Search events

Join committee members of the Cemetery Friends on a 90 minute tour. You will hear stories that link the Victorian history of Leeds to the people who are buried there and see the hundreds of Guinea Graves

A walking tour with Danny Friar exploring the themes of slavery and empire and their impact on Leeds and everyday people. This city centre walk will reveal hidden histories, forgotten people and secret stories from Leeds's past.

Join us to discover stories of a city and its people, from the 1600s to the present day. See the story of Leeds revealed by archives and objects held in Cultural Collections at the University of Leeds.

Alternative Music in Leeds is a self-guided city centre audio trail exploring the major moments of Leeds' alternative music heritage. Discover passwords and codes to unlock stories at each location.

Walk round the Grade I listed beautiful church and grounds to take in the architecture and stained glass windows. Refreshments available

The home of the largest mosaic in Northern Europe.

Take a guided tour of this Grade II* listed Victorian masterpiece in the historic heart of Leeds. From antique Potts clocks to grinning stone guard dogs, explore the secrets behind the scenes of one of the city's most amazing public buildings.

Explore this mediaeval church, a place of continuous worship for over a thousand years. On display - our history and people and a rich collection of church embroideries. Special this year for Leeds 400: short talks on "Going to church in 1626".

The Leeds Library offers free Heritage Open Days tours with behind-the-scenes access to its historic Georgian building and rare book collections. Visitors can also enjoy exhibitions and displays exploring the library’s rich history and collections.

A warm Yorkshire welcome awaits. Take a tour around St Edmund's Church and see the interesting and unusual architecture of this local church and learn about its heritage treasures. Refreshments, stalls and children's activities all available.

A free pop-up exhibition. Leeds of the 2000s may not sound like history, but our everyday stories will become the archives of the future.

Fascinating Grade II church with interesting building, organ, stained glass windows and grounds.

It is a fun picture quiz, which is designed to encourage Leeds folk to look up, look down and look around as they walk through the city. Speaker Jane Ellis is secretary of Leeds Camera Club and always carries a pocket camera to capture the city.

Neill Hargreaves and Dr John Davies are Joint Archivists at GSAL. Join them for a Powerpoint presentation covering the history and development of the School from 1340 to 2008.

A talk on the life of Maud Hummerston, first female librarian and first Children’s Librarian for Leeds Libraries.

What was the impact of the plague in Leeds in 1645? How was the plague managed and treated in the 17th century?

Visit a 20th century Grade I listed parish church in England.

All Souls' Church was George Gilbert Scott's final church, built in the Gothic Revival Style. This Memorial Church was built in memory of Dr Walter Hook, Vicar of Leeds (1837 to 1859) who revitalised the Anglican Church in Leeds.

Join us at the School of Dentistry! Come & explore our Dental artefacts and see how dentistry has evolved over the years by having a hands-on experience in the laboratories with our students and dental professionals. Children & families encouraged!

Join us for a walking tour exploring the design and history of a selection of the University's architectural gems dating from the 18th Century to the present day.

Ever wondered what goes on inside an archive? Come and find out during Heritage Open Days as we take you behind the scenes into our strongrooms which are packed with archive treasures from across the city.

Ever wondered what goes on inside an archive? Come and find out during Heritage Open Days as we take you behind the scenes into our strongrooms which are packed with archive treasures from across the city.

Free tours of the grounds or cottages on selected dates during the 2026 HODs Festival. Also on Fri 11 Sept Archipelago Arts will be offering free creative activities from 12.30, and on Fri 18 Sept a talk from Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

An opportunity to find out about a cross-section of the people memorialised in Leeds Minster

This year's theme of everyday histories of working lives is brought vividly to life in this talk by Lesley Newnham.

Opportunity to visit a historical manufacturing site in Beeston, Leeds. The site has been here since 1950s is a Medical Devices Manufacturing Facility, supporting the pioneering manufacturing of Charnley Hip Stem which has led the way for standards

Leeds Cathedral - the Cathedral Church of St Anne - is the Mother Church of the Catholic Diocese of Leeds. It is a Grade II* Listed Building, completed in 1904 and today is widely recognised as an outstanding example of Arts & Crafts architecture.

Now one of the UK's 10 biggest hospitals, St James's has its roots in the city's workhouse, originally opened in central Leeds in 1638 not long after the 1626 Charter we celebrate this year.

Recently renovated Waterloo House has become a beautiful Kadampa Meditation Centre. On 20 September we are offering free meditation sessions and historic building tours. Also enjoy the World Peace Cafe and bookshop - everyone Welcome.

Join us for a walking, audio-described tour exploring the design and history of a selection of the University's architectural gems dating from the 18th Century to the present day.

Do you know about the 'Misses March', the Men of Iron, and Mr Matthew Murray's daughter? Plus thirty-six new petticoats for the poor. A look inside the oldest building at the University of Leeds: Beech Grove House - an 18th century Georgian home.

Step inside City Varieties Music Hall to uncover the rich history of one of the city’s most iconic cultural landmarks. Guided by our expert team, this is your chance to explore the UK's oldest surviving music hall.

A rare opportunity to visit the communal areas of this magnificent grade 2* listed house in Far Headingley, including the exquisite Peacock Room.

Come see the inside of the Leeds-based Fabrication Studios and make your own 18th-Century style chapbook with Anachronalia and Dr Geof.

A step-free “roll and stroll” tracing everyday histories along part of the old parish boundary of Leeds. Starting at Penny Pocket Park and ending at Granary Wharf, exploring how ordinary lives are remembered — and sometimes forgotten.

A self-guided audio tour of Leeds, exploring the city at work: the dawn bell of Kirkgate Market, the White Cloth Halls, the bandsaw trade, music-hall streets and Leeds Bridge.

Join David Sellers for a talk about William Gascoigne, a pioneer of modern precision astronomy who lived in Middleton at around the time of the Royal Charter whose 400 year anniversary we celebrate this year.

On Friday 18 September at 11am join us for a talk at Leeds Industrial Museum from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, focused on the history and role of the organisation, with a Yorkshire focus.

A walk of discovery round part of the historic south Leeds suburb of Beeston.

See Leeds from another angle and enjoy views from the top of St George's Clock Tower.

Join artist Abbie Mooney for a free, creative workshop inspired by Leeds' transport heritage.

Jake Timothy FRCS is a consultant neurosurgeon based in Leeds. Join him for talk which traces the remarkable evolution of surgery from ancient techniques to today's precise technically driven procedures with references to developments in Leeds.

A free art trail map distributed around Leeds, indicating local art and crafter's work in shop venues within the architecturally rich and diverse heritage arcades and shopping malls of Leeds City Centre.

Discover some of the the globally important innovations that Holbeck gave to the world.

Visitors to the Thoresby Society at the Leeds Library will be able to watch and enjoy a continuous slide show of a selection of our large collection of lantern slides of views of Leeds and some of our collection of old maps, books and documents.

Our fantastic volunteers will be performing selections from our Frank Kidson Broadsides collection and other pieces created by Leeds composers.

Botanical arts and crafts and a store tour of the Natural Science collection at Leeds Discovery Centre.

Robert Curphey, archivist at Vickers Oils, tells the story of this 200 year old Leeds family business.

An illustrated talk on how communities have dealt with death over the last two centuries, with a focus on local practices in these areas of West Leeds.

An opportunity to visit the second oldest Friends Meeting House in Leeds; a beautiful and historic listed building where Quakers have worshipped continuously since 1756.