As a city that thrives on independent traders, it’s no surprise that when it comes to Christmas shopping, Leeds has limitless places to find everything from an office Secret Santa gift to a heartfelt gift for a loved one to treasure forever, all which support a local shop owner or artist.
If you’re unsure on where to begin your shopping trip, we've located all the best hotspots for you to mooch around…
Leeds Corn Exchange
Call Lane, Leeds City Centre | 10am-6pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Where: Call Lane, Leeds City Centre, LS1 7BR
Our Corn Exchange needs no introduction, does it? There’s everything you could possibly need all under one cosy roof. Whether you're after vinyls from Released Records, prints from Off The Wall, jellycats from Giant Kitten, Colours May Vary books, sustainable fashion from TOM-O clothes, this really is an indie shopper’s paradise and makes the perfect one-stop shop for those wanting to shop independently this Christmas.
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Kirkgate, Leeds City Centre | Monday – Saturday, 8.30am - 5pm
Image: Visit Leeds
Where: Kirkgate, Leeds City Centre, LS2 7HY
Kirkgate Market is one of Europe's biggest indoor markets and a shoppers paradise! Home to the birthplace of M&S and countless other exciting independent stores, there's everything you could ever need to buy from here: jewellery, flowers, hardware, fashion, food, drink and that’s just the beginning .
This one’s a personal recommendation for stocking fillers, you’re sure to find one of us here scanning the stalls before Christmas grabbing gifts.
Upper Briggate, Leeds City Centre | Opening times vary
Image: Visit Leeds
Where: Grand Arcade, 20 Merrion Street, Leeds City Centre, LS16PQ
Where: Thornton’s Arcade, Lands Lane, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6LQ
Where: Queens Arcade, Leeds City Centre, LS1 6LH
The historic architecture is reason enough to visit the beautiful arcades in Leeds, but as they’re home to an abundance of independent shops that need to be on everyone's radar, it’s the perfect place to get your Christmas shopping sorted too.
Hoot recommends: Start with Thornton's Arcade home to Ok Comics, Village Books, Welcome Skate Store and one of our favourite coffee shops Kapow! Then head over to the Queens Arcade just a few doors down Briggate to find the likes of Next One leather, Allerton's optician, Designer Exchange and Cancer Research UK for thrifted gifts that are good for the planet and support those in need.
Leeds Christmas Markets is returning to the city centre in just two months' time and some major plans and changes have been announced.
Although Pop Princess Zara Larsson might want us to believe "Summer isn't over yet", it's safe to say that the recent downpours we've had across West Yorkshire disagree.
Leeds Christmas Markets are also ringing in the new season with a jam-packed video posted to social media announcing all the current plans and changes for its 2026 schedule.
This year, outdoor events company Thor’s Tipi are stepping up as the all-new operators of this Christmastime spectacular and are organising a celebration where 'even if you’re not from Yorkshire, you’re going to leave being from Yorkshire'.
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November with plenty of Yorkshire-centric stalls / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Although Leeds locals already know that Yorkshire is 'God's Own Country', the Leeds Christmas Markets team are making sure that the county is represented through its food, drinks and wider stalls.
In a video uploaded to its social accounts, foodie expert and Little Bao Boy Founder James 'Jimmy Chews' Ooi was given the honour of revealing all these exciting plans.
Informing everyone that "You best come hungry", Ooi noted that some of the phenomenal vendors taking part include La Grassa and The Savvy Baker.
Real Markets Yorkshire and Stump Cross Caverns are also getting into the Christmas spirit and setting up their own stalls at Leeds City Square this November.
La Grassa is just one of many familiar foodie faces returning to Leeds Christmas Markets / Credit: The Hoot Leeds
Rated restaurants and bars are contributing to the festive frenzy too, like Cabaret Thursdays at Italian restaurant Bibi's and beer garden destination Green Room are hosting singalongs at Leeds Christmas Markets.
There will be plenty of activities for families happening all around the unofficial capital of West Yorkshire like elf-themed scavenger hunts, various elves on various shelves and lots of live music.
If it wasn't apparent already, in the words of Jimmy Chews himself, there's about to be "So much Christmas that Mariah Carey is going to look like the Grinch".
Leeds Christmas Markets are returning to Leeds City Square from Thursday 19 November and there will be plenty of exciting announcements to the upcoming celebrations ahead of the big day.
Popular TV channel playing Christmas films 24/7 is now back on air in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Think it's too early for 'C word'? Never mind, you've already clicked on this article.
Sure, we may only be into our second full week of September, but given the fact the weather these past couple of days hasn't exactly screamed summer, it already feels like the festive season is around the corner - but whether or not you think it’s too early to be talking about Christmas, it’ll soon be too tricky to escape from.
Especially not when the famous TV channel showing festive film favourites non-stop is now back on air in the UK.
Yes, you heard that right - Christmas films, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
If you’re ready to wave goodbye to summer, and in welcome autumn and winter with open arms, then there's arguably no better way of getting into the festive spirit than with the long-awaited and highly-anticipated return of the TV channel that's charmed audiences for over half a decade now.
GREAT! Christmas the UK’s biggest seasonal channel, and it's now live on Sky, Freesat, Freeview and Virgin Media.
You can expect almost four months of back-to-back seasonal movies.
The 24-hour feel-good and free-to-air channel will be bursting with non-stop Christmas spirit, and will be showing a heartwarming lineup of festive films - including some absolute fan-favourite classics that make it to screens every year without fail, alongside some cheesy Hallmark classics, new channel premieres, and so much more.
Viewers will find GREAT! Christmas on Freeview channel 51, Sky 319, Sky (Glass/Stream) 317, Virgin channel 424, and Freely channel 47.
Sophie Smith -
16th October 2023 
