5 Fun Things To Do In Leeds At The Weekend

By Natalie Wilson

28 September 2023 - As we head into the colder months, when it comes to finding things to do at the weekend, it's not as easy as it is in the summer! If you're someone who gets bored fairly easily, then you might soon run out of things to do during the winter months. But, if you live in or near Leeds, then there are plenty of fun things you can do over the weekends, no matter the weather.

Leeds is a vibrant city that offers the best of both worlds, with close proximity to the local national parks and fun and bustling suburban areas. This means that when it comes to things to do, there is plenty to choose from and there may even be things you haven't heard of before! With that in mind, let's take a look at 5 fun things you can do in Leeds at the weekend.

Try Your Hand At Axe Throwing

For those days when the infamous Leeds rain just isn't letting up, you're going to want to find something fun you can do inside but still have fun. Leeds is home to a few different axe throwing bars, ready for you to have fun and try your hand at axe throwing! Axe throwing, as a sport, originated from Canadian lumberjacks but it is becoming increasingly popular across the world. Axe throwing offers a fun, but competitive, challenge that's different to anything else you might have previously tried!

Enjoy a Gin Tasting and Making Session

Are you bored of visiting your local, or perhaps want something a bit more exciting to do for a date activity or girl's night? There's a bar in Leeds called Liquour Studio which offers a gin and tonic tasting session where you can do and discover your new favourite gin pairing. If you're really into gin, then why not book their gin creation class, which starts with a tasting session and is then followed by a number of taste experiments which aim to teach you about the science of taste. Then, you'll move to the blending room where you'll get to mix and then create a 50cl bottle of your own gin to take home!

Stroll Through The Shopping Arcades

Leeds is home to a number of different shopping areas, all dotted around the city. There are ornate and elegant shopping arcades around the city, so whether you're looking for high street names or unique shopping boutique, you're sure to find the shopping centre for you. One of the biggest attractions of these shopping centres is how amazing they look. In almost all cases, these shopping centres are made up of either quaint and neat rows of shops, or futuristic and modern shopping centres.

For luxury shopping, head over to the Victorian Quarter, where there are stores such as Mulberry and Louis Vuitton. For your must-visit high street shopping, head to Trinity Leeds for the latest fashion and trends, with 120 stores. You mustn't miss a visit to Victoria Leeds - one of the best shopping centres in the UK - and one of Leed's newest shopping centres that underwent a £165 million makeover.

Spend A Day Visiting The Museums

The perfect rainy day activity, Leeds is home to many different museums and galleries. Just like many other northern cities, Leeds played a big part in the industrial revolution, so there is plenty of history to be found here. You can learn all about Leeds' role in the world-changing fabric and textile industry by taking a walk along the canal until you reach Leeds Industrial Museum, which is housed in one of the old mills. As well as this, be sure to head to The Royal Armouries Museum and the Leeds City Museum for a different take on Leeds' history.

In terms of art, the Leeds Art Gallery is a fantastic place to start and is home to works by some of the North's favourite artists. On the outskirts of Leeds, you'll find Abbey House Museum, which is where you can find a recreation of Victorian streets, including a walk-in public house. Just over the road, you'll find Kirkstall Abbey - a beautiful site of historic ruins.

Relive Your Youth Playing Retro Video Games

Just outside of Leeds, you'll find Arcade Club Leeds. As Europe's largest video arcade, you'll find almost every classic arcade game, as well as modern game machines and pinball games. You can spend as long as you like here, exploring each floor and, once you've paid and are inside, all the machines are free so you can play to your heart's content. This is the perfect rainy day activity and is ideal for all the family, plus there is food, drink and snacks available to enjoy.

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