Christmas in Leeds
Our Christmas Park & Guide to Leeds
CitiPark are proud to present our very own Christmas Park & Guide – an interactive map of what’s on this festive season across Leeds, Manchester, Watford and London.
Christmas Shopping
If you’re after big brand names, beautiful shopping arcades and independent shops all within comfortable walking distance of each other, look no further than Leeds – the ultimate Yorkshire shopping destination. This is especially true at Christmas time, when the city’s precincts and malls are buzzing with festive gift-seekers.
Leeds is famous for its shopping centres. Open seven days a week, the Merrion Centre has a fantastic range of shops, cafes and bars. Right by the first direct arena, it’s one of the city’s longest established shopping centres. You can visit Santa and his elves in their magical grotto right up to Christmas Eve, and you can also catch Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain's food demo there on Thursday 10th December.
In the centre of town, Trinity Leeds is the city’s newest shopping centre, linking the surrounding streets together with an undercover retail space. You’ll find all the big names in there, including the ever-popular Apple store – perfect for the gadget-lovers in your life. Briggate – the High Street of Leeds – has all the department stores you could ask for, including Debenhams, House of Fraser and Marks & Spencer, so you’ll never run short on Christmas present inspiration.
Leeds Corn Exchange offers a great range of independent stores under one breathtaking roof (not to mention a massive Christmas tree!) if you’re after some unique gifts or a place to refuel. Victoria Quarter boasts high-end stores like Harvey Nichols for those really special presents, and Kirkgate Market is ideal if you want to pick up a delicious turkey and some fresh vegetables for your Christmas dinner – just don’t overdo it on the sprouts!
Seasonal Events & Activities
Head straight to Millennium Square if you want to soak up the festive atmosphere of the Christkindelmarkt Traditional German Christmas Market – a winter village that transports you straight to the heart of Bavaria. Soak up the atmosphere with traditional food and drink, take a spin on the carousel or check out the stalls of handcrafted toys, jewellery and festive decorations.
If you’re in the mood for a pantomime or a festive show, you won’t be short on options. Aladdin is on at the Carriageworks, Robin Hood is taking to the stage at City Varieties and The West Yorkshire Playhouse has The Night Before Christmas and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang – two festive classics. And Christmas isn’t complete until you’ve experienced the magic of Northern Ballet’s The Nutcracker – let Tchaikovsky’s score awaken your imagination at The Grand Theatre. The first direct arena also has some excellent live music and stand-up this December – highlights include Simply Red, Mumford & Sons and the comedy stylings of Michael McIntyre.
Finally, don’t forget to check out ‘Mince Spies’ at the Royal Armouries from Saturday 19th December – a fantastic family event. It’s your chance to explore the world of espionage and discover your inner secret agent. Junior spies can discover a code-cracking museum trail, design a gadget and watch family-friendly films, plus there’ll be live performances and a chance to handle historic objects. You could even jump in a free water taxi afterwards to take you from Leeds Dock up into the centre of town.
Festive Food & Drink
Whether you’re celebrating the end of the year or simply need to refuel from all the shopping, Christmas is a time to indulge. If you’re after a spot of festive food and drink – day or night – Leeds can satisfy your hunger and quench your thirst.
If you’re in the mood for cheese, you must check out ‘Homage 2 Fromage’ – a monthly cheese club that now has a cafe and bar in the Merrion Centre. They serve up a huge selection of cheese dishes from fondue to raclette, from pimped-up mac ‘n’ cheese to grilled cheese sandwiches, to the most extensive cheese board in the country. It’s a cheese-lover's dream!
Right outside the Merrion Centre you’ll find Smoke Barbecue – a meat lover’s paradise. Their motto is “put down the fork, it’s time to get dirty!”, encouraging everyone to get truly stuck into their tasty barbecue food. Opposite the first direct arena you’ll also find Bulgogi Grill if you prefer your barbecue food Korean style. And if you want to stay with the German Christmas theme, call into the Bierkeller for some festive cheer, live music and a completely unique drinking and dining experience.
Trinity Leeds has loads of choice for lunch and dinner too. If you want to grab a bite to eat on the go, Trinity Kitchen has a range of excellent street food outlets. And if you fancy treating yourself to a festive flick, visit the Everyman Cinema (the first outside London), where you can curl up on a sofa and relax with pizza and a glass of wine.
Parking in Leeds
CitiPark has parking sorted for all your festive needs. With multi storey car parks in Leeds Dock and right by the first direct arena and Merrion Centre, plus two car parks: over on Whitehall Road, we’ve got all corners of the city centre covered. So whether it’s for shopping, eating or a family day out, look no further than CitiPark for your Christmas car park solution in Leeds.