Looking for a taste of Northern British culture? Leeds is a great shout.
The Yorkshire city is driven by a fierce football following, even fiercer drinking culture, and lots and lots of shopping. Whether you head to Elland Road, grab a pint on Call Lane, or indulge in some early evening retail therapy, there are plenty of things to do in Leeds at night.
Leeds born and bred; I’ll take you through the ten best things for your evening itinerary.
Watch a Leeds United home game at Elland Road
Leeds United is a household name and has retained international fame despite a tumultuous past few decades. Leeds is currently in the Premiership (fingers crossed it stays that way), and, without a doubt, the best place to watch them play is at the hallowed Elland Road.
Whether you are a football fan or not, I’d recommend attending a game if you get the chance. The Leeds fans are renowned for their vocal support and colourful chants, providing lots of entertainment on and off the pitch.
A shuttle runs from outside Leeds Station, so the stadium is an easy trip from the city centre. The R2 shuttle bus is also reasonably priced at £3 return per adult and £1.50 return for children.
You can book tickets online at the Leeds United official website. I’d suggest booking as far in advance as possible, as tickets sell out fast.
Head to Pixel Bar
Gamers listen up. Pixel Bar is a perfect hybrid of nightlife and gaming.
Entirely gaming-themed, Pixel Bar has a mixture of Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo games for you to sink your teeth into. You’ll be well entertained with Fifa 22, Call of Duty, Gears of War, Mortal Kombat, Mario Kart, Tekken 7, and many (and I mean many) more.
Plus, there are drinks and food available to keep you well-fuelled. Try the Vegan Famous burger from the Altered Reality section or classic chicken wings with the Hot AF sauce. The drinks menu is equally creative, with cocktails like Witcher’s Brew, Yoshi’s Island Iced Tea, and Princess Peach.
Open until 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays and 1 am all other nights, the Pixel Bar is a great spot for late-night socialising all week.
Catch the latest films at the Everyman Cinema
If you are after some traditional night-time entertainment, the Everyman Cinema is the place to go.
Everyman cinemas are an established, popular UK chain, and Leeds Everyman does not let the chain standards slip. Leeds Everyman has five different screens and is located on Albion Street – only minutes from the Trinity Shopping Centre and less than a ten-minute walk from Leeds Train Station.
Ticket prices? A little steep. I’d advise bringing your own snacks and refreshments or planning a meal beforehand. If you are a student, make sure to bring your ID as you are entitled to a discount. I’ve included a table of Everyman’s 2022 rates below:
| Adult | Child | Concession | Student | Family | |
| Ticket price (£) | 14.50 | 10.00 | 12.50 | 10.00 | 42.00 |
Go crazy golfing at Junkyard Golf Club
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Crazy golfing is a bit of a cop-out addition to our list of things to do in Leeds at night. I thought the same until I went to try it out!
Junkyard Golf Club is SO fun. If you want a good laugh, I’d highly recommend a visit. The club has a fully stocked bar and stays open until 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays – definitely catering to the night owls in Leeds.
Expect neon lighting, random halves of cars and golf buggies for drunken photoshoots, and a well-maintained, creative course. The club takes extreme pride in the name ‘Junkyard Golf’ and provides an eclectic crazy golf experience.
Leeds Junkyard Crazy Golf bases its prices on off-peak and peak days. Between Sunday and Thursday, a game costs £8.50, while you’ll pay £10 per game on Friday and Saturday.
Keep in mind that under 18s are only admitted between Sunday and Thursday before 7 pm. And, even then, must be accompanied by an adult.
Head out for drinks on Call Lane
While the Otley Run might rule Leeds’ daytime drinking, Call Lane is the Queen Bee of the city’s night-time pub crawls.
Take a turn down past the Corn Exchange to the River Aire and take your pick of bars and pubs. Revolution and DOLLHOUSE are popular chain cocktail bars, although they can seem quite overhyped.
I’d recommend checking out Brooklyn, a New York-themed cocktail-turned-party-bar after dark. Oporto, a live music bar with yummy vegan food, is also worth visiting. But, honestly, you will be spoilt for choice on Call Lane.
If the night takes a turn for the clubbing scene, avoid sticky-floored PRYZM and head to Mint, Wire, or The Key Club.
Book concert tickets at the O2 Academy
If you are heading to Leeds for a city break, definitely check the O2 Academy’s concert schedule.
The venue welcomes artists like Camelphat, Scouting For Girls, James Arthur, LP, Bad Boy Chiller Crew, Bugzy Malone, and Jake Bugg. So, expect a range of genres, to say the least! There are also ‘Indie Thursdays’ and regular PROJEKT rave nights.
