Eight handpicked hotels to stay at in Leeds city centre

25th July 2023

8 minute read

Leeds has a wealth of hotels to choose from – but how do you know where does the best brekkie or where you can hang out with artists during your stay?

There’s nothing worse than booking a trip away and watching your excitement fade as soon as you open the hotel door. Where you stay can make or break a whole trip – so we’ve hand picked some of the most unique places to stay in and around the city centre so you’ll have a trip far from the ordinary.

From Airbnbs and quirky hostels to family friendly chain hotels with reputations that speak for themselves, here’s seven different places you can stay in Leeds…

Leeds Art Hostel

St Mary’s Lane, Mabgate | From £25 per night

A bunk bed in a room with turquoise walls. — Images: The Hoot Leeds

A leather sofa with a white blanket draped over it.

Forget everything you know about hostels – long gone are the days of sweaty dorm rooms with dingy lighting and unassuming bunk beds in Leeds. Leeds Art Hostel has space for up to 60 guests at a time across twelve one-of-a-kind bedrooms and dormitories that have all been transformed by artists from across the world. Each artist, both local and international have ensured there’s a completely different personality through bespoke furnishings, exciting colour combinations and textures all hand-picked to suit the setting.

Expect everything from 80s protest culture to local textiles and heritage, space, football, plastic pollution and rainbow sheep – every space is a true sensory delight that guarantees you’ll never be bored throughout your stay. And best of all, there’s room for the whole family or group of friends – the only task is agreeing on which room you can stay in.

Where: St Mary’s Lane, Mabgate, Leeds LS9 7EH

Price: From £25 per person per night, and you can either book a bed or a full dorm.

Tips for booking: If you’re looking for an accessible room, book the ground floor private twin bedroom, which has a fully accessible en-suite shower room, adjustable bed with support rails, motorised hoist and smart lights and blinds, with anti allergy duvets and pillows all included within the room.

How to book: Directly through the Art Hostel website here

Find out more here.

Queens Hotel

City Square, Leeds City Centre | From £66 per night

A double bed with a blue head board. — Images: The Queens Hotel via Instagram

You really can’t get closer to Leeds Train Station than the Queens. The hotel is known as one of Leeds most iconic, with its signature art deco style and history hosting famous faces, like Nelson Mandela and Princess Grace of Monaco, over the years.

There’s ample opportunity to wine and dine without leaving the hotel too. Hang out in the Grand Pacific and feast your senses on afternoon tea with fruity cocktails or head up on the weekend for a fancy Sunday lunch, with the sounds of a live string quartet playing in the background.

Where: New Station Street, City Square, Leeds LS1 1PJ

Price: From £66 per night

Tips for booking: The Queens is a dog friendly hotel, welcoming all kinds of four legged friends into the hotel – just let the staff know in advance

How to book: Visit the Queens website here

Find out more here.

Doubletree by Hilton

The Double Tree hilton hotel in Leeds on the canal. — Images: Trip Advisor from Hilton / Open Table

A cafe with overhead twinkling lights and white chairs.

Located on Granary Wharf, Doubletree by Hilton has everything you’ll need for a stay in Leeds city centre. Known for its light and airy rooms and spacious family suites, each room has the option of city view or the option to overlook the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

And you won’t have to travel far to find some of the city’s most unique things to do. Just below the hotel you’ll find Water Lane Boathouse, an old boat-shed-turned-bar that’s just been voted as one of Britain’s best beer gardens, or hop on a water taxi and take the whole family to watch jousting at the Royal Armouries Museum.

Where: Granary Wharf, 2 Wharf Approach, Leeds LS1 4BR

Price: From £76 per night

Tips for booking: Hilton allows you to add connecting rooms when booking three days in advance for stays over two days

How to book: Directly through the Hilton website here

Find out more here.

Leeds Marriott Hotel

Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane | From £77

A courtyard of a hotel with two big trees. — Image: Marriott Hotels

Now for anyone that needs to be slap bang in the city centre, the Leeds Marriott is ideal. With plenty of space for families and large groups thanks to the handy adjoining rooms, its full of handy amenities like dry cleaning service, convenience store and wake up calls to make your trip all that bit easier.

And for foodies, you won’t have to travel far either. Gino D’Accampo’s restaurant is onsite and you don’t even have to travel from your room for a taste of the Italian chef’s famous dishes – just call room service.

Where: 4 Trevelyan Square, Boar Lane, Leeds LS1 6ET

Price: From £77

Tips for booking: If you’re booking as part of a corporate or workplace meeting, you can add on a meeting room, with sleek breakout space with coffee bar

How to book: Visit the Marriott website here

Find out more here.

