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The best things to do in and around Leeds this month | October 2023

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Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 2nd October 2023

October always brings colder nights and the return of rainy season (although this year you could argue it never quite went away), but that certainly doesn't mean we're shy on things to do.

From pumpkin picking and Light Night trails around the city to food pop-ups and a gig every single night of the month, we've got everything you need to plan out your October around the city...

Horsforth Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Saturday 1 October – Monday 31 October 2022

Image: Kemps Farm

There’s far more than just grabbing your pumpkin for spooky season here. There’s 18 different varieties to choose from so grab your favourite white, blue, orange, green, warty big or small one and take a tractor ride through the picking fields. If that’s not enough, there’s plenty of photo ops here, an onsite cafe and even facepainters to bring your spookiest ideas to life

Find out more here.

Free National Trust Pass

Sunday 1 October - Friday 20 October 2023 | Various locations

two people walking a dog with trees in the background.
Image: National Trust

The National Trust is giving families the chance to visit its dozens of sites across England for free of charge this autumn.

When booking, you’ll need to select the free member’s ticket option and use the code ESCAPEINTOAUTUMN2023 when asked for your membership number, but it’s worth nothing that some National Trust places are exempt from this offer, so it’s advised that you check before planning your visit.

Find out more here.

Black History Walks with LEEDS2023

Saturday 7 October / Saturday 28 October 2023 | Meet at the Parkinson Building

With two dates available this month, the Black History Walks last two hours each and explore 'local narratives with African connections'. The interactive walks are available to the public but booking is recommended.

Find out more here.

Glass Onion Vintage Pop-up

Saturday 7 October 2023 | Project House, Armley Road

One of Yorkshire's biggest pop-up vintage stores is returning to Leeds, this time at new event space Project House. For second-hand fits and preloved garms, this place will become a true treasure trove for all savvy thrifters.

Find out more here.

Light Night

Thursday 12 October - Friday 13 October 2023 | Around Leeds

big haunted house design on the Town Hall.
Image: Light Night Leeds

Light Night is back for another year, and there's just two weeks until the streets of Leeds will be transformed into an incredible illuminated playground. Now in it’s nineteenth year, the UK’s largest annual arts and light festival returns with the theme ‘Future Dreaming’ and will span across two nights.

There's more than 50 breathtaking light installations, dynamic projections and spectacular interactive artworks are set to wow thousands of visitors to the highly anticipated, annual cultural event - and it always feels like the whole city has come out to visit in anticipation.

Find out more here.

A Night Walk Down The Ginnel

Saturday 14 October 2023 | Chapeltown

Image: LEEDS2023

Extending Light Night into a three-night adventure, Chapeltown will be hosting a walk down the ginnels across the suburb. The idea is the night brings locals together for a mile-long walk and then it's over to Mandela Centre for a film night - it's perfect for the whole family.

Find out more here.

Last chance to visit The Tetley

Sunday 22 October 2023 | The Tetley, Hunslet Road

Earlier this week, The Tetley announced that its current lease has come to an end, and as a result will be closing its doors later this month. The exhibition space, Tiny Tetley play area and T Bar and Cafe will both close from Sunday 22 October, so make sure to get in beforehand for one last visit.

Find out more here.

Food and Drink

Cheesy Living Co. Pop-up

Sunday 1 October | Northern Monk Refectory

Image: The Hoot Leeds

If you’ve been down to The Cheesy Living Co. before, you’ll know just how well these guys know their cheeses. Initially launching at Trinity Kitchen, the feedback across Leeds has been overwhelmingly positive, leading the chip shop to continue with an additional pop-up in the city centre.

Catch the last day of residency on Monday and you’ll be able to find all kinds of gooey, cheesy goodness over at Northern Monk Refectory at Marshalls Mill.

Bundobust Oktoberfest Specials

Sunday 1 October - Sunday 15 October 2023 | Bundobust, Mill Hill, Leeds City Centre

It’s time to dust off your Lederhosen and head to Mill Hill because Bundobust are raising a stein to Oktoberfest.

