8 DIY trending Halloween costumes that you can get last minute in Leeds
Think Squid Game, Cruella, Hocus Pocus' Sanderson Sisters, Netflix's You, Peaky Blinder, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland characters and even spooky costumes for your dogs.
If you're anything like us, we need a last-minute costume and queuing up down the streets of Headingley, desperately trying to get into the fancy dress shop is not how we plan to spend our evenings.
Instead, we've taken inspiration from celebrities, movies and classic horror costumes to create some easy last minute Halloween costumes that you can easily pick up in the city centre.
Forget the bargain witch hat from the supermarket, we've got some far more exciting ideas for you to try this Halloween.
Squid Game Contestant
Hayley Kiyoko makes this Squid Game costume look effortless and its given us a few ideas... / Image: Hayley Kiyoko, Instagram
If you saw Hayley Kiyoko's amazing Squid Game costume appear on your feed over the weekend then you'll know this is one of the best costumes from the Korean-Netflix hit around. It's also really easy to recreate: all you need is a green striped jacket, think 80s Adidas, and a number tag.
Both stores stock what feels like an unlimited stock of brightly coloured sportswear. Their selection of Adidas jumpers will be perfect for this and by shopping vintage, you're helping the planet: win, win.
Emma Stone's Cruella
This Cruella look is so simple and you should have a few items you can use at home already. / Image: Tamara Stilley, Instagram
All you need to transform into Emma Stone's version of Cruella is a satin-look white shirt and plenty of bling. This easy outfit just requires some red lipstick and monochrome eyeshadow to complete the look. Dalmations are a bonus, but not essential.
Where you'll find your costume in Leeds: Mki Miyukoi Zoku in the Corn Exchange or Zara on Briggate are your shops for a crisp white shirt.
If you're not ready to commit to the two-colour hair do, then that doesn't mean you have to miss out on this easy Halloween costume. Grab some white colour hair spray from your local beauty store and spray half of your head for the same effect.
Joe from You
https://www.instagram.com/p/CUc6IXTlgTK/
The serial-killer from hit Netflix show is such an easy costume to pull off. All you need is Joe's signature baseball cap and a shirt to pull off the costume. If you don't already have these items lying around in your wardrobe, we're certain a friend will. If all else fails, head over to Trinity and you'll find some great options for under £10.
Where you'll find your costume in Leeds: Clothes store in Trinity Shopping Centre have some great options. In H&M in particular you can grab a cap and shirt for around the £10.
This costume is so simple that anyone can find a Joe outfit in five minutes but the same also goes for the rest of the characters. Grab your mates and together you can create the whole cast: Love, Beck, Candace and Forty, all have similarly easy signature looks that are probably already in your home.
Crushed velvet and plenty of pink is all you need to channel your inner Sanderson Sister. This costume will also keep you cosy and warm if you choose to grab yourself a cape made from the comfy material: vintage stores are you go-to for this.
Where you'll find your costume in Leeds:Blue Rinse opposite the Corn Exchange or Sue Ryder Vintage on Otley Road are great bets for this one.
Laura Whitmore shared this incredible Halloween outfit with her followers over the weekend, and if you've already got the blonde hair, this costume will be a breeze. Why not head to the Hocus Pocus Bottomless Brunch in this get-up for a test run before Halloween?
Alice from Alice in Wonderland
Real-life American Disney Princess Kate has given us all the inspiration we need to recreate this look in Leeds. / Image: Parties and Paint by Kate, Instagram
Curiouser and curiouser, this is an easy-to-recognise costume that can be recreated at home. Grab yourself a pastel blue dress (or dye an existing dress blue with ink) and add frilly material and you're good to go. You can even cut up an old shirt into the apron shape for an inexpensive solution.
Where you'll find your costume in Leeds: Hidden Wardrobe should be your one stop stop for all things Wonderland.
If you're doing group costumes, you'll also find bandanas to use as neck scarves for a Mad Hatter look and perhaps even a red printed dress for the Queen of Hearts. There's also an Alice Immersive Experience coming to Leeds in the next few weeks that these costumes will be perfect for, so why not ahead and get a costume you can reuse?
