The 10 Most Instagrammable Spots in Leeds

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About the author: Hi! My name is Jarisse Nunez, a Business Management with Marketing student at the University of Leeds. I am an aspiring marketer who loves all things creative. Outside of my studies, I enjoy keeping memories in my scrapbook, staying active through yoga and going to concerts!

One of the most important factors for me when choosing my uni city was whether there would be plenty of sight-seeing and aesthetic spots to visit. Fortunately, Leeds offers a city filled with culture and picturesque places. If you love a good photo dump, you're in luck; below are some of my top 10 aesthetic spots in Leeds, perfect for your camera roll:

University of Leeds Campus 🎓

I may be a little biased here (being a University of Leeds student myself), but the UoL campus is definitely one of the most aesthetic places in Leeds.

Founded in 1904, it still has many of its traditional buildings, including the Great Hall and the widely recognised Parkinson Building – where you can spot its clock tower from miles away! Over the years, the uni has developed new and modern architecture with buildings such as the Esther Simpson building and The Henry Bragg building.

My personal favourites are the Esther Simpson Building, for its modern and contemporary design, and the Brotherton Library (located inside the Parkinson Building) for its timeless interior – the perfect backdrop for your lock-in study sessions.

IF Up North 🥪

If you love your brunch spots, Leeds is the city of you. IF Up North in particular is popular for its breakfast and brunch – it’s always fully booked. Their Call Lane branch is their flagship spot, serving a variety of bites and drinks. From their fluffy pancakes to breakfast burritos, it’ll be worth waiting in line for and getting a few snaps for the 'Gram.

Corn Exchange 🛍️

Definitely up top for being one of the favourite spots to visit in Leeds is the Corn Exchange. Known for its independent cafés and novelty shops, it’s truly a “living Leeds landmark”. If you’re in the city, you simply have to stop by and capture a shot.

Sonder ☕️

One of my favourite cafés in Leeds is Sonder, which is known for its blend of Japanese and retro interiors, or ‘Japantro’ as they call it. Their unique interiors also reflect in their drink selection, with many different coffee flavours to try. If you’re wanting to try their pastries you better be quick as they sell out fast!

Green Room🥂

Right in the heart of Leeds city centre (and only minutes from the train station) nestles Green Room – a cosy and inviting social space. It’s great for daytime drinks with friends at their Roof Terrace or live music in the evening in their basement floor; there’s something for every occasion here. Make sure to snap a pic of their glittering mirrorballs and greenery dotted throughout the rooms.

Victoria Quarter ✨

If the shopping scene is what you're after, then look no further. The Victoria Quarter in particular has some impressive interiors, with it being one of the oldest parts of the city. With more designer and luxury stores to offer, it may be better for us students to stick to window shopping and capturing photos of its beautiful architecture.

Fluffy Fluffy 🥞

A favourite place for a sweet treat for me and my friends is Fluffy Fluffy, a dessert restaurant popular for its soufflé pancakes. They offer a range of treats from breakfast to dinner, and their pancakes have a light, sweet and airy texture with many different flavours to try.

Light Night Leeds 🌃

Each year, the city hosts Light Night – the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival. Held for the past 20 years, Light Night is a two-night event offering captivating light shows and artworks all around the city. Make sure to catch their event next October!

Vintage Shops ⭐️

Love a good vintage find? Leeds offers a variety of trendy vintage stores including favourites such as North South Vintage, Chinese Laundry, and COW. Each shop offers a unique selection of clothes with many recycled and reworked; you’ll easily be able to update your wardrobe whilst living in Leeds (whether that’s in Headingley or Hyde Park).

Leeds City Museum 🏛️

Last but not least, you have to visit the Leeds City Museum at least once! Entry’s free and they always offer fun exhibitions – there was a Miffy exhibition from last year to celebrate her 70th birthday!

Curious about student life in Leeds? Check out my blog post on why Leeds is a student-friendly city!

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The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.