From Friday 15 October, they’ll be shaking a spice rack over some iconic German dishes for hungry punters to enjoy alongside a cold craft beer. A real match made in heaven.

Making a triumphant return is the Bundo Pretzel, in collaboration with Bolton-based Bavarian bakery Pretzel & Spelt, the German baked good is spiced with garam massala and turmeric, flecked with ajwain seeds, black salt and mango powder.

Ivy Asia ‘Sake Sensations’

Sunday 1 October 2023 - Tuesday 31 October 2023 | The Ivy Asia, Vicar Lane

‘Sake Sensations’ is a brand new, unique collaborative menu between Akashi-Tai and The Ivy Asia.If you’re a fan of the Japanese rice wine Sake, then this elegant and refined pairing menu is the one for you.

An exciting new collaboration between The Ivy Asia and Akashi Tai, the UK’s leading sake brand, the menu will showcase the best flavours from the continent paired perfectly with a range of sakes.

This menu is available until Sunday 5 November 2023. The experience costs £85 per persona and you can book your table here.

Trinity Kitchen

Sunday 1 October 2023 - Tuesday 31 October 2023 | Trinity Shopping Centre

In came the downpours, the nights suddenly got a lot longer and to make the new season, Trinity Kitchen’s new food trucks arrived with plenty of winter warmers. Choose from Tikks Thai Kitchen, Little Red Eats, Fish&, Cheese Yard and Spuds & Bros throughout the month.

Find out more here.

Concerts and Live Events Calendar

Sunday 1 October 2023: Damien Lewis at Brudenell Social Club (tickets here)

Monday 2 October 2023: Holly Humberstone at The Wardrobe (tickets here)

Tuesday 3 October 2023: Scene Queen at Leeds University Union (tickets here)

Wednesday 4 October 2023: Dolores Forever at Oporto (tickets here)

Thursday 5 October 2023: Honeyblood at Hyde Park Book Club (tickets here)

Friday 6 October 2023: This Will Destroy You + The Ocean at Project House (tickets here)

Saturday 7 October 2023: New Order at First Direct Arena (tickets here)

Sunday 8 October 2023: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus at The Key Club (tickets here)

Monday 9 October 2023: Funeral For A Friend at O2 Academy (tickets here)

Tuesday 10 October 2023: Cate at The Wardrobe (tickets here)

Wednesday 11 October 2023: Adam Rowe at Leeds Grand Theatre (tickets here)

Thursday 12 October 2023: The Northern Boys at The Hi-Fi Club (tickets here)

Friday 13 October 2023: Whitney Queen of the Night at First Direct Arena (tickets here)

Saturday 14 October 2023: Live at Leeds Festival (tickets here)

Sunday 15 October 2023: Neck Deep at The Key Club (tickets here)

Monday 16 October: The Damn Truth at Brudenell Social Club (tickets here)

Tuesday 17 October 2023: Squid at O2 Academy (tickets here)

Wednesday 18 October 2023: Birds In Row at The Lending Room (tickets here)

Thursday 19 October 2023: Newton Faulkner at Brudenell Social Club (tickets here)

Friday 20 October 2023: S Club at First Direct Arena (tickets here)

Saturday 21 October 2023: The Royston Club at The Wardrobe (tickets here)

Sunday 22 October 2023: Jurrasic Park In Concert at First Direct Arena (tickets here)

Monday 23 October 2023: Nature TV at Hyde Park Book Club (tickets here)

Tuesday 24 October 2023: English Teacher at Brudenell Social Club (tickets here)

Wednesday 25 October 2023: James Acaster at Leeds Playhouse (tickets here)

Thursday 26 October 2023: Venbee at Belgrave Music Hall (tickets here)

Friday 27 October 2023: Fall Out Boy at First Direct Arena (tickets here)

Saturday 28 October 2023: Punk Rock Factory at Leeds University Stylus (tickets here)

