According to The Financial Times, some of the very best record stores in the entire world can be found right here in Leeds.
It’s safe to say vinyls and record stores are really having their moment recently, and we’re absolutely here for it.
UK music fans spent a record-breaking £2.4 billion on recorded music in 2024—the highest total since 2001.
An incredible 6.7 million vinyl albums were sold in the UK last year, marking seventeen consecutive years of annual sales growth and the highest level of vinyl sales in three decades.
So to celebrate its revival, writers at The Financial Times listed their favourite record stores in the world – and three from Leeds made the list.
First up on the list is Jumbo Records, the feature wrote: ” An institution – especially for keeping up with live music. You can really get a sense of how important live music is to Jumbo by how many gig listings are on the front page of their site, alongside the expected vinyl releases.”
Yep, we absolutely agree.
Next, Vinyl Whistle over in Headingley. The article praised Vinyl Whistle for its range of new and secondhand vinyls, DJ nights and live performances that reflect Leeds’ diverse musical history.
Last but not least, Tribe Records on Kirkgate was named a favourite.
The feature said: “This electronic music-focused store has been around in some form or another since the mid-1990s. It’s an absolute mainstay of the dance scene in the north of England.”
Leeds really did come up trumps when it came to UK record stores, only just coming behind London with the number of stores mentioned.
To read the full list, take a look at the article here.
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Featured image – The Hoot Leeds
