ideal place to visit with children as there is a well equipped outdoor play area, including a section suitable for children with disabilities.

The site of the former open air swimming pool now houses the Rainbow Leisure complex with crazy golf, go-karting and various other attractions. If you are in need of refreshment, the café in the park is open throughout the summer months. Further along the river through the gardens is the very popular skate park.

Otley Market and Farmers’ Market

As mentioned previously, Otley is a market town and there is a large and popular market every Friday and Saturday, stretching the length of Kirkgate and filling the Market Place. There is also a smaller selection of stalls on Tuesdays. In addition to this, a morning farmers’ market is held on the last Sunday of each month (except for December when it is on the Sunday before Christmas). This is also in the Market Place.

Places to drink in Otley

There are many pubs to choose from in Otley. In fact, at one point, Otley was the town with the most pubs per head of population in the country. Try the Black Bull, the oldest pub in Otley, or the Whitaker’s Arms if the weather is good, both of these have excellent beer gardens.

Otley Courthouse

Otley Courthouse (which was used as Ashfordly Police Station in Heartbeat) on Courthouse Street has been redeveloped and regularly hosts events such as theatrical productions, films, music, arts, dance and workshops. The community café is open 11am-3pm Monday-Saturday so why not call in for lunch and visit the old cell or make use of the free computer and internet facilities whilst you are there?

Places to eat in Otley

There is plenty of choice for eating out in Otley. The Jewel of India (Bridge Street) or the Cafe Balti House (Bondgate) if you fancy a curry, the Rose and Crown pub (Bondgate) for an excellent Sunday lunch, or The Cove (Bridge Street) for fish and chips. Slightly further out of town, in the Wharfebank Business Centre on Ilkey Road, is Buon Apps which serves Italian and Mediterranean food and is highly recommended.

How to get to Otley

Otley is accessible by car on the A660 from Leeds or by the bus X84 bus from Leeds City bus station. There is limited free car parking in Otley and three pay and display car parks. There is also free parking on Sainsbury’s car park in the centre but this is limited to 4 hours. The bus station is located on Crossgate.

Rate this Leeds guide

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

This guide was syndicated from My Life in Leeds where you will find more Leeds Travel Guides like this.

A locals guide of things to do in Otley

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 City Inn 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.

Click here to search for more hotels in Leeds

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.

Rate this Leeds guide

Leeds Map

Browse the map and click on the pins to find the location of the places featured in this guide.

This guide was syndicated from My Life in Leeds where you will find more Leeds Travel Guides like this.

Ideas for short breaks on the Leeds waterfront

Although it has taken some time, spring is beginning to, well, spring here in Leeds and with eyes heading towards summer and the anticipation of sunshine and the great outdoors, it is perhaps time to shake off the cobwebs accumulated over the winter months and get the blood pumping once again.

We take a look at some of the sporting attractions and activities on offer that you can participate in and around Leeds.

Sphereing

One alternative way of viewing the glorious Yorkshire countryside is by going sphereing. First developed in New Zealand, and operated in New Farnley by Sphere Mania, the pastime basically involves rolling down a hill at high speed in a large inflatable, plastic ball known as an orb. The orbs can cater for single, double or triple riders and is one for the adrenelain junkies out there.

Karting

If speed is your thing, there are a number of karting tracks in and around the Leeds area. Ideal for a group, this offers the challenge to pit your driving skills against each other and competing teams. Pole Position and F1 Karting are perhaps two of the best.

Snowsports

Based a short journey out of Leeds, Xscape offer a multitude of extreme sports and leisure activities in a vast complex. For those keen on a day in the snow (well, the next best thing) options include skiing, snowboarding or the more challenging ice climbing.

Riding

If horses are your thing, but prefer to do the riding rather than just watching, there are companies that offer riding sessions. Catering for riders of all abilities, from beginners through to the more accomplished horseman, this can be an excellent way to spend a day and truly experience the outdoors. Both Back Lane Stables in Farnley and Royds Hall Riding School cater for both private and group parties at all age levels.

Swimming

From a leisurely swim through to a more active session, there are eighteen swimming pools operated by the sport and active recreation service in Leeds that can be visited, with a free swimming initiative for 16 years and under and over 60s being offered. In addition to this, the John Charles Centre for Sport also offers a diving training course.

