Things to do in Leeds today and this weekend

Start at Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds Town Hall on The Headrow, and take the few minutes to Leeds City Museum in Millennium Square. Walk down Briggate to the Corn Exchange on Call Lane, continue south to the River Aire and follow it east through the Calls to the Royal Armouries at Leeds Dock. In the evening there is theatre at the Grand Theatre on New Briggate, or a gig at the Brudenell Social Club in Hyde Park.

Go indoors: the Royal Armouries, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Museum are free to enter, and the Corn Exchange has independent shops under its dome. Hyde Park Picture House shows films in a cinema with gas lighting. The rainy-day page lists what is indoors, with what is on there next.

The Royal Armouries, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Museum cost nothing to enter (some extra attractions and special exhibitions are charged). Roundhay Park is free to enter, and so are walks by the River Aire. The free page lists the events of the next 30 days that cost nothing.

Roundhay Park is free to enter, with lakes and woodland to walk around, and Tropical World there charges admission. The Royal Armouries is free and has a jousting arena beside the river, and Leeds City Museum is free too.

Leeds Christmas Markets run from 19 November to 23 December 2026: stalls and street food in City Square, and market cabins, bars, a carousel, a big wheel and an ice rink at Millennium Square and Victoria Gardens.

The year has Light Night Leeds in October and the Leeds International Film Festival from late October into November, then the Christmas Markets. In spring come the Leeds Song Festival and, on the late May weekend, Slam Dunk at Temple Newsam. Summer has Leeds Pride, Leeds Festival at Bramham Park and Leeds West Indian Carnival on the August bank holiday Monday, and in September every third year the Leeds International Piano Competition. The year page has the dates.

Hyde Park for the Brudenell Social Club and the Picture House, Call Lane and the Calls for bars and clubs, Briggate and Swan Street for the Grand Theatre and City Varieties, and the Arena Quarter for big gigs. The going-out page lists each night of the week.

The First Direct Bank Arena for the biggest tours, the Brudenell Social Club for guitar bands, City Varieties for smaller shows, and Leeds Town Hall for concerts. In summer there is Leeds Festival at Bramham Park.