Student Area Guide

Being a local independent agency means we’re ideally placed to help you find your perfect home - we have a personal understanding of the areas our portfolio covers, because we live there too. We have a wealth of experience and knowledge spanning the whole of the student catchment area, so read on to learn more about what this great area has to offer you…

Student Life in Headingley

“Vibrant and eclectic, there is nowhere in Leeds that screams ‘student’ quite like Headingley, and with literally hundreds of student houses to choose from there will be something to suit every taste and budget.”

Where is Headingley?

Situated approximately two miles from Leeds City centre, Headingley is the student suburb of Leeds. It plays host to the Beckett Park campus of Leeds Beckett University, Lupton flats the halls of residence for Leeds University and Headingley Stadium. Here is our guide to all things Headingley!

Entertainment in Headingley

An abundance of bars, restaurants, and cafes line Otley Road, in Headingley, which is also the main arterial route running through Headingley straight into the city centre. You are spoilt for choice in Headingley with places to eat drink and relax. Here is our quick guide to just a few stand-out locations:

Headingley Restaurants

If you are looking for a great restaurant, head to Sukhothai. Situated on St Anne’s Road, Sukhothai is an award-winning, locally-owned Thai restaurant that also does take-out and delivery, or for a nation-wide chain try Pizza Express in the Arndale Centre.

Pubs and Bars

Manahatta, on Ash Road now offers 2-4-1 on cocktails ALL DAY, EVERY DAY (the Manahatta spritz is a particular favourite). If a more traditional “pub” is your thing, then head to the Original Oak on Otley Road which serves classic pub grub and real ale.

Cafes

There are many independant cafes located on Otley Road. One of our favourites would have to be Bakery 164, they specialise in ciabatta and focaccia sandwiches with a large range of fillings including a selection of vegetarian and vegan. They use seasonal produce from local supplies, you support local therefore they support local. The chicken, crispy bacon and sweet potato is a favourite of ours.

Cinema

Not many places still have an independent cinema these days. The Cottage Road Cinema means that Headingley can this boast this. This little gem has been continuously entertaining the residents of Headingley since 1912 and is Leeds’ oldest cinema.

The famous Otley Run

No self-respecting student can live in Headingley for three years without attempting the famous (or should we say infamous) Otley Run. This pub crawl has grown over the years to epic proportions and now encompasses sixteen pubs, starting at Woodies Craft Ale House on the outskirts of Headingley and culminating at the Dry Dock close to Leeds City Centre. Popular with students and locals alike, people are often celebrating stag dos and birthdays. Fancy dress is a big part of the event with groups often going for a theme. The Otley run is a great way to see the enormous variety of venues that Headingley has to offer. From the massive beer garden of the Original Oak to the great value of the Eldon, there is something for everyone along the route (if you make it that far).

Shopping

Headingley will cover all your day to day shopping needs but also has an exciting mix of independent and alternative stores. The Arndale Shopping Centre houses a full-size Sainsbury’s, Post office, KFC, Costa Coffee, Subway and is soon to have a Premier Inn (handy for visiting parents and relatives). Growlers, craft beer shop stocks hundreds of beers, wines and ciders and will deliver to your door too. Retro Boutique on Headingley lane is a treasure trove of trinkets, fashion and vintage and restored furniture.

Sport in Headingley

Headingley is an absolute treat for sports fans. The world famous Headingley stadium is located on the Headingley campus of the Leeds Becketts University. The Leeds Rhinos (rugby league), Yorkshire Carnegie (rugby union) and Yorkshire County cricket teams all play at Headingley stadium. Becketts Park campus is just up the road where various Leeds Becketts Uni teams play and train. If watching sport on the telly is more your thing, you can always head to the Skyrack pub or The Box for a great atmosphere.

Transport

Transport links in Headingly are excellent, with a one-stop-train journey to Horsforth for Leeds Trinity University students from Headingley railway station and buses every ten minutes into the city centre.

Essential Travel Information

University of Leeds, Becketts City Campus and Leeds City centre.

You're spoilt for choice for bus services in Headingley, with the numbers 1, 6, 28 & 97 running up to every 3 minutes along Otley Road to the University and City Centre. Plus travel between Headingley Arndale Centre and the University is a tiny £1!

Staying out later? Service 1 also operates until 3am Monday-Saturday nights.

Leeds Trinity University Horsforth: Headingley train station is located on Kirkstall Lane LS5 3LD, with regular trains to the Horsforth based university on its Harrogate line.

Service 97 runs every 20 minutes during the day from the City Centre & Headingley to Leeds Trinity University College.

Becketts University, Headingley Campus

LeedsCityBus runs every 10 minutes around the City Centre, serving the Civic Campus, Rail Station, Bus Station and main shopping areas - and holders of unlimited travel tickets can use the service for free.

For the Headingley Campus, services 1, 6, 28 & 97 run up to every 3 minutes from the City Centre through Headingley and stop close to the Headingley Campus.

For more information, go to:

https://www.firstgroup.com/leeds/routes-andmaps/frequent-great-value-bus-travel-students

Property Guide

For large 7-12 bed properties, Cardigan Road and Kirkstall Lane are ideal places to start your search, while Escourt Terrace, Escourt Avenue, Headingley Mount and Headingley Avenue all have an abundance of 4, 5 and 6-bed properties. 1 and 2-bed flats are often located around the Chapel Lane and St Michaels’ Road areas.

Doctors and Emergencies

As the name suggests, Leeds Student Medical Practice specialises in the treatment of students, their partners and dependants. The practice is near to Leeds University and only a couple of minutes walk from Woodhouse Lane.

4 Blenheim Walk, Leeds, LS2 9AE 0113 295 4488

Their website has a comprehensive guide to student health and wellbeing.

www.leedsstudentmedicalpractice.co.uk

The Leeds General Infirmary is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and is a large major trauma centre. Many student nurses, doctors and students of other specialities will be training here and as such you can walk under cover from Leeds University right to the hospital doors. Aside from the 999 for emergencies, you can contact the LGI switchboard on 0113 2432799.

Leeds Dental Institute (again part of The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) provides a student-led walk-in clinic twice a day Monday –Friday. Times may vary due to service needs and only operates during term times of the University of Leeds. This service is contactable by calling the NHS on 111.

Leeds Dental Institute, The Worsley Building, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9LU.

Further Afield

Sometimes you just want to get away from it all. Fortunately, there is no shortage of country houses and walks in the Yorkshire area, some of which are only a short bus ride from Headingley and Leeds City Centre.

Kirkstall Abbey is a Cistercian monastery that is less than 2.5 miles from Headingley and is owned by Leeds City Council. It sits in a public park above the river Aire and is an oasis of calm amongst the city bustle.

Harewood House on the Harewood Estate dates from 1759 and sits in magnificent gardens designed by Capability Brown. Art lovers will enjoy the many renaissance masterpieces on display and originals by JMW Turner who visited Harewood as a young artist, leaving some of his work behind when he left. Visit www.harewood.org for more details.

Meanwood Valley Nature Trail runs between Woodhouse Moor Park and Golden Acre Park and takes in woodland, lowland heath, meadows, watercourses and ponds.

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