There's so much going on in Leeds this month, we're absolutely spoilt for choice.
From food and drink festivals to film screenings under the stars and the much-anticipated Leeds International Festival of Ideas, there's plenty to keep you occupied throughout September.
Keep reading to discover our top ten picks for things to do in the city this month.
Leeds International Festival of Ideas
Promising a series of compelling talks on themes like morality, the future of food, the planet, inequality and the power of the media, Leeds International Festival of Ideas kicks off this month - bringing with it some impressive guests speakers Look forward to appearances from the likes of Katherine Ryan, upskirting campaigner Gina Martin, MOBO-founder Kanya King CBE and ought-after Scandi TedX speaker Emilia Van Hauen.
Promising four days of "outdoor cinema, street food, live comedy, short films, craft beers, prosecco, gin, and cocktails" the Film and Food festival lands at Roundhay Park with screenings of favourites like Grease, The Joker and The Greatest Showman, live comedy from Eshaan Akbar and a host of tasty street food traders curated by Street Food Warehouse.
The Leeds piano trail takes place over two weeks, popping up at sites including Kirkgate Market, Cookridge Street, Leeds Playhouse, Tiered Gardens and Leeds Train Station / Image: The Leeds piano trail
Leeds piano trail
Promising to bring music to "every street corner" this September, the Leeds piano trail features sculptures made entirely from upcycled pianos created by critically-acclaimed artists’ collective Pianodrome. These will appear alongside ten instruments that have been transformed by community groups.
4–19 September. Find out more and view the full programme of events here.
North Leeds food and drink festival
Returning for two dates in September, the North Leeds food and drink festival returns to Roundhay park for 2021 bigger and better than ever. Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, expect a host of international street food traders alongside independent bars, live music and art.
The annual family-friendly, 1980s-oriented music festival returns to Leeds this month, bringing with it a host of retro rock artists like Adam Ant, OMD, ABC, Kim Wilde, Sister Sledge, Howard Jones and Tony Hadley amongst others. if you're a lover of all things 80s, you won't want to miss this.
Harewood House will be screening some all-time favourites this month in collaboration with the Luna open-air cinema / Image: Luna open-air cinema
Luna open-air cinema
Watch cinema favourites under the stars at the Luna open-air cinema this month. Returning to Harewood House from Thursday 16, look forward to screenings of Top Gun, Dirty Dancing, The Greatest Showman and Downtown Abbey over the course of four days.
This festival celebrating local music from around the world takes place in Leeds this month, coming to the city on the last weekend of September. From 1920's swing to energetic Kaminari taiko drummers, folk songs about rebellion and so much more, there are some brilliant acts to be discovered here across the weekend.
This rescheduled show was originally meant to take place in March 2020. It finally lands in Leeds this month, bringing comedians Jon Richardson, Lost Voice Guy, Micky P Kerr, Barbara Nice and more to the 02 Academy for an afternoon of laughs. If you've previously bought tickets, these are still valid.
Draculaa: the Untold Story comes to Leeds playhouse this month and it sounds brilliant. Taking you back to New Year’s Eve, 1965, this co-production tells the story of a young woman who enters Marylebone police station to confess to a brutal murder. She also claims to be Mina Harker, the last living survivor of the intrepid group that witnessed Count Dracula’s destruction 70 years before - but Ms. Harker hasn't been seen since 1901 and would be 90 now.
Ben Randm comes to the Brudenell this month with his show Original Randm Material. Promising "high adrenaline wit matched with intelligence, [and[ beautifully layered storytelling" it sounds pretty decent to us.
Have alookat this stunning, futuristic family home that's currently on the market.
If you've ever wanted to live in a home that resembles a spaceship, then boy oh boy have we got the home for you.
This is Bennetthorpe House over in Doncaster, a truly impressive architect designed family residence that's so swish it even featured on one of the very first episodes of Grand Designs.
Now that's an accolade.
Images: Rightmove
Set across three floors, the home has a whopping five bedrooms and three bathrooms as well as a gorgeous light-filled reception room. In fact, the whole home is flooded with light due to the sheer abundance of windows.
Designed to impress, the entrance hall doubles as a dining area and showcases some of the property's most eye-catching architectural features, including a striking glass staircase and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass block wall.
Images: Rightmove
Upstairs, the lavish bedroom suite comes complete with a walk-in dressing area and a sleek en-suite shower room.
The lower ground floor features a large bedroom, dedicated sitting area, en-suite bathroom and provides direct access to the property's double garage.
Certainly, it's not the sort of home to snuggle in front of the fire with a good book and get all cosy - but if you're a fan of all things modern and contemporary then it doesn't get much better than this.
Images: Rightmove
The best part? It can be yours for just £850,000...how can one resist? It's a small price to pay to feel like you're the star of Grand Designs every single day of your life.
To have a proper nosey at this one-of-a-kind property then take a look at the listing on Rightmove here.
Featured image - Rightmove (Fine & Country, Bawtry)
News
Here’s five of the best new openings coming to Leeds this year
Clementine Hall
We're almost half way through the year, so let's see what else we've got to look forward to...spoiler alert, it's a lot.
So far we've had everything from ice bath cafes to listening bars open up in Leeds, and it seems like 2026 is the gift that keeps on giving.
Allow us to get you excited about what's coming to the city...
Dishoom
68–78 Vicar Lane, LS1 7JH
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This one is a biggun' as the ever so popular Indian restaurant is set to open this August in a beautiful Grade-II listed building on Vicar Lane which was formerly Flannels.
First opening in London, Dishoom now has restaurants dotted all over the UK including a huge site in Manchester. The group is famed for its lavish and grand interiors, as well as its home-style curries, grills and breakfasts including its legendary bacon naans.
Acai and the Tribe
88 Vicar Lane
Image: The Manc Group
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
This Japanese restaurant serves a menu full of sushi as well as grilled meats on sticks, sharing sides and build-your-own hand rolls. All of this is wrapped up in the most gorgeous interior, which you can see from their jaw dropping new Manchester site.
Occupying the Grade II-listed space on Vicar Lane, the three-storey building will include a 220-cover dining room, 30-cover terrace and an upstairs bar.
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat. Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June.
Okay, this one might not be happening this year...but we still had to mention it so please forgive us.
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd September 2021 
