From candlelit dinners and live music to cookery competitions and painting masterclasses, here's how you can start feeling the lovethis Valentine's.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner and if you're feeling unsure on how to celebrate it, then we've pulled together a list of activities and experiences for you to get up to.
Whether you're celebrating with your significant other, a group of mates or just treating yourself (which you absolutely should), we all deserve to feel loved up at this time of year.
So whack out your diary, keep reading and get planning your next date night.
Hidden behind a gentleman's barbershop in the Grand Arcade you will find The Domino Club - a moody, sexy, late night jazz bar which makes for the ultimate date night spot.
Take a seat at a candlelit table, order your favourite cocktail and watch the magic unfold. They host live musicians every night who showcase some of the best jazz, blues, funk and soul that you can find in the city.
Once you're nestled in here, we can guarantee that you won't want to go anywhere else. If you're visiting on a Friday or Saturday night then booking is advised and can be done here.
Take a stroll around Kirkstall Abbey
Image: Kirkstall Abbey.
Kirkstall Abbey is one of the most beautiful ruined abbeys in all of Britain, and we are extremely lucky to have it on our door step. There's nothing better than taking a romantic stroll around the grounds, hand in hand, with the whooshing sound of the River Aire acting as your soundtrack.
Come rain or shine, this magnificent abbey looks astonishing any time of year and is well worth the trip out of the city centre.
Relax and unwind at Iveridge Hall Spa
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Fancy a dip in a hot tub? Then head to Iveridge Hall Spa, a family-run independent business that offer incredible, luxury spa experiences.
You and your loved one can enjoy some well deserved TLC by relaxing in a private hot tub and unwinding in an outdoor therapy spa pool. It's the perfect opportunity to catch up with one another and forget about the stresses of the outside world. You can even book a couple's massage for that extra special, luxury treat.
There are loads of romantic restaurants in Leeds, but we have a soft spot for The Ox Club and it's warm, comforting atmosphere. Expect exposed brick walls, warm lighting, gorgeous wooden furnishings and pops of colour via eye-catching art work.
Specialising in live-fire cooking, the food here is astonishing. Opt for the 1kg Highland cote de boeuf to share alongside a brilliant bottle of red and finish with the Basque cheesecake topped with blood orange and fennel marmalade.
Trust us when we say that a meal at The Ox Club is one you won't forget easily, making it the perfect choice for Valentine's Day.
There's nothing more romantic then a dimly lit, secret cocktail bar where you and your loved one can stare into each other's eyes over a martini or two. And Below Stairs is just that - a trendy, speakeasy style bar located on South Parade that is an absolute drinking gem hidden in plain sight.
Expect an incredible, interactive drinks menu alongside impeccable service and ultimate, romantic vibes (if you can find it that is).
Share fondue at Cheesy Living Co.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Because nothing screams romance than a massive pot of melted cheese, right? And they serve it in abundance at Cheesy Living Co., one of Leeds' most beloved wine bars and delis.
Tuck into fondue at either their Oakwood location or original Corn Exchange location, your heart will be set alight in no time.
Go head to head at Roxy Ballroom
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're a competitive couple then you will want to head down to Roxy Ballroom immediately to try your hand at their huge list of games. Challenge your partner to a game of shuffleboard before taking the party to the pool table to see who the ultimate winner is.
You can do all this with a delicious cocktail in hand whilst tapping your toe to their iconic rock and indie soundtrack.
Take a cookery class together at home
Image: Migrateful
If you're fancying a night in but still want to indulge on some delicious food, then why not whip up a storm at home by following a virtual cook-along session.
Migrateful is a critically acclaimed social enterprise supporting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants to teach their traditional cuisines to the public as a way to access employment and integration in the UK. It's the perfect opportunity to learn some new culinary skills together whilst supporting the lives of their refugee chefs.
The classes are conducted via Zoom with all participants receiving a list of ingredients and equipment before hand. Expect a delicious meal to enjoy at the end of it as well as the privilege to take a look into someone else's culture and stories.
To find out more, take a look at Migrateful's website.
Get artsy at Paint A Pic
Image: Paint A Pic
For the creative types, this is 100% the activity for you. Paint A Pic is a super fun event that combines drinks with a crafty art class. Expect to sip your way through delicious tipples all whilst creating a Picasso like masterpiece to take home with you.
They host events across the city numerous times a week and each event has a different theme. You could be painting a romantic sunset, a beautiful landscape or an eye catching portrait - no experience is needed and it's the perfect opportunity to get your Bob Ross on.
To have a look at their upcoming events, take a peek at their website.
Experience the tasting menu at Prashad
Image: Prashad
If you're really looking to push the boat out and treat your significant other this Valentine's Day then why not enjoy a night of fine dining at one of Leeds' most critically acclaimed restaurants, Prashad.
Prashad is a family-run, independent Indian restaurant based in Drighlington, Leeds. They have been serving up their deliciously authentic North West Indian recipes for 30 years and have received multiple awards for their seven course tasting menu.
The perfect evening for a couple that love their food and want to sample some of arguably the best cuisine in Yorkshire.
