The Guide
However long you have to spend experiencing life in the urban village, here’s a guide to making the most of your time here and the hospitality on offer.
From one to twenty-four hours and longer, follow our tips to uncovering some of the best-kept secret spots in Leeds.
Short and sweet : One hour
If you only have a short time to spend exploring the area there are a number of green spaces springing up for you to find a spot to make the most of the summer sun. The new grass corner at Out of the Woods provides an excellent place to enjoy a healthy, fresh-made smoothie and indulge in one of the delicious cup cakes, that this young, friendly juice bar has become famed for.
And for the shop-a-holic, Out of the Woods also offer a rolling programme of small-scale exhibitions including various individual pieces from local artists. You can buy anything from mugs and jewellery to framed prints and original canvas art, while you wait for your coffee and cake.
Or alternatively pick out one of the brightly coloured deck chairs and enjoy a shady spot under the bright, orange tree of Wonderwood, a pop-up art+park at the heart of the Round Foundry. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes to quench your thirst while you enjoy the view from this vantage point, ideal for people-watching.
Day tripper: Twenty-four hours
If you’re fortunate enough to have a whole day to spare you can start your day with a full English breakfast from old-school favourite David Street Cafe. After more than 20 years serving the workers and residents of Holbeck, David Street Cafe has established itself as a firm favourite for the office crowd, construction workers and residents alike, serving everything from bacon butties to pie and peas, and nostalgic school-dinner puddings.
Work off your breakfast by exploring some of the area’s hidden cultural gems. Start with one of Leeds’ most treasured hidden gems, Temple Works. A homage to the beautiful architecture of the pyramids, this spectacular building dates back to 1860 with its own eccentric tale of sheep grazing on the roof and industrial espionage.
Temple Works is the only Grade I listed building in Leeds and owners, SJS, have thrown open the doors to the creative and cultural set offering a range of exhibitions, workshops, events and a place to gather and share ideas. The re-formed Leeds Savages, a collective of artists, writers, and sketchers, have claimed Temple Works as their base alongside a number of artists and writers in residence.
A few streets over at Saw Mill Yard, visual art commissioning agency Pavilion, have a small gallery running national exhibitions and art walks throughout the year. Housed in a secluded courtyard, Pavilion is one of a select handful of venues offering Arts Council England’s Own Art scheme providing grants for the purchase of original artworks.
If you are still hungry for more culture a short walk along the canal is Project Space Leeds (PSL), an independent artist-led gallery. Staging exhibitions of modern and contemporary art across all art forms, PSL has shown work by artists from the UK and abroad, including an exclusive exhibition of Hans Peter Kuhn’s previous works ahead of the Leeds ‘Light’ Neville Street project.
After working up an appetite pick from one of the many independent food and drink retailers on the south side of the city. Choose from Engine House Cafe offering sophisticated dining and home-made cakes, or a few streets away Pickled Pepper offers a deli-style range of salads and sandwiches, both of which have ample outdoor seating areas.
If your day trip happens to fall on the last Saturday of the month you can spend the afternoon exploring Leeds’ newest market at Granary Wharf. The pannier markets are fast establishing themselves as a ‘must-do’ on the Leeds social calendar featuring everything from arts, crafts, clothing, and food, all from individual retailers and artists.
If you still have room for food enjoy an evening of fine dining at The Foundry restaurant and wine bar, winner in the ‘Best of British’ category in the annual Oliver Awards 2009. The Foundry is well-known across the region for offering great service and a welcoming atmosphere alongside the finest quality ingredients.
Finish off the day with a night cap at one of the urban village’s growing collection of bars from the Leeds Brewery owned and managed Midnight Bell, to The Cross Keys from the same family as Leeds favourites North Bar and The Reliance, or new-comer Ossett Brewery’s The Hop, before turning in for the night at City Inn, Leeds’ newest luxury hotel.
Fancy a more permanent residence?
If your visit leaves you wanting to find out more about Holbeck Urban Village keep checking our news and events sections for more details of festivals and events from Holbeck Gala to open-days at Shafton Lane Allotments and quiz nights.
Or if you’re looking for a more permanent stay explore our developments section to find out what’s on offer in the area.
