Can you believe we've reached the final what's on of the year?
2023 has flown by, but that doesn't mean we're short of things to do in the festive build up. From visits to see Santa to new restaurant openings, NYE plans and everything in between, we've got you covered...
Things to do
Magical Nights at The Queens
Friday 15 December – Saturday 23 December 2023 | The Queens Hotel, City Square
The Queens will host a special Christmas instillation, and we absolutely cannot wait.
Announcing the news to Instagram, the hotel said: “We invite you to join us for a Magical Night at The Queens. The landmark Leeds building will be brought to life, with British actress Celia Imrie to voice our new stunning new city centre animation, taking spectators on a tour around the iconic hotel with the help of one very special guest – The Gingerbread Man.”
Find out more here.
Visit Santa at Thackray Museum of Medicine
Select days until Christmas | Thackray Museum of Medicine
Image: Chapter 81
Start your trip with a visit to see Santa over at the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Harehills. There’s a 90-minute festive experience to explore that tells the tale of how Christmas is celebrated around the world, plus the opportunity to hang out with Father Christmas himself.
There’s additional ‘relaxed experiences’ on dates leading up to Christmas, plus extra crafts and exhibitions to check out around the museum’s grounds.
Sunday 17 December 2023 10am-2pm | Revolution Electric Press, Cookridge Street
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Celebrating all things dogs, those heading over to Revs will walk through the doors into the fairground-themed bar and wander between stalls stocking everything your pup could ever want or need.
And there’s a photographer to capture all of the action too. From candid shots of the day to full on photoshoot moments in ball pits and velvet sofas, you and your dog will be papped throughout the experience so you can look back and remember the occasion. And because it’s the most wonderful time of the year, expect plenty of festive props to take photos with!
Pantomime season is almost here…oh no it isn’t! Oh yes it is.
Nothing screams Christmas more than heading to the theatre on a cold, crisp evening and watching a brilliant show. Whether you want to risk being pulled on stage by a lavish panto dame or prefer a more civilised evening at the ballet, there’s so many productions happening in and around Leeds this season for you to enjoy.
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas and Banyan has the the perfect way to get you in the mood. With a glass of fizz included in every ticket, singalong to the timeless Christmas hits from a wonderful performer that’ll give the real Bublé a run for his money.
The Mustard Pot, Tileyard North, The Cheesy Living Co., Left Bank, Gusto, Cut & Craft, Banyan and Nation of Shopkeepers will all host Dottie from Hyde Park Flower Club this Christmas for two-hour wreath making workshops. From expert flower arrangers to beginners looking for a new hobby to try out during the festive season, all are welcome at these exciting evening classes.
Nothing says Christmas like heading out for some pigs in blankets months before the big day, it’s almost like a warm up for the stomach ahead of December 25th.
Leeds’ foodie scene has gone big this year on its festive specials, here’s a few that have been announced so far…
Since the markets were last in the city a lot has changed, including the cost of pretty much everything (looking at you, my energy bills). That means that the previous prices at the Leeds Christmas Markets have changed too.
If you’re heading out to enjoy a mulled wine, a few pints, or a festive feast, you’ll be wanting to know how to budget. And where to find the cheapest pint, obviously. We’re here to help. Here is the list of food and drink prices at the Leeds Christmas Markets 2023.
Back to draw the 2023 kitchen season to a close, you’ll find festival favourite Eat Like A Greek alongside Yorkshire Cheese Grill and Big Mouth Gyoza. Jimmy Macks return this year with those viral birria beef tacos and Nelly’s Barn has some wonderful winter warmers to check out.
Open for the next nine weeks, Trinity Kitchen shared the announcement this morning, stating “These friendly faces will be serving up their finest festive feasts until 14th Jan 2024“.
Taking over the former The Pantry site on Roundhay Road in Oakwood, The Cheesy Living Co. is going to be bringing a new multi-storey store to the suburbs, and it’s set to bring everything we love about the flagship Corn Exchange store, and plenty more besides.
