With past headliners including Eminem and Radiohead, Leeds Festival is one of the UK’s biggest live events and a must-visit for music lovers. With our handy things to do in Leeds guide will help you get the most out of this vibrant city even after the event. Best of all, if camping isn’t for you, you can enjoy all the best live performances and a super comfy bed and power shower thanks to our Leeds Festival hotels.
Leeds Festival
York South West
Leeds East
York North West
Leeds City Centre (Leeds Arena)
Harrogate South
York City (Blossom St North)
Looking for places to stay near Leeds Festival? We’ve got you covered! Some of the closest hotels to Leeds Festival include our Premier Inn York South West hotel and our Premier Inn Leeds East hotel, both a 20-minute drive away. Just a little further out, you’ll find our Premier Inn York North West hotel, our Premier Inn Leeds City Centre (Leeds Arena) hotel, our Premier Inn Harrogate South hotel and our Premier Inn York City (Blossom St North) hotel – all roughly a 30-minute drive away from Leeds Festival.
Super-comfy beds aren’t the only treats awaiting festival goers either. Thanks to our on-site restaurants in Leeds, you won’t have to miss out on mouth-watering meals and refreshing drinks over the festival weekend! Come and join us at the Millfield Beefeater, The Park Table Table and the Longboat Table Table – or one of our on-site Thyme restaurants – for delicious dinners and our famous all you can eat breakfasts in Leeds.
History of Leeds Festival
Leeds Festival dates back to 1999 and featured a star-studded line-up that included Red Hot Chili Peppers, Charlatans and Blur. Back then, a ticket for the three-day event would have cost just £80! The festival originally took place at Temple Newsam but moved to Bramham Park in 2003.
Leeds and Reading are paired festivals, sharing the same lineup over two locations across a bank holiday weekend in August. The main stage hosts big acts spanning rock, indie, metal, dance and hip-hop, while the second stage – often hosted by NME or Radio 1 – hosts up-and-coming names who will most likely be on the main stage in the next few years. There’s also a dance tent hosting DJs and live acts! You’ll find plenty of pop-up bars and food trucks on the site too providing everything from fish and chips to freshly made doughnuts.
Four things to know about Leeds Festival
Leeds Festival dates
Dates: 27th - 30th August
Leeds Festival lineup: Leeds Festival lineup is shared with Reading Festival – same performers, different days!
Getting to Leeds Festival
After you’ve bought your Leeds Festival tickets, the next step is planning how to get to Bramham Park. Leeds train station is the closest major station, which is around a 30-minute drive from the event. Big Green Coach is the official travel partner of Reading and Leeds Festivals and you’ll find pick up locations across the UK. There’s also a shuttle bus service from Leeds station!
Duration of Leeds Festival
Leeds Festival runs from Wednesday to Sunday August, so you can look forward to five days’ worth of live music this summer. Or, why not opt for a Leeds Festival day ticket?
Size of Leeds Festival
Leeds Festival is slightly smaller than Reading Festival, but still one of the biggest music festivals in the UK – hence why Leeds tickets get snapped up so quickly! Around 80,000 music lovers flocking to Bramham Park each year to watch some of the biggest names in music perform.
Leeds Festival FAQs
How much does it cost to go to Leeds Festival?
Weekend tickets for Leeds Festival cost roughly £300 – prices will vary depending on package, and don’t forget to factor in your travel costs. Leeds festival offers different camping options including standard camping, an eco-campsite, a quiet campsite and more. If you’re not a keen camper, book a room at one of our Leeds hotels instead!
Does Leeds Festival sell day tickets?
Yes! You can get day tickets for Leeds Festival this summer, ideal if you love the look of one line up in particular on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Day tickets cost around £125, so it’s a great way to experience the festival for less!
Where to stay for Leeds Festival?
Book rooms at one of our hotels in Leeds to enjoy all of the magic of the Leeds lineup with none of the festival fuss! Just a 20-minute drive from the main stages, you’ll find our Premier Inn York South West hotel and our Premier Inn Leeds East hotel, and a 30-minute drive away from Bramham Park, you’ll find our Premier Inn York North West hotel, our Premier Inn Leeds City Centre (Leeds Arena) hotel, our Premier Inn Harrogate South hotel and our Premier Inn York City (Blossom St North) hotel.
Where is Leeds Festival held?
The festival takes place in Bramham Park near Bowcliffe Hall – one of the top places to visit in Leeds. The venue is just a 15-minute drive from Garforth train station and a 30-minute drive from the main Leeds train station. Make the most out of your trip by enjoying other great things to do in Leeds, including top activities like walking tours and go karting.