The biggest gang in Birmingham are set to return to our screens soon for the final season of Peaky Blinders, making this year the perfect excuse to dress up in your best vest. To channel your inner Shelby, all you need is a waistcoat and hat but you can use makeup to chisel your cheekbones and add some fake blood for an extra spooky look.
Where you'll find your costume in Leeds: The British Heart Foundation opposite Kirkgate Markets has a great selection of Peaky Blinder-esque hats.
The charity shop have loads of options in a range of neutral colours: perfect to differentiate costumes if you're going as a group. They also have a full rail of 20s Gatsby dresses and glamorous accessories for anyone wanting to dress as Ada or Polly.
Group costumes can be stressful, especially when it comes to knowing how many costumes you need. This Oompa Lumpa costume from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is the ideal quick-fix as you can have as many or as little as you like: all you need in green hair.
Where you'll find your costume in Leeds: Superdrug sell spray-on hair colours that wash out. Grab a neon green bottle and a white eyeliner for your brows and you're sorted.
If you're feeling creative, you could also try and create costumes for Willy Wonka or the five lucky golden ticket winners.
Let your pooch do the talking
How adorable is this pumpkin-themed selection from Pets at Home? / Image: Pets at Home UK, Instagram
Let's face it. If you take your four-legged friend anywhere this Halloween, they're going to be the centre of attention. So why not just become their side-kick for the night? Dress up your dog to the nines and then dress in the same colour.
Where you'll find your costume in Leeds: Pets at Home in Headingley, Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Centre or Crown Point in the city centre have all the dog-friendly costumes you need.
For a pumpkin, throw on some orange tights or draw on a spooky pumpkin-style grimace with makeup to match. Pets at Home are also offering Halloween spa treatments in their Groom Room for all pooches where your pride and joy will get a free Halloween bandana that will also do just the trick.
One of the best days in the foodie calendar is hereand it's time to decide where you're going for the ultimate stack.
Whilst homemade pancakes hit the spot and attempting to flip them is definitely a laugh, it's always a treat to get out and about to celebrate the momentous occasion.
From thin crepes with lemon and sugar to pillowy, thick buttermilk stacks which are showered with a whole host of delicious toppings - there's a pancake dish for everyone to devour this Shrove Tuesday.
Keep reading for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars to visit this Pancake Day.
House of Koko
Chapel Allerton , Oakwood and Leeds city centre
Images: The Hoot Leeds
House of Koko are the absolute bees knees when it comes to brunch.
Their pancakes are fluffy, pillowy, light, perfectly formed and just down right delicious. The list of toppings is almost overwhelming and you can mix and match yours to your heart's content, we're talking bacon, biscoff, kinder bueno, toasted nuts, white choc chips, banana and even ice cream, the list really does go on but you'll be here all day.
Moose Coffee
Bond Court
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Given Canadian pancakes are a worldwide favourite, you'd expect the best pancakes to come from Moose Coffee. Made fresh to order, there's a stack of three dusted with icing sugar, dotted with blueberries and served with Canadian butter on offer as well as a Biscoff Stack made from three pancakes, biscoff sauce, vanilla ice cream, white choc shards, lotus biscuit.
Whatever your preference this Pancake Day, your combination of sweet and savoury is pretty much guaranteed to live up to the famous Canadian combination- maple syrup included.
Farmhouse
Lands Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Farmhouse are basically famous in the city for their epic stacks of pancakes, fluffy and loaded with all the toppings it's just what you want this Pancake Day.
If Up North
Call Lane or York Place
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a regular on the If Up North Instagram page, you'll know that these guys are big fans of pancakes. Given their obsession with posting their beautifully decorated variations online, we're confident that these pancakes will be lip-smacking, mouth-drooling good and packed with flavour.
Expect flavours like berry and Biscoff, fruits and cream, bacon and maple syrup as well as a whole host of different variations at any of their Leeds-based cafes.
North Star Coffee Shop
Leeds Dock
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Locally renowned for its coffee roast, North Star Coffee Shop is also a great contender for the best-looking pancakes around. Open from 8am this Shrove Tuesday, grab some fluffy pancakes topped with all the seasonal favourites they have on offer.