Tennis

The summertime invariably conjours up images of Wimbledon, and if you fancy yourself as the next Andy Murray there are plenty of clubs and courts available to cater for you. From booking specialist one to one coaching or just hiring a court for a knock around or through Leeds Met will provide all of the help you need. Bring your own strawberries and cream though.

Football

For a group activity, why not get the competitive juices flowing and work up a sweat out on the football pitch. Throughout Leeds there are a number of 5-a-side pitches for hire. In the city itself, you can book at Wellington Place or alternatively find a local centre through Football Revolution.

Skating

The City centre also offers the option for adrenaline packed activity, with the Works skate park housed in the city centre and boasting a well equipped indoor skate park split into several sections, it caters for beginner and advanced riders and skaters as well as hosting a number of tournaments and events.

Rate this Leeds guide

This guide was syndicated from My Life in Leeds where you will find more Leeds Travel Guides like this.

Leeds outdoor activities and sports

The beauty of the northern English city of Leeds is that you are never far from open green countryside and fresh air. So with the snowdrops now appearing what better way to enjoy the proximity of the rural areas than to get out there and enjoy a good leg stretching walk – an ideal way to enjoy the meadows and woods, while keeping yourself fit with a bit of gentle exercise.

There are some fabulous walks around Leeds, and all the details of the trails and what you will see while walking them are available at the wonderfully informative website Tracks in Time, which provides full detailed directions that you can simply print out and take with you.

The guides include a wealth of interesting information about the interesting sights that can be seen on the walk, including little bits of history about the villages, churches and houses that you pass. Often it is information like this that really makes a walk. The trails are great for learning about local heritage and discovering more about Leeds and its surroundings, and include short, easy ones, as well as longer hikes, so whether it’s a pleasant stroll you want, or something a bit more challenging you’ll find it here.

Here is a taster of what’s on offer:

Armley/Bramley Walk

This is a circular walk taking you through scenic woodland from Houghley Gill to Hill Top, Bramley, giving you some fine views of Leeds city centre, and of Kirkstall Abbey. This is a nice easy trail that won’t exhaust you, and when you’ve completed it you might round it off with a visit to The Old Unicorn, a Timothy Taylor’s pub with real ale, highly rated home cooked food and a pleasant beer garden.

Distance: 3 miles

Holbeck/Beeston Walk

If you fancy an even shorter walk then try the Holbeck/Beeston Trail at 1.5 miles, which takes you on a circular trail that starts and ends at the main entrance to Cross Flatts Park on Beeston Road following the tithe boundary through the park. After doing the walk you can nip down the road to the White Rose Shopping Centre where you will find plenty of places doing good coffee, juice, pastries, sturdy sandwiches, and plenty of value-for-money meals.

Distance: 1.5 miles

Headingley/Armley/Bramley Walk

This longer trail starts at the Kirkstall Leisure Complex and takes you past the Armley Mills to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, passing a Victorian folly, through woods, over stiles and through ginnels, before eventually winding back to the starting point. Starting and ending at the leisure complex gives you plenty of choice for drinks, snacks and meals, and you could even round off the day with a trip to the cinema, to make the whole day a real treat. For these walks you should wear boots or strong shoes, and don’t forget to take a waterproof, knowing how rapidly the British weather can change.

Distance: 4 miles

Find our more about Leeds walks on the Tracks in Time website.

Something more serious

However if gentle walks sound a bit tame to you, you might be yearning for a more serious form of exercise, and you will certainly find it with British Military Fitness who run classes in Horsforth Hall Park, Roundhay Park and Wellington Place. These classes are run by people who are serving or former members of the armed forces and, fear not, there are classes for all abilities, whether you are looking to lose a bit of weight and need to get a bit more fit, or whether you are already a pretty athletic type who needs to keep in practice and find new challenges.

The main point is that these classes will get you fit and moving about along with other people who share your goals, pushing you on to a higher level of fitness wherever your current level may be. Most people find that training in a group with instructors is more motivating than just following your own exercise routine alone, so BMF provide the chance to do this.

So whether it is gentle walks or serious training that you are after, in and around Leeds you can find some exercise to suit your taste and get you ready for the summer.

Rate this guide

This guide was syndicated from My Life in Leeds where you will find more Leeds Travel Guides like this.

Our guide to healthy Leeds walks for all