Leeds is located in the valley of the Aire River and is considered to be one of the largest English cities. Its main feature is a developed industry. In addition, a fairly ordinary destination keeps a large number of places that will be interesting for travelers. Are you among them? Then it would be a great idea to hire a car and have an incredible road journey.
Leeds is an outstanding starting point. You can book a car from Sixt in Leeds online, and then pick it up at a place convenient for you. Well, now let’s consider where to go in the vicinity of the city and what to see…
Harewood House
Harewood House is a palace built in the 18th century, and now it houses the museum of the same name. This attraction is a must-see for those who want to see everything at once – in Harewood House you will see an impressive collection of paintings by British artists, walk through the interiors of the real palace, and then enjoy the silence and beauty of local gardens.
Address: Harewood, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS17 9LG, United Kingdom
Working hours: daily 10am-6pm
Admission: adults – £ 14, children and students – £ 7
Roundhay Park
This is one of the most amazing parks in all of the UK. It’s situated about 5 miles away from the city center, so it will take about 15 minutes to reach it by car hire. The impressive territory of the park includes about 3 square miles. A patch of forest, flower beds, striking plantings coexist with a part of the animal world full of reptiles, marine life, and butterflies.
Surprisingly, there’s a Garden for the Blind on its territory, with specialized scented walkways and instructions in Braille. The artificial ruins of the castle gates give the park an atmosphere of mystery and romance – this is another thing that delights visitors.
Address: Roundhay Park, Princes Ave, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 1DF, United Kingdom
Opening hours: summer period 10am-6pm; winter period 10am-4pm
Admission: adults – £ 3.4, children (5-16 years old) – £ 2.3
Royal Armories
This is the oldest British museum, and one of the oldest museums in the world. There you will find an impressive collection of weapons and armor collected by the kings of England since the 11th century. It includes more than 8,500 items that were transported to Leeds from the UK capital in 1996.
This is an amazing place, because weapons of all eras and countries are stored there. In addition, the armory cooperates with the police and sets the task of education and organization.
Address: Armories Dr, Leeds LS10 1LT, United Kingdom
Working hours: daily 10am-5pm
Admission: Free of charge
Kirkstall Abbey
Generally, Kirkstall Abbey is the ruins of a Cistercian monastery dating back to the middle Ages. The abbey was founded in 1152, which includes three transepts with 3 chapels separated by thick walls. During the reign of Henry VIII, the abbey was closed, because all the monasteries began to dissolve.
Closer to the 18th century, only ruins remained from the buildings, but they are quite picturesque and attractive for romantic artists today. The ruins are located in a public park, and this is a very popular place among travelers. Moreover, it hosts the annual Leeds Shakespeare Festival.
Address: Abbey Rd, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3EH, United Kingdom
Working hours: daily 10am-4pm
Admission: Free of charge
Leeds Art Gallery
Pick up your hire car and set off to the Leeds Art Gallery. It keeps the finest collection of 20th century British paintings outside London. The permanent exhibition includes works by such famous artists as: Rodin, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Jacob Kramer and others.
The gallery constantly hosts sculpture, photography and contemporary art exhibitions. So, it will be a great place to just take a walk and also to increase your knowledge of the art.
Address: The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 3AA, United Kingdom
Working hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 10: 00-17: 00; Wed 12: 00-17: 00; Sun 13: 00-17: 00
Admission: Free of charge