As a city, Leeds is a jewel in the crown of the north of England with plenty of attractions, activities and things for students to do.
With SAE launching its courses in a new Leeds campus in September 2025, we’ve compiled our latest guide on some of the best things to enjoy while living in the city.
Check out our essential list below – and if you’d like to find out more or join a course at our new campus, contact our team now.
Bands and artists
From Scritti Politti to the Kaiser Chiefs via 2024 Mercury Prize winners English Teacher (pictured above, photo from Facebook), Leeds has long been a breeding ground for many of the UK’s best artists.
Whether it be synth pop in the form of Soft Cell or goth guitar via the Sisters of Mercy, there’s never been one defining sound to the city. Instead, it’s known for its rich variety and sonic diversity.
It’s also affiliated with music producers too, including Neil Ferguson who worked with anarcho hit makers Chumbawamba and George Evelyn, aka, DJ E.A.S.E. The brains behind Nightmares on Wax, he helped define a genre in the form of ambient and downtempo music. Neil Ferguson has the honour of being the co-producer of eighties band Black Lace’s hit, Agadoo.
Live music and nightlife
Alongside bands and artists, there’s also a thriving network of small venues and nightclubs ensuring Leeds is a vibrant city to enjoy after dark.
If you’re a fan of live music, then the Brudenell Social Club is a must-visit, having been an essential stop for touring bands and a vital stage for local talent for more than 100 years. Other notable venues include the Wardrobe for a more intimate space all the way up to the First Direct Arena for your stadium-filling groups and acts
Do you love electronic music and DJs? Then, Leeds is also a fantastic spot for clubs with a richly revered nightlife. The legendary Back to Basics night has been a must-visit since the heyday of acid house and is still going strong over 30 years later.
Other notable venues in the city include The HiFi Club and Mint Club.
Leeds Corn Exchange
Leeds Corn Exchange opened in 1863 and is home to a host of independent boutiques and cafes alongside being one of the most recognisable buildings amid Leeds’ urban landscape.
Conceived by the legendary Victorian architect Cuthbert Brodrick, who developed the Corn Exchange between 1861 and 1863, it came about a decade after he completed the Leeds Town Hall.
Open throughout the week, there’s always something going on alongside the array of indie shops – art shows, champion boxing, rum festivals, record fairs and more.
As the Corn Exchange’s website says: “We’re the city’s cultural megaphone, and its meeting space. A host for events throughout the year, and a gallery for art that reconnects visitors with our city, its beauty, its past and present.”
Food and drink
There’s plenty to consume in Leeds, including delicious food and drink from around the world.
Some current highlights include the street food of Kirkgate Market and its abundance of independent restaurants with hundreds of different stalls offering all kinds of mouth-watering produce.
White Cloth Hall is a new addition to the food scene, dishing up plenty of global flavours and tipples including Salma’s Mexican street food and Field & Fawcett‘s organic wine.
For drinks, Whitelock’s Ale House is the oldest pub in the city with pints having been poured at this location for 300 years.
You also shouldn’t miss the Dry Dock. It’s literally a boat ‘anchored’ on the grass near Woodhouse Lane and is an essential visit for any student new to the city.
DIY grassroots scene
From Cosmic Slop to Mabgate Bleach, Leeds has a number of DIY collectives and grassroots organisations doing their bit to push culture and connect like-minded individuals who want a sense of community purpose to their musical adventures.
Cosmic Slop is the party of the MAP charity, an initiative launched to help young people unable to access mainstream education get into music and music production. The founders just so happen to be close friends with Four Tet and Floating Points who regularly arrive unannounced and play at their parties.
Wharf Chambers is located in the centre of Leeds and is a bar and multi-use venue run by a workers’ co-op in partnership with a members’ club.
Culture and Art
Culture vultures will find plenty to enjoy in Leeds, whether it be art, galleries, sculpture or cinema.
The Henry Moore Institute on the Headrow is one of the best sculpture galleries in the world and was launched in 1980 to celebrate the visual arts.
There are different galleries, an archive and library – and the institute is paired with the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, an impressive outside attraction in Bretton Hall estate in West Yorkshire. It showcases the work of many world-renowned artists including Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.
The Hyde Park Picture House is one of the oldest cinemas in the UK and believed to be one of the only gas-lit venues of its kind. Art-house, indie and world cinema films all vie for attention here.
If opera or theatrical productions are more your thing, then the Leeds Grand Theatre is a prestigious and important stage. It’s a home for work from Opera North and Northern Ballet which both offer a rich variety of classical and avant garde performances.
Festivals
The Leeds Festival is one of the biggest events in the calendar for the UK music industry. Paired with its sister event in Reading, the weekend features many of the world’s biggest artists across an array of styles and genres.
The 2024 edition saw the likes of Lana Del Rey, Fred Again, Liam Gallagher and Blink 182 all headline while a host of other stages welcomed new and emerging acts.
Although the Leeds Festival is the big one, there are also other events for students to enjoy. The Yorkshire Games Festival is a two-week event at the National Science and Media Museum that includes a conference and interactive sessions.
The Leeds Film Festival and Leeds International Film Festival both celebrate independent cinema while Live at Leeds offers musical celebrations focused on emerging as well as established acts with events in the park and city centre.
Green Spaces
Covering over 700 acres of parkland, lakes and woodland, Roundhay Park is a fantastic space for anyone looking to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and immerse themselves in nature.
From picture perfect gardens to sports pitches, a golf course, and even a skate park. Roundhay is a fantastic place to pause and take a breather.
Potternewton Park is another great spot and the starting point for the famous Leeds West Indian Carnival. The Leeds Liverpool Canal path is also fantastic for keen cyclists and runners.
The Yorkshire Dales
If you’re looking for more experiences in the great outdoors, then a big bonus of studying in Leeds is its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales.
There are plenty of scenic, rolling green hills, and walks of all kinds within easy reach of the city, making it a great day out.
Some of close attractions include the Dales, North York Moors, Swaledale, Robin Hood’s Bay, Fountains Abbey, and Bolton Abbey. These are all among the reasons why Yorkshire is nicknamed ‘God’s Own Country’.
Market towns such as Grassington and Helmsley are also close by and offer historical and picturesque settings for visitors to enjoy.
Sports in Leeds
If you’re a sports fan, then you will be spoilt for choice in Leeds with the city boasting many fantastic teams.
Leeds United Football Club is one of the longest established teams in the country, with its stadium a short bus ride from the city centre at Elland Road.
Headingley Cricket Ground is the home of country and international cricket in the country. It regularly plays host to international test matches and Twenty20 games.
Leeds also has a rugby league team Leeds Rhinos, whose home ground is also in Headingley and a rugby union club, Leeds Tykes.
STUDY AT SAE
Whether you want to work in Film Production, Audio Production or more, there are many different opportunities to elevate your career in the creative industries at SAE Leeds.
Our degrees will provide you with the skills, experience and knowledge to succeed at the highest level.
