Blogs.

Your Break in Leeds Starts Here

3rd June 2021

Whether you’re visiting for a weekend, planning a longer trip or just enjoying a day in Leeds, you’ve got to get here first. So, unless you’re lucky enough to live here already, that means jumping aboard a train, hopping on the bus, making your way by car… or even arriving from the skies!

Here are our top travel tips to get your break off to a flying start. Excuse the pun.

Enjoy the ride

For starters, leaving the car behind could be a great decision. You’ll be able to sit back, relax and get your trip off to a stress-free start. If you’re travelling long distance, a number of quick, regular intercity services connect Leeds to the rest of the UK. The LNER routes/service will get you here from London in just 2 hours and 16 minutes, for example. Birmingham, Newcastle and Liverpool are under 2 hours away, and with Northern Rail and TPExpress Manchester, Sheffield and Hull are less than 1 hour. 

Once you’re on board, that’s it! No directions, no parking, no traffic jams or roadside stops. You can grab a cuppa, read a book or catch up on those podcasts you’ve had in your queue for ages. The same goes for the journey home. If you’ve made the most of things, it’s a chance to rest tired legs (and eyes, but don’t miss your stop). It also means you can enjoy a drink or two in Leeds’ fantastic bars and restaurants without any travel repercussions. 

Prefer travelling by coach? National Express has you covered, the inter-city and inter-regional coach operator has fares starting from just 90p on selected routes across the UK. 

Keep close to the action.

Leeds is a real hub for transport, with one of the most used train stations in the north, and a network that stretches out both regionally and nationally. But you won’t find yourself stepping onto the platform at an out of town parkway station, or needing an expensive taxi to get you to the bright lights of the city centre.

Whether you arrive by train, bus or shuttle from the airport, you’ll be right at the heart of things – and there are so many things to do in Leeds. Our city centre is renowned as compact and walkable, so you can leave a big gig at the arena in the Northern Quarter and be sipping a pint south of the River Aire in 15 minutes. That means hundreds of restaurants, bars, shops, venues and attractions are all accessible too. Right on the doorstep of your hotel, or close to the station when it’s time to head for home.

Stay safe and secure.

No matter your means of travel, you can rest assured your journey to Leeds will be a Covid secure, we all need to make sure we’re taking proper safety precautions – and that goes for holidays and trips too. But choosing public transport options doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. The train and bus services that connect to Leeds are there to make your journey a safe one, sticking to all government guidelines and best practice when it comes to social distancing, protective equipment and cleaning schedules.

It always helps to take a look at your travel options in advance, and familiarise yourself with the ways your train or bus company will be keeping you safe. Innovations like contactless e-Tickets, app-based services and rules regarding masks will all help you feel comfortable and secure.

Explore your options.

If these transport tips have got you fired up and ready to get planning, head to our Travelling to Leeds page. It’s our guide to Leeds’ array of services, providers and travel options with links to find tickets, explore routes and find out about safety policies and guidelines. Then all you have to do is decide on the places to go in Leeds city centre and beyond that will make your trip an unforgettable one.