Sunday 29 October 2023: Elvis - The Best Of at First Direct Arena (tickets here)

Monday 30 October 2023: Alfie Blue at Oporto (tickets here)

Tuesday 31 October 2023: Queercore: Night of the Living at The Wardrobe (tickets here)

Live at Leeds Festival

Saturday 14 October 2022 | Various locations, Leeds

Image: Live at Leeds

150+ Artists. 14 Venues. 16 Stages. 1 Day. 1 Wristband. The festival has previously seen the likes of Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, The 1975, Lizzo, Sam Fender, Royal Blood, Sam Smith, Tom Grennan and many more take to the stage before going to become global successes, so those looking to find up-and-coming talent will be sure to find some independent names destined for cities far bigger than Leeds in the future.

Find out more here.

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Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

American rock band Kings of Leon are making their way to Leeds for a visit to First Direct Arena as part of their current EU/UK tour.

Formed in 1999 by brothers Caleb, Nathan, Jared, plus their cousin Matthew Followill, the rock band has gone on to achieve nine top 40 singles and six UK number one albums.

The rockers have two singles in Spotify’s Billions Club, including their standout hit ‘Sex on Fire’, which has amassed over 2 billion streams and ‘Use Somebody’ with 1.2 billion – two tracks that helped skyrocket them from cult favourites here in Britain to global superstars.

This four-piece’s latest LP, Can We Please Have Fun, dropped mid-2024 and knowing how energetic Northern crowds can be, it’s safe to say we’ve got this covered.

Last time they travelled over the pond, they let the Manchester crowd know the England score in real-time (read our full review).

Gig guide – Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena, Leeds

Kings of Leon UK tour dates

  • Fri 3 July – Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park
  • Sat 4 July – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
  • Mon 6 July – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena

Are there any tickets left for Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena?

If you’re wondering where you’ll ‘Find Me’ on Monday 6 July, it is probably watching these four relatives play their two decades’ worth of hits at First Direct Arena.

Don’t ‘Waste a Moment’ as there’s only a limited number of tickets left if you’re after catching a glimpse of Kings of Leon live – get yours HERE.

Tickets are on sale for Kings of Leon who are performing at Co-op Live on Saturday 4 July in Manchester.
Kings of Leon are gearing up for their Leeds gig at First Direct this July (Credit: Press shot)

Kings of Leon setlist for 2026 UK tour

These American rockers have been performing all across Europe, switching up a couple of songs at each show; however, the hits below have featured at most of their appearances.

  • Slow Night, So Long
  • Waste a Moment
  • Find Me
  • On Call
  • Radioactive
  • The Bucket
  • Revelry
  • Manhattan
  • Use Somebody
  • Wait For M
  • Split Screen
  • Closer
  • Molly’s Chambers
  • Razz
  • MyParty
  • Supersoaker
  • Fans
  • Back Down South
  • Seen
  • Pyro
  • Black Thumbnail
  • To Space
  • Knocked Up
  • Sex on Fire

What are the stage times for Kings of Leon in Leeds?

Doors for Kings of Leon at First Direct Arena in Leeds are set to open at 6pm with a kick-off time of 7.30pm from a huge indie rock band.

Supporting the US rockers is a band who have received comparisons to Kings of Leon, the loud-and-proud Scottish stars The Snuts, known for their tracks like ‘Glasgow’, ‘Elephants’ and ‘Maybe California'.

How to get to First Direct Arena

Bus Station

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.

Read more: Grassroots Leeds music venue secures long-term future as part of community ownership scheme

Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)/Raph_PH (Flickr/WikiCommons)/Audio North

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Pitbull at Roundhay Festival, Leeds – tickets, times, setlist and more

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Megastar Pitbull is heading to Roundhay Park in Leeds for a headline festival performance where you're sure to be yelling "Timber".

Lots of Leeds music lovers might be flocking to Roundhay Park for an outdoor gig like no other because this one comes with 'Hotel Room Service' - not literally, but the Cuban-American star will probably deliver a rendition of this smash hit.

