The Ultimate Student Guide to the Otley Run

---

About the author: Hi! My name is Jarisse Nunez, a Business Management with Marketing student at the University of Leeds. I’m one of UniHomes’ Leeds Content Ambassadors, and I’m 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!

The Otley Run is not your average pub crawl. It is regarded as a rite of passage and taken very seriously by Leeds students. Popular with groups of friends, flatmates and societies, it's a great experience for student life in Leeds.

Still a bit confused about how it all works? This guide covers everything you need to know about the Otley Run, from its route, the best times to go and all the tips and tricks you need. By the end of this you’ll soon realise why it is one of the UK’s most iconic pub crawls.

Everything you need to know about Leeds' Otley Run

What is the Otley Run? 🍻

Despite the name, the Otley Run isn’t an actual run! As mentioned in my A-Z guide to Leeds, it’s one of Leeds’ most famous pub crawls, covering roughly around two miles from Far Headlingley into the city centre. The route has around 17 bars and pubs, making it a full day event for pub-crawlers.

–

Otley Run full route 📍

Its name is also quite confusing as the ‘run’ doesn’t actually start at Otley but on Otley Road in Far Headingley. The route can vary depending on which pubs are open or added. That being said, this is the usual list of pubs in order:

1. Start: Woodies Craft Ale House – 104 Otley Road, LS16 5JG

2. The Three Horseshoes – 98 Otley Road, LS16 5DG

3. The New Inn – 68 Otley Road, LS6 4BA

4. Taylor’s Sports Bar & Grill – 107 Otley Road, LS6 3PX

5. Arcadia Ale House – Headlingley Central, 30 Otley Road, LS6 2UE

6. The Head of Steam – 11 North Lane, LS6 3HG

7. Headlingley Taps – North Lane, LS6 3HG

8. Box Headingley - 8 Otley Road, LS6 2AD

9. The Skyrack - 2-4 St Michael’s Road, LS6 SAW

10. The Original Oak - 2 Otley Road, LS6 2DG

11. Hyde Park Pub - 2 Headlingley Lane, LS6 2AS

12. The Library - 229 Woodhouse Lane, LS2 3AP

13. The Pack Horse - 208 Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9DX

14. The Eldon - 109 Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9DX

15. Leeds University Union - Old Bar & Terrace - Lifton Place, LS2 9JZ

16. The Fenton - 161 Woodhouse Lane, LS2 3ED

17. End: The Dry Dock - Woodhouse Lane, LS2 3AX

How it works 🤔

While there are no strict rules, it traditionally involves visiting each stop and having at least one pint per pub. However, with 17 stops, it can get quite hefty so be sure to be mindful about spending and considering your drinking limit.

–

Best times to go ⏱️

The Otley Run can be done anytime of the week, however, Saturdays are the most popular times to go, usually around midday. Weekdays are more ideal if you prefer beating busy queues, although individual pub opening hours do vary so be sure to check!

Top tip! Fridays are a great time to go as they are a lot less busy and you can still get mixers in some pubs.

Dress up! 🧚‍♀️

The fun thing about the Otley Run is that you and your group can be as creative as you like in dressing up! Wearing fancy dress is a key highlight of the crawl so make sure you and your group have a coordinated theme. Some typical themes include superheroes, animation characters or even your society’s theme – there’s no limit to how creative your group can get!

Whilst it's great to get creative with your outfit, don’t forget to keep practicality in mind. The pub crawl spans around 2 miles so you’ll definitely be getting your steps in walking between pubs – be sure to wear comfortable shoes! Also, with the unpredictability of Leeds weather, you’ll definitely want to double check the forecast before going!

Still not sure what you're going to dress up as? Go and read our blog post on top costume party theme ideas for some creative options.

–

What to bring 📱

A whole day event requires preparation. Make sure to bring a small bag of essentials. A fully charged phone definitely helps throughout the day but bringing a power bank will save you with some extra battery life. A wallet/extra cash is great for emergencies (like when your phone dies) and, of course, don't forget to bring your ID!

Don’t be peer pressured! 🙅

While the Otley Run can be a really fun student experience, be sure to stay safe and don’t feel peer pressured by friends to drink more than your limit! Go with people you trust and feel comfortable with and be aware of your surroundings throughout the day.

For more Leeds nightlife inspiration, check out former Leeds Beckett student Emily's guide to the best student nights out in Leeds.

–

Looking for student accommodation in Leeds that's near the Otley Run route?

Whether you're after a shared student house in Headingley or private halls in the city centre, UniHomes can help you find your perfect student accommodation in Leeds.

We work with letting agents across Yorkshire to bring you a wide range of bills-inclusive student housing all over Leeds – all you have to do is use the filters at the top of each page to sort the results by price, location and number of bedrooms. Click here to find student accommodation in Leeds today.

This post is part of the UniHomes Content Ambassador programme, where current students across the UK share tips about student life in their city to help you make the most of your time at uni. Like these guides? Add UniHomes as a preferred source in Google with just one click by checking the box to see more expert content from our student writers!

Whilst you’re out having fun in your new uni city, remember that UniHomes promotes responsible drinking, and any alcohol products featured within this article are for ages 18+.

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.