The O2 Academy is a relatively small venue and only has a capacity of 2,300. Because of its size, the artist it hosts can seem a random selection, but it is well worth checking in advance – especially if your favourite artists are outside the mainstream following. The concerts have an incredibly intimate atmosphere, which is a huge bonus.
The O2 Academy is a thirty-second walk up Cookridge Street from Millennium Square and is ideally situated for a convenient night out. I’ve always had very positive experiences with the security as well, although the queues can be quite long to get in. Pre-booked tickets are an absolute must for minimal hassle.
Go cocktail mixing at the Alchemist
Want a fancy yet fun date night? Or, perhaps a creative alcohol experience with the girls? Head to either one of Leeds’ two Alchemists for a cocktail masterclass.
The masterclasses run for up to an hour and a half, with two different package options.
Package 1 includes a colour changing cocktail to enjoy on arrival before you are taught to make The Legal One and Screwball. At £30 per person, it works out a reasonable deal as most of the drinks menu costs upwards of around £10 alone.
Package 2 includes all of the above but with extra snacks! For £35 per person, you receive a package upgrade with sharing platters and bar snacks.
Definitely book ahead, as The Alchemist is one of the most well-known cocktail bars in Leeds. However, the fact there are multiple Alchemists within the city centre works in your favour for last-minute bookings.
You can head to Greek Street or the Trinity Shopping Centre, both within a ten-minute walk from Leeds Station.
Scramble to escape from Escape Hunt
Escape Hunt offers not only Escape Rooms but also outdoor and remote experiences.
Rather than just catering to late-night partiers, the venue is great for all kinds of visitors – including families looking for things to do in Leeds at night. Escape Hunt is located just outside of the Briggate Quarter as well, making it easily accessible, friendly, and safe to visit on foot after dark.
Alternatively, you can join a Remote Escape Room experience from a hotel room for an evening of entertainment.
I’ve included Escape Hunt’s 2022 rates on a game basis in the tables below:
| Students (Monday to Thursday only) | Over 60s (Monday to Thursday only) | Students and over 60s (Friday to Sunday) | General Player | |
| Escape Rooms prices per person (£) | 21.25 | 22.50 | 25 | 25 |
| Two Players | Three Players | Four Players | |
| Outdoor Games prices per person (£) | 22.50 | 20 | 15 |
| One to Four Players | Five to Six Players | |
| Remote Escape Room prices per group (£) | 80 | 120 |
Head to Viaduct Showbar for Leeds’ best drag show
Who doesn’t love a good drag show? Leeds is known for its flamboyant nightlife and where better to experience than at Viaduct Showbar – the home of the city’s best drag shows.
While Viaduct Showbar has day and night events hosted throughout the week by wonderful hosts in impressive drag, Friday and Saturday nights are the nights for your calendar.
On these evenings, the showbar has four-hour-long performances that run from 8 pm until midnight. If you want an electric, fun atmosphere, Viaduct Showbar is the place to be come nightfall! Plus, entry is free before 9 pm, and a DJ runs a set from 12 am until 4 am.
Book entry for a comedy show
Look no further than The HIFI Comedy Club if you fancy a laugh.
The club has been running since 2001 and has welcomed the likes of Alan Carr in his early days. The club prides itself on being a ‘launch pad’ for upcoming comedians and is easily one of the best things to do in Leeds at night.
Every Saturday, HIFI welcomes four comedians, with the show lasting from 7:45 pm until 10:30 pm. Of course, you can get there a little earlier to reserve a seat, and the doors open at 6:30 pm for this reason! Grab a pre-show drink and a good seat, as HIFI’s seating policy is strictly first come, first serve.
At £15 per person, HIFI’s Saturday night Comedy Club is an affordable night-time entertainment option. Plus, you might even be catching the soon-to-be stand-up stars!
**WINTER BONUS**
From early November to the end of December, Leeds has a German Christmas Market.
Stop by Millenium Square to skate on the open-air ice rink, grab a warm Bailey’s hot chocolate, or take a ride on the Big Wheel. The German Christmas Market is small but with an extremely cute festive atmosphere. There are a few rides, but the draw is mostly traditional hot food, drinks, and sweets.
If you want a festive date night, outing with friends, or family night out, the Christmas Market is one of the best things to do in Leeds at night.
I might be biased, but we all love Leeds. The city centre lives and breathes night-time entertainment while being a lot smaller and walkable than other Northern powerhouses like Manchester. Its smaller centre means that you don’t have to choose one or the other of these options, and in fact, can easily combine a few.
There are so many things to do in Leeds at night – have you got any more suggestions? Drop them in the comments below. You can also check out an in-depth safety guide for Leeds here.