Leeds is set to welcome an exciting new addition to the city’s interactive gaming scene, as Prison Island prepares to open its first northern venue.
The new multi-activity entertainment venue at the Merrion Centre will make itself at home inside an 11,000 sq ft unit across two floors, with Prison Island being at the heart of the action.
Prison Island is an immersive team challenge that sees players in teams of up to five tackle a series of themed cells designed to test physical ability, skill, teamwork, and problem-solving, and unlike a traditional escape room, teams can take on a variety of challenges that enable them to create a different experience with every visit.
The internationally established concept will also offer a range of additional competitive experiences - including interactive darts and interactive golf.
Leeds will join a global network of more than 110 Prison Island locations, and will become the concept’s fourth venue in the UK and first venue in the North of England - joining existing locations in Belfast, Maidstone, and Camden.
Credit: SuppliedCredit: Supplied
Prison Island Leeds - which will create 18 jobs once it opens - will be operated by the team behind the hugely successful Belfast venue, which opened seven years ago and has established itself as one of Northern Ireland’s leading attractions.
Suitable for groups of friends and families, as well as celebrations, corporate events, and team-building activities, the venue is joining the Merrion Centre and wider Arena Quarter’s growing leisure and entertainment offer.
Ryan Lyttle, director of Prison Island Leeds, said: "We’re most looking forward to finally bringing the Prison Island experience to Leeds. We’ve seen how well the concept works in Belfast, particularly because it appeals to such a broad audience and every visit can be completely different.
Global interactive action game Prison Island to open first northern venue in Leeds / Credit: Supplied
"With Prison Island alongside a range of additional activities, we’re excited to create a venue where people can come together, compete, have fun and discover something they haven’t experienced before."
Prison Island Leeds is expected to be open in time for Christmas, with the team promising special plans to mark its arrival in the city, although details are being kept firmly under wraps for now.
Further information on the opening, including launch plans, will be announced in due course.
Featured Image - Supplied
News
Leeds Festival 2026 – lineup, tickets, travel, stage times, and more
Daisy Jackson
Leeds Festival is returning to Bramham Park for perhaps its biggest lineup yet, and here’s everything you need to know ahead of this huge live music weekend.
The enormous annual festival - twinned with Reading down south - will this year welcome headline performances from Fontaines DC, Florence & The Machine, Dave, Raye, Charli XCX, and Chase & Status.
But the wider lineup will cover everything from hip hop to pure pop, indie rock to metal, because if there’s one thing that Leeds Festival boasts, it’s an eclectic and diverse music soundscape for all to enjoy.
Leeds Festival has been providing Yorkshire residents and festival-goers from across the UK with some cracking acts and performers since 1999 - and this year is no different.
Here's everything you need to know if you're going to Leeds Festival 2026.
Leeds Festival 2026 lineup
Fontaines DC are one of the headliners of Leeds Festival 2026
Headliners for Leeds Fest 2026 will include Charli XCX, Chase & Status Live, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. and RAYE, with Kasabian making history as the first-ever Thursday night headliner at Leeds Festival.
They are joined across the weekend by the likes of Skepta, Sombr, Role Model, Blossoms, Declan McKenna, JADE, Maisie Peters, Keo, Kneecap, Geese, Kettama, Holly Humberstone and many more.
The 2026 festival will also look very different on site, with The Grid, The Gallery, The Warehouse, The Ballroom and The Canopy making up the new-look stage offering, alongside returning late-night favourite LS23.
The revamped layout is being billed as the biggest staging and arena overhaul in the festival's history.
Leeds Festival 2026 stage times - Thursday 27 August
The Grid
7pm – Arkayla
7:55pm – The Lathums
9:20pm – Kasabian
LS23
10pm – CamUKG
11:15pm – Halfpint
12:30am – C100
2am – Lens
Friday 28 August
Chase & Status will perform at Leeds Festival 2026Florence and the Machine will perform at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:15pm – 54 Ultra
1:30pm – Dylan John Thomas
2:45pm – Arthur Hill
3:55pm – Blossoms
5:25pm – Role Model
7:20pm – Florence + The Machine
9:30pm – Chase & Status Live
The Gallery
12pm – Mulaa Joans
12:50pm – After
1:40pm – Holly Humberstone
2:45pm – Julia Wolf
4pm – Duke Dumont
5:30pm – The K’s
7:15pm – Kettama
9:40pm – Kneecap
The Warehouse
12:25pm – [IVY]
1:25pm – Saint Ludo
2:55pm – Hamdi
3:55pm – Notion
5:25pm – SOTA
6:25pm – Hedex
7:25pm – Hybrid Minds
The Ballroom
12:40pm – Betty
1:45pm – Westside Cowboy
2:55pm – Dexter In The Newsagent
4:10pm – The Clause
5:45pm – WHATMORE
7:20pm – Bassvictim
9:30pm – Paris Paloma
The Canopy
12pm – Alex Spencer
12:40pm – She’s Green
1:20pm – Raynor
2pm – December 10
2:50pm – Untitled
3:40pm – Kilu
4:35pm – Violet Grohl
5:55pm – F3miii
LS23
11pm – ZERO
12:30am – 1991
1:45am – CROSSY
Saturday 29 August
Charli XCX is a Saturday headliner
The Grid
12:30pm – Beth McCarthy
1:25pm – Keo
2:35pm – James Marriott
3:45pm – Declan McKenna
5:15pm – Skepta
7:10pm – Charli XCX
9:20pm – Fontaines D.C.
