10 Things to Do in Leeds Off the Beaten Track

Kirkstall Abbey is a monument to West Yorkshire's rich history, located on the north bank of the River Aire. Built in 1152, these well-preserved Cistercian ruins are among the oldest in all of England. They are so picturesque that famous painters such as Thomas Girtin and John Sell Cotman have used them as their subject.

You're free to explore this official Scheduled Ancient Monument – the nearby visitor centre makes the journey easier than ever. The best part is that access is completely free. You can even enjoy guided tours for free occasionally. There's a donation box available if you're feeling generous and want to help support the maintenance of this striking location.

If you're a fan of contemporary art, you'll find plenty of exciting pieces to see at The Tetley. Formerly known as Tetley's Brewery, this massive building has since been converted into a contemporary art gallery. Inside, you'll find art deco designs across its numerous floors, along with breathtaking pieces including paintings, sculptures and photos from all around the world. 

Access to the exhibitions is free, but that's just the beginning. The Tetley also hosts free art workshops that cover several different topics such as oil painting and sculpting. You just have to book a time and bring all the necessary supplies.

For travellers interested in learning more about history, the Leeds City Museum is a relic of history itself, with a building dating back to 1819. Inside the museum, you'll find numerous exhibits that predominantly focus on Leeds' rich history. In fact, the scale model of Quarry Hill Flats and the massive Leeds map on the floor are among the most popular features of this museum. 

You'll find a natural history gallery, a stuffed Indian tiger and archaeological items including floor mosaics dating to the 3rd century BCE and an Egyptian mummy from the 2nd millennium BCE. You can view all of this for free, as the museum has no admission fee.

The Henry Moore Foundation is dedicated to promoting the fine arts throughout England, and one of its best features is the Henry Moore Institute. At this gallery, you'll find intricately crafted sculptures from both contemporary and historical collections as well as an archive and library of sculpture and art-related works. 

Numerous events take place all year long at the institute, including seminars and lectures from renowned sculptors and artists along with special exhibitions highlighting a particular theme or artist. Access to the Henry Moore Institute is completely free, so you can enjoy its offerings without even touching your budget.

Leeds is a city that's full of incredible art, but you can see some of the best at Munro House. The building itself dates back to the 1930s and housed offices for most of its history. In modern times, however, Munro House is within Leeds' cultural centre and is home to the Leeds Art Gallery. 

This commercial art gallery features a diverse array of media including paintings, prints, sculptures, illustrations and photography. Admission won't cost you anything, but if you're looking to bring any of the pieces home, you'll have to pay for that. As a bonus, you can enjoy affordable coffee at the gallery's onsite cafe.

Crowd of Favours is a bar/restaurant known for its live musical performances, but something special happens on the last Tuesday of every month in the basement. They set up chairs and a projector screen for people to come and watch classic films of various kinds, some dating back a few years, others dating back a few decades. 

Access to this miniature cinema is free as well, so it won't cost you a thing to view your favourite films there when they're showing. The film line-up changes every month, so there's a nice variety you can enjoy the more often you attend.

Roundhay Park encompasses more than 700 acres of parkland, making it one of the biggest city parks in all of Europe. You'll find vibrant landscaped gardens, along with multiple lakes with walking trails around them. There are slightly hidden paths by the gorge if you're looking to traverse this parkland off the beaten path. 

There are even football pitches, playgrounds and a skate park if you're feeling more adventurous. You can also visit Roundhay Castle, a cheeky name for a small folly built back in 1811. Even with all of these attractions centred in the same place, access to it all is completely free.

The Eccup Reservoir offers a scenic walking path that stretches 5.2 miles around its borders. Along this path, you'll find a nice, quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city with rolling grassy hills, lush woodlands and tree-lined paths that effectively create a visually striking canopy tunnel. 

The area is also noted for being a site of special scientific interest and for having a large population of red kites, so keep that in mind if you're interested in a spot of bird-watching over the waters. Sunsets and sunrises are notably alluring in this area as well, depending on which side of the reservoir you're on. Of course, access is entirely free.

Leeds Minster is a breathtaking English Gothic-style minster that's cruciform in plan, with a massive clock and an intricately decorated interior showcasing extensive Perpendicular tracery. Thick, stained glass windows line the interior and are decorated with exquisite depictions of important religious figures. 

There are massive arches included as well alongside breathtaking Venetian mosaics. Despite its age, this church is still functional and holds regular services. As a member of the public, you can enjoy the few hours each day when Leeds Minster is open to the public. Parishioners often offer light meals and refreshments, which you can enjoy for no charge.

The Leeds Welcome Art Trail is an exciting trail of exceptional artworks that winds throughout the city showing off traditional art installations alongside some more unusual designs. Numerous local artists, sculptors and illustrators have contributed to this art trail, along with some of the best from the popular art-nouveau scene here in Britain. 

The ages of the art installations vary quite a bit as well, as you'll find recent additions from the past few years along with iconic statues that have been part of Leeds for over a century. Being a public art installation, the trail is available for you to enjoy without paying anything.