Amid this current heatwave, we might even be able to change the 'International Love' lyrics from "Hotter than Miami" to "Hotter than Roundhay".

Although we can't predict the weather, we can confirm that Pitbull is insane as he played a cracking show at Co-op Live in Manchester last year.

Gig guide | Pitbull at Roundhay Festival, Leeds

Pitbull playing out to a crowd of bald caps at Co-op Live in Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group
Pitbull playing out to a crowd of bald caps at Co-op Live in Manchester / Credit: The Manc Group

Pitbull UK tour dates

  • Tue 30 June - Belfast, UK - Ormeau Park
  • Wed 1 July - Bellahouston Park, UK - Glasgow Summer Sessions
  • Fri 3 July - Leeds, UK - Roundhay Festival
  • Sat 4 July - Cardiff, UK - Blackweir Fields
  • Sun 5 July - Lancashire, UK - Lytham Festival

Are there any tickets left for Pitbull at Roundhay Park, Leeds?

If you're up for singing"I'm on fiiiiiire" with the lively leeds crowd and Pitbull himself you can find tickets for his Roundhay Festival headlining slot HERE.

Oh and did we mention you can 'Talk Dirty' with Jason Derulo and 'Snap Yo Fingers' when Lil Jon takes to the stage, all in one day? This festival is top class.

Pitbull setlist for UK festival tour

These upcoming dates from the phenomenal Floridian are part of the Pitbull: I'm Back! tour which has already stopped off at a variety of venues stateside.

Here's all the tracks you need to get memorising ahead of Mr. Worldwide's British summertime shows:

  • Don't Stop the Party
  • International Love
  • Hotel Room Service
  • I Feel Good
  • Suavemente
  • Shake/ Culo
  • I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
  • On the Floor
  • I Like It
  • DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love
  • Feel This Moment
  • Gasolina
  • JUMPIN
  • Timber
  • Time of Our Lives
  • Fireball
  • Give Me Everything

What other artists are on the 3 July Roundhay Festival lineup?

  • Jason Derulo
  • Tinie Tempah
  • Lil Jon
  • Los Tucanes De Tijuana
  • Jazzie Martian
  • CJ. AllDayy
  • Dan Hills
  • DJ Flex

What are the stage times for Pitbull's headline Roundhay Festival?

Last entry for all shows is 8.30pm with box office closing slightly earlier at 8pm and any headliner expected to wrap up their set by 10.30pm.

Getting to Roundhay Park

Car

Just a 10 minute walk from Roundhay Festival's West Entrance is Connaught Fields which is the closest parking option.

Or, if you're up for a walk and want something more cost-effective, Fearnville Park and Stride is a 30 minute walk away, with parking spaces on the grass fields and a scenic country path which leads you to the festival.

Accessible parking can be found on Mansion Lane with a clear pathway to the event with spaces needing to be pre-booked when purchasing your ticket at no extra cost.

Bus/ coach

A dedicated shuttle bus service has been set up to and from Roundhay Festival running every 20 minutes from 11am to 8pm on Sovereign Street, just four minutes from Leeds Train Station.

The last shuttle bus from Roundhay Park back to the city centre will depart at 12.30am with clear signposting and stewards on hand for any gig goers.

Roundhay Festival has also partnered with Big Green Coach meaning concert attendees can hop on from a wide range of pick-up points across the UK from Wakefield all the way to Coventry - more info HERE.

Car/ taxi drop off

Vehicles heading to Roundhay Festival should follow marked signs for 'Pick-up/ Drop-Off points'.

Drivers should not attempt to pick-up or drop-off from any of the nearby roads aside from those already designated via signage: North Pick-up/ Drop-off via Park View Crescent | South Pick-up/ Dro-off via Wetherby Road.

Extra Info

All travel updates and road closures on event days will be announced and regularly checked HERE.

Read more: Global pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo says she ‘really wants to go to Leeds’ in 2026

Featured Images; Press shot (via supplied) / The Manc Group

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