Galleria
Armley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Running from Monday 16 February until Friday 20 February, you can bag yourself £1 pancakes with a huge range toppings like classic lemon and sugar, maple smoked bacon, fried egg and sausage, or singular toppings such as blueberries, avocado, IPA caramel and more.
You'll need to pre-book to secure your offer and when you arrive, pick up an order form from your server so you can select how many £1 pancakes you want, alongside your chosen toppings. Yeah, it’s really that flipping easy.
Laynes Espresso
New Station Street
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything Laynes touch turns to gold, and their pancakes are of course no exception.
They of course go perfectly with a heavenly cup of coffee served inside their dazzling bright yellow, life-affirming coffee shop.
10 of the best new openings coming to Leeds in 2026
Clementine Hall
Allow us to get you excited about the next one with a list of new openings coming to the city.
If you're feeling a little bit down in the dumps about 2025 ending then do not fear, because we've got a feeling that the next year is about to be even bigger and better.
There's already a great selection of restaurants, bars and shops gearing up to open up in Leeds during, so let us fill you in.
Salon Madre and Madre
Wellington Street
Image: The Manc Eats
Are you ready for a fresh taste of Mexico Leeds? Well you better be – because Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, is setting up shop on Wellington Street in due course.
Not only that, but their lively sibling Salon Madre will be opening next door on Friday 20 February. Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens. Madre will open one month later.
Trinity Kitchen 2.0
Image: Supplied
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.
Burgerism
Meanwood
Image: The Manc Eats
You may remember when Burgerism had a delivery kitchen in Leeds, and ever since it closed we’ve had a Burgerism-shaped hole in our hearts. Well not any longer, because the Manchester-based burger chain has been given the go ahead to open a takeaway on Meanwood Road - hallelujah.
Dishoom
Taking over the old Flannels Site on Vicar Lane
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The legendary Indian restaurant group is coming to Leeds, and we’re absolutely buzzing about it. Dishoom is inspired by the Irani cafes of 1960s Bombay, which were meeting places for people from all walks of life.
Famed for their Indian twist on a classic breakfast (seriously, their breakfast naans are out of this world), Dishoom offers an all-day dining approach so you can get your Bombay fix from morning to noon and noon to night.
Planning permission is up for the restaurant to take over the former Flannels site on Vicar Lane, so fingers crossed it won’t be too long until we can all get stuck in.
Just when you thought the wine scene in Headingley couldn’t get any better, Once Upon A Vine is popping the cork on their third site - right in the heart of Headingley.
Expect hundreds of wines, plenty of bottles of fizz, and of course, a carefully curated local beer selection.
Uniqlo
Briggate
Image: Uniqlo
It’s happening…Uniqlo has confirmed it’s opening up right here in Leeds next year and we must say it’s looking very nice indeed. The Leeds store will be 1,100 square metres and will be located on Briggate in the old House of Fraser site. It’s part of a new expansion across the UK alongside new stores in Birmingham and Bristol.
A new Japanese grill and BBQ restaurant is opening up from Fern, the absolute mastermind behind Fern Modern Sushi. Opening up in the heart of the city on Vicar Lane, we can't wait for this one.
Dough Club
Burley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dough Club, a Manchester-based Detroit-style pizzeria, is planning to open up in Leeds.
Famed for their chewy, thick, cheesy crusts that are loaded with all the toppings imaginable, they’ll be opening up a spot on Burley Road for all your pizza needs.
MADE Matcha
Lower Briggate
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Introducing MADE Matcha, a matcha and açaí bar that has created waves in the foodie scene over in Sheffield since opening back in September last year. And it's pretty clear they're doing very well indeed, to be opening a second site in another city less than six months after launching is no mean feat.
Made Matcha will be opening on Lower Briggate in the Nice Things site and this pastel green paradise specialise in seasonal matchas that (almost) look too pretty to drink.
Lane 7
Albion Street
Image: The Hoot leeds
The independent bowling brand is set to open at Trinity Leeds in late spring, spanning a whopping 23,000 sq ft.
As well as 12 state-of-the-art bowling lanes, Lane7 will be home to other games including darts, pool tables, beer pong, golf simulators, and even an interactive 'Playground'.
Sophie Smith -
27th October 2021 
