Days Out - things to do and events in Leeds

Getaway Hebden Bridge

Get yourself down to the Calder Valley

The Calder Valley has it all: dramatic scenery with glorious walks; quaint yet distinctively northern towns; stunning, renovated mill buildings celebrating both the region’s industrial past and its cultural present. Leeds to Hebden Bridge on the train is an absolute treat. Sweeping through the valley past Bradford and Halifax you are propelled out into the bleak beauty of the Yorkshire Moors, the inspiration for the craggy verse of Ted Hughes. Hughes was born in Mytholmroyd, a no-nonsense, unpretentious town that is a world away from Hebden Bridge, the next stop on the line.

Hebden Bridge is Yorkshire with a twist.…

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Getaway Bolton Abbey

Visit a stunning abbey just north of Leeds

Only 20 miles outside Leeds, a visit to Bolton Abbey on the banks of the river Wharfe fills you with a sense of calm that makes it easy to leave the stresses of city life far behind. On a day trip to the Abbey, the most stressful decision you’ll have to make is when you will stop for a cup of tea.

Exploring the Abbey itself is a good way to start your visit. The 12th century priory was home to the Augustinian canons and when the roof was removed and it was left to ruin, the stone was pillaged…

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Getaway Skipton

Your Gateway to the Dales comes in the fitting form of 'Sheep Town'. Ewe will not be disappointed

Skipton resides just outside the periphery of Yorkshire Dales National Park, in the river Aire gap which divides the dales to the north, the moors to the south, and the Ribble valley to the west. For this reason it is known as the ‘Gateway to the Dales’. The market town takes its name from the Saxon word ‘skip’, meaning ‘sheep’, so its literal translation is ‘sheep town’. It was founded by sheep farmers purportedly in the 7th century, before the de Romille family were granted the settlement in 1066. They then built the fortress castle that attracts so much tourism…

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Getaway Ilkley

Darwin; a literature festival; Roman baths; a symphony orchestra. This modest town has little to be modest about

Nestling at the Yorkshire Dales’ southern edge, in Lower Wharfedale, is the picturesque town of Ilkley. Surrounded for miles by breathtaking untouched scenery, in the vicinity are Ilkley Moor and the renowned Cow and Calf rocks, a spot popular with ramblers for its particularly stunning views.

White Wells Spa Cottage, an attractive and rather Mediterranean-looking whitewashed building, also sits on Ilkley Moor. People have been ‘plunging’ in its bath to the rear of the building since 1703, believing it to be capable of curing an assortment of ailments. It is especially popular on New Year’s Day, when plungers presumably wish…

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Getaway Saltaire

See the World Heritage Site in all its industrial, artistic, brewing, architectural glory

It does well, that River Aire. You could lose count of the number of towns it pops up in to boast being one of its attractions. Saltaire, near Bradford, is another of the Aire’s conquests-it even managed to get its name into this one, sharing the honour with the village’s founder. The village does have plenty more to offer besides water though, and that’s why in 2001 it was appointed as a World Heritage Site.

Salts Mill is its most prominent draw, opened in 1853 by Sir Titus Salt on his 50th birthday. Salt was a woolstapler who learned all…

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Feature Something For The Weekend

Your guide for weekend activities in and around Leeds

It’s easy to slip into the same routine after a hard week at work: pub on Friday night, hungover on Saturday then before you know it, Sunday’s come and gone and its back to work again. Try one of our ideas to spice up your weekend with a little culture or activity, whether you want to stay in Leeds or travel further afield.

In Leeds
Roundhay Park & Tropical World
The park includes Canal gardens, the Monet and Alhambra gardens, the Friends garden, national plant collections and scented gardens for the blind. There are facilities for tennis, bowling,…

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Review Cosmopolitan Hotel

Sophie Haydock checks out the Leeds city centre hotel

The Cosmopolitan Hotel, in the heart of Leeds city centre, is perfectly positioned for visitors to the city who may want to experience Leeds’ nightlife. There are several (trendy) bars nearby on Call Lane, including Revolution, Arts Cafe, Oporto and Norman’s. Its central location also makes it perfect for those preferring a more-cultured evening at the West Yorkshire Playhouse or Opera North.

For over 100 years, the Cosmopolitan was better known as the Golden Lion - one of the oldest hotels in Leeds. But in June 2009, it completed a £1.5m refurbishment and changed the name. “We wanted something that…

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Getaway Knaresborough

Slow life down a notch and savour the tranquillity of Yorkshire's quaint riverside market town

It’s thought that the ancient town of Knaresborough could date back as far as Roman times. Though its exact origins are indefinite, it is clear on sight that the place is steeped in history. Ancient walkways, authentic cobbled alleys and well-preserved secret passages are just a few of the components which make up the character of this pretty area.

The River Nidd surrounds Knaresborough and offers boating facilities, or the serene riverside walks come for free. The town also benefits from England’s oldest attraction, Mother Shipton’s Cave, which was the birthplace of its namesake, a renowned 15th century prophetess.…

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Profile Royal Armouries Museum

Take in some history with jousting knights, falconry displays, and the UK collection of all things warfare

The Royal Armouries Museum is conveniently located in Leeds’ central Clarence Dock development. A grand and imposing building which denotes the importance of its function, the site is the national home to the UK’s collection of arms, armour and artillery. Over 70,000 pieces reside there, as well as collected works of art and a library full of historical materials.

The museum boasts 5 galleries, with the themes ‘War’, ‘Tournament’, ‘Oriental’, ‘Self Defence’ and ‘Hunting’. The Craft Court hosts the Gunmaker, Armourer’s Workshop and Wardrobe. The Hall of Steel has a mass display of over 2,500 objects.

Daily performances of script…

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Getaway Harewood House

See the renowned stately home of Earl Harewood in all its natural beauty

If you’re someone who seeks a day out away from the rat race every so often, in tranquil surroundings ideal for beating away life’s strains, then Harewood House is for you. Home of the Earl and Countess of Harewood, the impressive 18th-century building boasts lavish decor, beautiful furniture and a collection of paintings which make for an attraction in their own right.

The house is still a home today, to the 7th Earl, who is cousin to the Queen, and Countess. They maintain the style in which the house was built, and stay faithful to the family traditions. Their set…

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