Known for its shopping, culture and nightlife, there’s loads to tempt you to lively Leeds. But there’s more to the city than malls and museums. From high-ropes courses to mountain biking, there’s plenty of thrilling adventures to be had in the great outdoors. And there’s no need to let a little bit of rain spoil your fun either, with activities such as indoor go-karting and skateboarding to try. If that all sounds a bit too exhausting, why not get better acquainted with the city on a walking tour? And, with not one, but eight Premier Inn hotels in Leeds you’ll be able to enjoy your activity safe in the knowledge that there’s a comfortable bed waiting when you need to have a breather.
Activities in Leeds
Where to go
When you’ve had your fill of sightseeing at one of Leeds’ top attractions, you might be hankering for something a little more active to get your teeth into. And when it comes to outdoor adventures, Leeds doesn’t disappoint.
One of the UK’s finest country houses, Temple Newsam is surrounded by acres of beautiful parkland - and it’s here you’ll find one of the city’s most adventurous attractions. Go Ape is a network of obstacles, bridges and zip-wires set in the forest canopy, a heart-stopping 15-feet above ground. It offers three different courses, ranging from beginner to thrill-seeker - with 1,080 metres of course to explore. There’s a Premier Inn hotel near Temple Newsam, too.
Test your sense of adventure to the max at the West Leeds Activity Centre. Just a few miles from the city centre, it has so many options designed to bring out your inner Indiana Jones. You can go abseiling, take a leap of faith off a 20-foot pole or try out some survival and bushcraft techniques. There’s also go-karting, motorbiking, archery and assault courses.
Competitive, physical and fun (and far less painful than paintball) Battlefield Leeds pits family and friends against each other in a laser war like no other. Outdoors and with state-of-the-art weapons, it feels like you’re really in a combat situation as you take cover behind a tree. Perfect for hen and stag dos, it’s also family friendly and kids aged seven plus can play.
Just because it’s raining outside, it doesn’t mean you can’t have an action-packed day in Leeds. From skate parks to swimming pools, these activities are fun - no anorak required.
Rain never stops play at The Works indoor skatepark on Kitson Road. There are sessions to suit everyone from newbies to wannabe Tony Hawks, and full instruction is given to help you find your skating legs. It’s not just skateboarding on offer, either. You can take to the ramps on a BMX, rollerblades or scooters.
Put pedal to the metal at Team Sport indoor go-karting track, just a few minutes’ from the city centre. The longest track in Yorkshire, the tunnels, bridges and hair-pin bends on offer will test your driving skills, while friendly staff are on-hand to help you knock a few seconds off your lap time.
Soak up some history along with your chlorine at the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Bramley Baths. You won’t see a finer example of an Edwardian bath house still being used as a swimming pool - it even has the traditional poolside changing rooms. Handy if you’re staying at our Premier Inn Leeds Headingley hotel, there’s also a gym and steam room to complete your healthy day out.
Temple Newsam
Team Sport
Leeds Walking Tours
Tours and trails
With such a compact city centre, exploring on foot is a perfect way to see the sights. There are walking tours available, but if you wish to go it alone, pick up a free map at Trinity Leeds, or just look at the street maps dotted around the city centre.
Explore the city’s former slums, uncover local folklore and maybe meet a ghost or two with a walking tour from Leeds legend, Kenneth Goor. He’s been a guide for decades, and now offers 21 different tours around the city, some of them to hidden haunts that even the locals don’t know exist!
Combine your love of culture with a passion for walking, by taking a Leeds Art Walk. Organised by local visual arts group Pavilion, it takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. Expect to see great public art, stop off at small galleries or even take in some exhibitions as you stroll.
You only have to take one look at the popularity of events such as the Tour de Yorkshire to see how important cycling is to Leeds. The city is bike mad and if that makes it sound like your kind of place, you’ll be pleased to hear that all of our Leeds hotels are bike-friendly, too.
Cycling’s always more fun when you’re whizzing along a riverbank, so take the 17-mile route along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal. You’ll pedal from Leeds to Bingley on a route that takes you past some great sights, from the Leeds Industrial Museum to Kirkstall Abbey. Feeling tired? You can get the train from Bingley back to your Leeds hotel.
Just north of Leeds you’ll find Harewood House, and its countryside trails are a cyclist’s dream. There are a couple of routes around the house itself, but you can also venture into the surrounding grounds of the estate. Our Premier Inn hotel near Harewood House makes a great base for all your two-wheeled exploring, too.