Cosy Narrowboat Benedict

Clarence Dock, Leeds Dock | From £90 per night

A canal boat. — Image: Cosy Narrowboat Benedict via Airbnb

Think staying in Leeds means a high rise hotel? Think again. Down by Leeds Dock, there’s an Airbnb unlike anything else you’ll spot in the city centre. Owner and Superhost Jonny describes his narrowboat as a ‘dreamy cross between a Gypsy Caravan and the Orient Express’.

There’s all the modern conveniences you’d expect onboard too, including log burning stove, fridge freezer, gas cooker, shower and bed with space for up to two people to unwind after a long day exploring the city.

Where: Clarence Dock, the exact location and postcode is given upon booking

Price: From £90 per night

Tips for booking: This is a two night minimum booking, but you may see added discounts when booking on off peak times or longer stays over five nights

How to book: Use the Airbnb website here.

Find out more here.

Dakota

Russell Street, Leeds City Centre | From £102 – £350 per night

A double bed with cream sheets. — Image: Dakota Leeds via Instagram

Ladies drinking prosecco and laughing. — Image: Dakota Leeds via Instagram

Possibly the swankiest hotel in the city, the Dakota is known as a regular haunt for celebrities and socialites – located just moments from busy nightlife on Greek Street but still priding themselves on having that quiet, sophisticated ambience we all treasure from a night away from home.

There’s an onsite restaurant, cotton linen bed sheets across huge bedspreads and even a monsoon shower – so even if you don’t meet a famous face on your visit, you’ll certainly feel like one.There’s even been movies filmed inside the hotel walls – Netflix smash hit movie Bank of Dave just last year! See if you can find the exact location upon your next visit.

Where: 8 Russell Street, Leeds LS1 5RN

Price: From £102 – £350+ per night depending on the night of the week

Tips for booking: Direct booking through the Dakota website seemed to be the most inexpensive option, and look out fort

How to book: Use the Airbnb website here.Find out more here.

Rooms by Green Room

Wellington Street, Leeds City Centre | From £190 per night

A kitchen with a brick wall interior. — Images: Rooms by Green Room via Airbnb

Green Room, despite being open for just over a year, has been ranked as one of the best rooftop bars in Europe. And for those looking to take full advantage of the sun soaked terrace over the summer without wanting to spend hours trailing back to their accommodation – Green Room has the two apartments within the bar itself.

Following a similar industrial style to the bar and terrace, each apartment is kitted out with a fully equipped kitchen, 43 inch smart TV and two double bedrooms with space for 4 – 6 guests.

Where: Wellington Street, Leeds City Centre

Price: £190 – £390 per night

Tips for booking: It pays to be organised! Get 10% off as an ‘early bird discount’ if you book a few months ahead

How to book: Rooms by Green Room can be booked on Airbnb here.

Find out more here.

The Bells

Church Row, Leeds City Centre | £200 – £600 per night

A double four poster bed next to a copper bath tub. — Images: The Bells

A rooftop overlooking Leeds city centre with a hot tub in the foreground.

Imagine spending your weekend watching the Leeds skyline – sat in a hot tub with your mates or lazing around in bed all day watching the world go by. The Bells offers exactly that. With nine different apartments available, including an impressive Penthouse with rooftop seating, The Bells is one of the fanciest in Leeds – that’s for sure.

The serviced apartments also come with plenty of add ons for those looking to step up the romance. Packages can include bottles of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, bouquets of flowers, rose petals on the bed, heart shaped balloons and drinks vouchers redeemable at Bar Fibre or Viaduct Showbar.

Where: 6 Church Row, Leeds, LS2 7HD

Price: £190 – £390 per night

Tips for booking: The nine different apartments all come with different features like copper bathtubs and larger dining areas, so view all the available rooms to find the one that suits your needs the best

How to book: The Bells has a dedicated booking website here

Find out more here.

Things to do on your visit to Leeds

Now you’ve got yourself sorted with a hotel – what are you going to do during your stay in Leeds? The city is home to the Kaiser Chiefs and the first M&S. The world’s first moving picture was captured here and the idea for Cluedo. You can watch The Ashes over at Headingley Stadium and the Championship over at Elland Road – and whether it’s a big shopping trip or a browse through independent stalls in the markets, you’ll never run out of things to do.

Here’s a few of our favourite sites we always recommend visiting during a stay in Leeds…