Think cheesemongers meets ‘posh off licence’, with fresh coffee in the daytime, fondue in the afternoon and cosy nights with a bottle of sustainable wine.
Find out more here.
Galleria
Opening Thursday 7 December 2023 | Project House, Armley Road
A new woodfire restaurant and bar promises to bring the food in at new gig and event space Project House next month – and it sounds like there’s going to be a lot to love. Brunch will be served with ‘pancake stacks, breakfast flatbreads and the obligatory Bloody Mary to boot’ whilst evenings promise a host of meaty, doughy, sweet, sour and savoury delights – we can’t wait to find out what’s on the menu.
Opening Friday 8 December 2023 | Merrion Street, Leeds City Centre
Image: Chance & Counters via Instagram
Chance & Counters is known down south for its inviting setting, and seemingly endless supply of board games. And now the cafe company is taking over the former Yard & Coop site on Merrion Street.
The cafes are all centred around a library of 500 board games: there’s everything from old-school family favourites to new releases, and everything in between. It’s not just games here too – all that competitive spirit is bound to work up an appetite. By day, you’ll be able to grab a coffee and light lunch and craft beer or cocktail in the evening, with hearty pub grub like smash burgers, tacos, loaded fries and wings.
Former One Direction member Louis Tomlinson is heading out on a UK tour, visiting First Direct Arena for his biggest Leeds solo show to date.
Ten years since launching his solo career with debut single 'Just Hold On', Tomlinson is hitting the road again for his tour, which shares its title with the name of his latest LP - How Did I Get Here?
Tomlinson's last visit to Leeds saw him play an intimate show at The Wardrobe back in 2020 and is set to perform to 13,500 - he has definitely made sure to 'Jump the Gun' in terms of crowd size.
Now, the Doncaster-born musician is visiting one of Leeds biggest indoor live music venues First Direct Arena and it's sure to be a jam-packed night of live music.
Gig guide | Louis Tomlinson at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all you need to know
Are there tickets left for Louis Tomlinson at First Direct Arena?
Louis Tomlinson is bringing the How Did I Get Here? tour to Leeds on 28 April / Credit: Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)
Well if you've made it this far through, it's safe to say the fact you're after Louis Tomlinson tickets is 'Written All Over Your Face'.
If you're wanting to 'Face The Music' or 'Jump the Gun' you can do so as there's tickets to his Leeds show at First Direct Arena HERE.
Standing tickets are still available priced at £55.85, while seated tickets remaining are priced between £55.85 and £83.35 each.
Louis Tomlinson setlist for 2026 tour
The How Did I Get Here? Tour officially kicked off in Europe and it prioritises songs from his latest LP.
Here is the set list:
Lemonade
On Fire
Written All Over Your Face
Out Of My System
Bigger Than Me
Saturdays
Angels Fly
Dark to Light
Broken Bones
Defenceless
Just Hold On
Lazy
Sunflowers
Lucid
Jump the Gun
Imposter
Sanity
Kill My Mind
Face the Music
Silver Tounges
The Observer
The Answer
Miss You
Palaces
Wristbands and queue system
To manage crowds and ensure a 'fair and comfortable' experience for fans, a randomly allocated wristband system will be in place for standing ticket holders.
This is how it works:
Arrive at the arena between 11am and 2pm on the day of the show, Tuesday 28 April 2026.
Wristbands will be given out in batches at random to standing ticket holders, while availability lasts
Once you have your wristband, you will be asked to leave the area surrounding the venue and return between 4.30pm and 5.30pm
Upon your return to the arena, you will be asked to join a dedicated queue related to the number or colour on your wristband as guided by the dedicated venue team.
Doors open to the show at 6pm for general admission.
Stage times for Louis Tomlinson at First Direct Arena, Leeds
First Direct Arena has a strict curfew of 11pm meaning you can get home before having to watch the sky turn from 'Dark to Light'.
Anyone attending this show is in luck as the North has been well and truly represented in the form of Manc-based rock group Pale Waves and Doncaster talent ADMT.
Alex Spencer, another Northern act from Manchester is also joining the bill, but he's only playing at select Europe dates of the tour.
