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Leeds/South

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South Leeds is the southern portion of the city of Leeds, with the river Aire to the north-east, the city centre, docks and Holbeck to the north, the M621 to the west and M62 to the south. Though much of it is characterized by deprivation, there are still many attractions, areas of historic interest and characterful districts. The principal areas of South Leeds include:

  • Hunslet - former industrial district starting to be redeveloped.
  • Belle Isle - known for the Belle Isle Circus, a large roundabout.
  • Stourton - home to Thwaite Mills
  • Middleton - a pretty former mining village, home to the oldest railway in the world.
  • Rothwell - attractive and busy centre of south-east Leeds
  • Holbeck - a former factory town, now home to Holbeck Urban Village, a series of high-rise flats.
  • Beeston - infamous for the 'Beeston Bombers', this lively, large and multicultural area is one of South Leeds' key centres
  • Morley - attractive market town with impressive Town Hall now part of the Leeds urban area
  • Cottingley - home to the massive White Rose Shopping Centre

Get in

By bus

First runs most of the bus services within Leeds. If you are making more than a couple of short bus trips, the best option is to buy a "FirstDay" day ticket for £4.00 (M-F before 9:30AM) or £3.20 (other times), which allows unlimited travel on First Bus routes within West Yorkshire all day.

Useful bus routes for visitors include the following:

  • 1 - Holt Park (North West Leeds) - Headingley - Universities - City centre - Beeston (south Leeds)
  • 2 - Roundhay Park - Moortown - Chapel Allerton - City Centre - Middleton
  • 51/55 Morley - Elland Road (Leeds United football ground) - City Centre - Meanwood - Moor Allerton Shopping Centre

See

  • 🌍 Middleton Railway, Moor Road, Hunslet, LS10 2JQ, ☏ +44 845 680 1758, . regular trains on W (school holidays) Sa Su between 11AM and 4PM. A one mile long heritage railway which runs steam and diesel trains.. It was founded in 1758 to carry coal using horse-drawn waggons on wooden rails, and is the world's oldest continuously working public railway. In 1812 they started using steam trains on iron rails, and became a volunteer run heritage railway in 1960. adult £6, family £16. (updated Jul 2018)
  • 🌍 Middleton Park. Public part, lake and ancient woodland. (updated Mar 2017)
  • 🌍 Leeds Dock (Clarence Dock), river area. This interesting development of cafés, restaurants, shops and apartments was completed during 2008. Home to Royal Armouries Museum. (updated Nov 2015)
  • 🌍 The Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, river area (Clarence Dock). Daily 10AM-5PM. National museum of all things deadly, from swords and guns to armoury and pikes, now famous for its regular live jousting. Contains rare armour belonging to King Henry VIII and Emperor Maxmillian, and a diverse arsenal from the Royal collection, sourced from as far away as Japan, India and America. Features rare experimental pistols, and weaponry from many of the world's conflicts; including the only surviving elephant armour in the world. free. (updated Mar 2016)
  • 🌍 Salem Chapel (Salem United Reform Church), Salem Place, Hunslet Road (just through the gates of the Tetley Brewery, next to the Adelphi pub). Interesting and unique chapel. Also the place where Leeds United football club was founded, replacing the old bankrupt Leeds City football club. In 2011 it was bought by a huge telecommunications company as a head office. 
  • 🌍 The Tetley Gallery. M-Sa 11AM-6PM, Su 11AM-4PM. Modern art gallery in the Art Deco former Tetley Brewery. Has an archive of brewery history. Free. (updated Mar 2016)
  • 🌍 Thwaite Watermill, Thwaite Lane, Stourton LS10 1RP, ☏ +44 113 378-2983. Sa Su noon-4PM. The River Aire can power mills but is not navigable, so the Leeds-Liverpool Canal was cut alongside and created a long ribbon of island. Thwaite Mill, built 1820, was perched on the island, with gated bridges to control who went in and out. It had various uses but mostly crushed stone to make builders' putty. Many similar businesses were on the island, which stretches for miles down to Oulton, and is now a quiet footpath. Adult £4.75, child £2.65. (updated Jun 2021)

Do

  • Football: 🌍 Leeds United, Elland Road LS11 0ES, ☏ +44 871 334 1919. They were relegated in 2023 and now play soccer in the Championship, England's second tier. Elland Road Stadium (capacity 37,600) is two miles southwest of city centre - buses 51, 52, 54 and 55 run here. Driving, follow signs for "Park & Ride", which is how the area is used on non-match days. In 2022 the stadium hosted matches in the Rugby League World Cup Finals, postponed from 2021. (updated May 2023)
  • Planet Ice is a public skating rink on Elland Rd west side of the football stadium.
  • Ice hockey: Leeds Knights play at Planet Ice in the National League, England's second tier. The playing season is Sep-Mar.
  • 🌍 John Charles Centre for Sport, ☏ +44 113 378-8000. International standard facilities for all four jumping disciplines: triple jump, long jump, high jump and pole vault. As well as an area for javelin throwing, an indoor throwing cage is available for discus and hammer. The centre also has its own specific weights area, designed specifically for use by athletes, dedicated to high performance and strength training. An eight lane all weather outdoor athletics track conforms to full International Association of Athletics Federations specifications. Six indoor tennis courts and six outdoor floodlit courts provide the ideal tennis environment either for the complete beginner or the established player. Leeds has a 50-metre pool and diving centre. 
  • Hunslet play rugby league (13 a side) at John Charles Centre, in League One the third tier. The playing season is Feb-Sept.

Buy

Eat

Drink

  • 🌍 The Adelphi, 3-5 Hunslet Rd (Dock Street, river area), ☏ +44 113 245-6377. Great selection of British beers, interesting decorative mix of Victorian pub architecture and 1970s retro decor. A gem! Gay-friendly. Good food too (including a few veggie options) at reasonable prices. 
  • 🌍 The Oracle, 3 Brewery Pl, Brewery Wharf, ☏ +44 113 246-9912. Swanky waterfront bar has a glittering reputation founded on its outstanding cocktail and champagne menu, exclusive members bar, ultra-cool interior design, gourmet burgers, chauffeur service and lovely riverside setting. 

Sleep

Connect

Go next

Routes through South
Newcastle upon Tyne ← merges with A1(M) ←  N  S  → Wakefield (C) → Sheffield
Manchester ← Bradford ←  W  E  → Pontefract → Hull
(W) ← Central Leeds ←  NW  SE  → (S)
Central Leeds ← briefly merges with ←  N  S  → Wakefield (N)


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