Travelling to Leeds City Centre

Find out how to plan your journey for a Magical Leeds Christmas.

The work to transform the city centre into a more car free and people first environment has enabled the city to host bigger and better Christmas Markets this year. This also means that it may look a little different when travelling in and around the city.

Whether you’re heading to the Markets, festive shows, shopping, or just visiting the city, find out how to plan ahead when travelling by public transport, using the Park & Ride, cycling or driving.

TRAIN

Leeds Train Station is serviced by LNER, Northern, TransPennine and more from early in the morning to late at night, making it easy to travel by rail all day.

Taxi access at Leeds Train Station

The taxi rank has relocated to the back of the station on Princes Square (next to the Wetherspoon pub). When travelling from the city centre, you can reach the taxi rank by:

• Travelling from the station’s main entrance, walking through the station, and turning left before the Wetherspoon pub to reach the taxi rank.
• Travelling from the station’s northern entrance, walking past the Wetherspoon pub, and turning right to the taxi rank.

If you’re travelling by train, make sure to check before you travel for latest updates on any planned industrial action.

Accessibility

Leeds City Centre Train Station accessibility features include:

• Step-free access throughout the station, with lifts to all platforms.
• Passenger Assistance
• Accessible toilets, waiting rooms, and seating areas.
• A ramp for train access

Staff assistance is available 24 hours a day, and can be requested in advance of your journey. Full details of accessibility at Leeds Train Station can be found on the National Rail website.

CHRISTMAS UPDATES – Trains will stop running earlier on Christmas Eve (around 5pm) with no services Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

NEW YEARS UPDATES – From 27 December to 4 January a reduced timetable will be in operation. Significant engineering work is scheduled between Leeds and York/Selby. Expect rail replacement buses to be in operation on routes affected by engineering works. New Years Eve trains will stop running earlier than usual (around 5pm). New Years Day services start later than usual and very limited services in the area. Please check before travelling on the National Rail website.

Sparkle and Ride into Leeds this Festive Season

If you’re planning a trip into Leeds this festive season, make the most of one of Leeds’ quick and low-cost Park & Rides, with sites at Elland Road, Temple Green and Stourton.

Parking is free and the bus journey into the city centre only takes 10-15 minutes. Return tickets cost just £5. With buses running every 10-15 minutes during peak times, they fit around your festive day!

Stourton will run regular services from 6.30am to 8.20pm Monday to Saturday.

Find out more information and full timetables here!

BUS

There are plenty of options for getting the bus into Leeds over Christmas. Plan your journey here and check out cheap bus fares and ticket options below.

£5 – the MCard Day Saver gives you unlimited travel on any bus, anytime, anywhere in Leeds and the whole of West Yorkshire so you can hop-on and off any bus as many times as you like in one day.

£2 max single fare – you won’t pay more than £2 for single fares in Leeds and West Yorkshire. So a return trip will be just £4 or less.

£1 Leeds City Bus – the Leeds City Bus links Leeds’ rail and bus stations, business and shopping districts. It’s £1 per journey or free for MCard, Park & Ride and operator season ticket holders and Concessionary Pass holders.

Download the MCard Mobile app on Google Play Store or Apple Store to buy and store tickets on your smartphone or get your ticket on the bus.

WALKING AND CYCLING

If you live within walking or cycling distance to the city, why not make your journey into Leeds a greener one by heading into Leeds by foot or on a bike?

There’s over 10km of protected cycle track in the city centre to get around by bike and lots of tools available to help you plan your journey. What’s more, the LNER Beryl Bikes scheme has introduced 200 e-bikes for hire across the city centre. Simply download the app and find an e-bike to hire.

Use the City Connect journey planner.

DRIVING

If you are planning to drive into Leeds this Christmas, please be sure to plan ahead.

If you need to drive into the city centre, please be mindful that access to some destinations has changed. Please plan ahead to avoid being affected by bus gates now in operation on East Parade, King Street, Infirmary Street, City Square and Neville Street.

If you’re using a SatNav device, please make sure to update the mapping (if required) to avoid being routed via restricted routes where bus gates are now in operation.

Access to/from the city centre should be via the Ring Road and then a relevant junction or link. More information and alternative routes can be found here.

BLUE BADGE PARKING

Blue badge parking is available across the city centre. Visit this page for more information on where blue badge holders can and can’t park and an interactive map highlighting 131 available spaces across 26 locations in the city centre.

GENERAL PARKING

Paid car parks are available across the city centre. Find out more here.

COACHES

If you’re visiting Leeds by coach, please be aware that providers operate using different pick-up and drop-off points, including the Coach Station, Great George Street, Wade Lane, Sovereign Street, Kirkgate and Lower Briggate. Please make sure to check with your provider before travelling.

AIRPORT

Travelling from the Leeds Bradford Airport is as easy as just hopping on the A1 Flyer. Straight from outside to the city centre and regular times – find more information here.