These are the expected stage times for Louis Tomlinson in Leeds tonight, based on his other shows so far:
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approx. 15min walk from first direct arena and is wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have it’s own car park however there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct arena click here
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street click here.
None of the above car parks are operated by the arena so for questions, queries or comments we ask that you contact the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes – you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock the bikes, and then 16p per minute to use them. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio – for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio based at Buslinthorpe Green is a great option. From this company, you can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer you’ll get a good discount.
Featured Images - Press shot / Flickr via Javie Rosh / Wikimedia Commons via Kurt Kulac (Supplied)
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Alex Warren at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
Singer-songwriter and social media star Alex Warren is visiting First Direct Arena, Leeds, for two nights of out of the 'Ordinary' live music.
One of the founding members of the TikTok group, Hype House, which also included fellow pop performer Addison Rae, Warren has gone on to receive global recognition for his contributions to music.
Born in California, it's no surprise his music has managed to catapult into the mainstream as he's been mastering content creation since he was 10 on YouTube.
His music journey began back in 2021, when he released music as an independent artist in 2021 before signing a record deal one year later, dropping the chart-topping 'Ordinary' in 2025.
Now, Alex Warren prepares for his biggest UK tour to date, and he's playing two shows right here in Leeds at the 13,500 seater First Direct Arena in April and May.
Gig guide | Alex Warren at First Direct Arena, Leeds - all the info
Alex Warren is visiting Leeds at First Direct Arena on 29 April / Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
Alex Warren UK tour dates
Fri 24 April - Birmingham, UK - Utilita Arena
Sun 26 April - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
Mon 27 April - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Wed 29 April - Leeds, UK - First Direct Arena
Thu 30 April - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
Sat 2 May - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
Mon 4 May - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Wed 6 May - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Thu 7 May - Dublin, IE - 3Arena
Are there tickets left for Alex Warren at First Direct Arena?
If you're looking for somebody to 'Save You a Seat', look no further as you can get tickets to Alex Warren's 29 April at First Direct Arena in Leeds HERE.
Stage times for Alex Warren at First Direct Arena, Leeds
Warren has built a cult following thanks to chart-topping hits like 'Ordinary'/ Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
First Direct Arena has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home without having to start ‘Chasing Shadows’.
Supporting Alex Warren on the night will be Claire Rosinkranz, a singer-songwriter from California with tracks like 'Frankenstein' and 'Backyard Boy'.
How to get to first direct arena
Bus Station
Located on Dyer Street next to Leeds City Bus Station and approximately a 15min walk from the arena, it's also wheelchair friendly.
Support and help for any persons with a disability is available as the station is a registered ‘Safe place’ to come into and ask for assistance.
Nearest Bus Stops
Clay Pit Lane
Wade Lane/Lovell Park Road
Woodhouse Lane
Nearest Train Station
Leeds City Station on New Station Street is around a 15min walk from first direct arena and a major hub on the national, regional and local rail network, providing connections to a wide variety of destinations.
Parking
There are over 7,500 car parking spaces within a 15-minute walk of the arena. The arena doesn’t have its own car park; however, there are lots of options nearby. To receive 5% off Q Park when attending a show at first direct, click HERE.
The nearest Car Park with EV charging is located on Albion Street, click HERE.
None of the above car parks is operated by the arena, so for questions, queries or comments, we'd recommend contacting the companies directly.
Hiring Bikes in Leeds
If you’re looking to hire a bike in Leeds, here are some of the best options you can try:
Beryl bikes: you’ll find the ‘Leeds City Bikes’ from Beryl stationed throughout the city. These are all e-bikes, and they’re available to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis. It costs £1 to unlock them, and then 16p per minute to use. We’d say these are great for zipping around the city and getting from A to B.
Talio: for a wider selection of electric bikes to choose from, Talio - based at Buslinthorpe Green - is a great option. You can hire cruiser bikes, mountain bikes, and cargo bikes. Prices start from £20 per day for rental, but if you’re hiring for a month or longer, you’ll get a good discount.
Sophie Smith -
1st December 2023 