The Gallery
12pm – JD Cliffe
12:30pm – DJ EJ
1:30pm – Rose Gray
2:45pm – ADELA
4pm – Skye Newman
5:20pm – Geese
7:20pm – SINN6R
9:05pm – 4AM Kru
The Warehouse
12pm – Meeshy
1:15pm – Djammin
2:30pm – Julian Fijma
3:30pm – Omar+
5pm – Locky
7pm – Alisha
9:05pm – Skepta B2B East End Dubs
The Ballroom
12:20pm – Bleech 9:3
1:30pm – Cardinals
2:40pm – Clementine Douglas
4pm – Overpass
5:30pm – Florence Road
7:15pm – Unpeople
9:15pm – YT
The Canopy
12pm – Tooth
12:40pm – Lamb
1:20pm – Florentenes
2pm – The Guest List
3pm – People I’ve Met
4:05pm – Day We Ran
5:05pm – Villanelle
6:05pm – Camille Blackman
LS23
11pm – Delilah
12:30am – Osmosis Jones
1:45am – Soul Mass Transit System
Sunday 30 August
Raye and Dave headline Sunday at Leeds Festival 2026
The Grid
12:05pm – Absolutely
1:35pm – Slayyyter
3pm – Maisie Peters
4:15pm – JADE
5:50pm – Sombr
7:35pm – RAYE
9:35pm – Dave
The Gallery
12pm – M60
12:45pm – Say Now
1:50pm – Clara La San
3:05pm – Kingfishr
4:15pm – Niko B
5:50pm – Nine Vicious
7:20pm – Jamie Webster
9:25pm – Josh Baker
The Warehouse
12pm – Jack Marlow
1:30pm – Silva Bumpa
2:45pm – In Parallel
4pm – Riordan
5:30pm – Mall Grab
7:15pm – Rossi.
The Ballroom
12:30pm – Garage Flower
1:45pm – The North
3pm – Basht.
4:15pm – Bar Italia
5:45pm – The Lilacs
7:40pm – SPEED
The Canopy
12pm – Sade Olutola
12:40pm – Pozzy
1:25pm – Amma
2:05pm – Ruby Roberts
3pm – Cruz Beckham And The Breakers
4pm – Kibo
4:50pm – Finessekid
6pm – Gurriers
LS23
11pm – Megra
12:30am – Pretty Girl
1:45am – Riria
Where can I get tickets for Leeds Festival 2026?
Tickets are available through the official Leeds Festival website and Ticketmaster, with weekend camping, non-camping, and individual day tickets among the options.
At the time of writing, official prices include £325 for weekend camping, £295 for weekend non-camping, £55 for Thursday, £125 for Friday, £155 for Saturday, and £125 for Sunday.
Two-day non-camping tickets are also available at £230.
You can see the latest availability and buy tickets HERE.
Where is Leeds Festival?
Leeds Festival 2026 headliners announced. Credit: Georgina Hurdsfield
Of course you may be thinking this is a silly question to ask considering its location is mentioned in the festival title, however Leeds Festival actually isn’t in the city centre.
Located in Bramham Park, this bank holiday weekend music destination is a 30 minute drive from the city centre.
The full address is: Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, Leeds, England, LS23 6ND.
How to get there
From Leeds City Centre
If you’re travelling from Leeds city centre, the easiest option is to head to Leeds Train Station and catch the dedicated Leeds Festival shuttle bus to Bramham Park.
The festival shuttle operates from Sovereign Square Park, next to Leeds Train Station, from Wednesday 26 August through to Monday 31 August. Tickets can be bought through the First Bus app.
Leeds Train Station is around a 30-minute drive from the festival site, although journey times can vary considerably during the festival due to traffic.
There are regular trains into Leeds from major UK cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and London, making the train-and-shuttle combination one of the simplest ways to reach Bramham Park without driving.
From around the UK
If you're travelling from further afield, the official festival travel partner Big Green Coach is offering return coaches to Leeds Festival from dozens of locations around the UK. Weekend services can arrive on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday and return on Monday, while day-return services are available for Thursday through Sunday.
For those driving, festival parking is included with tickets. Drivers should head towards the A1, M1 or A1(M) and then follow the festival's temporary signage, as routes into Bramham Park vary depending on where you're travelling from. The festival advises following the on-the-ground signage rather than relying on old sat-nav directions or printed maps.
If you're being dropped off or collected, use the dedicated Pick Up and Drop Off zone off York Road (A64). There is no pick-up or drop-off facility near Yellow Gate, and the festival warns against stopping or waiting on the A64 or access roads.
For those flying in, Leeds Bradford International Airport is around a 30-minute drive from Bramham Park. You can take the 757 bus into Leeds and then use the festival shuttle from Leeds Train Station, or take a taxi to the station before continuing to the site.
Clementine Hall -
7th February 2023 
