Finally, we can safely say that spring is here- and there's a lot to enjoy this month.
Looking outside, it might not quite feel like the weather is getting warmer, but we're hopeful that we're leaving all the stormy skies and wet weather in February.
Regardless of the weather, there's so much to get involved in this March in Leeds. Given this will be the first non-lockdown March since 2019, there's a whole host of celebrations that are finally taking place in-person, we kicked the month off with Pancake Day and International Women's Day but there's still plenty of celebrations to come, including Mother's Day, St Patrick's Day, Holi Festival and more.
Keep reading to find out what our top things to do this March in Leeds are.
Alice in Wonderland Immersive Cocktail Experience
Image: Alice Cocktail Experience Global
An incredible Lewis Carroll-inspired drinking experience has opened in Leeds, giving Alice in Wonderland fans the chance to fall down their very own rabbit hole.
Lovers of the book series (or Tim Burton’s 2010 reimagining) will be able to meet the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter themselves as part of this fantastical 90-minute experience.
Thursday 3 March - Sunday 27 March 2022.
St Patrick's Day Parade
Image: Tom Blackwell, Flickr
St Patrick's Day isn't until the 18th, but the annual parade is due to take place on Sunday 13 March this year from 10am.
The parade will bring together floats, bands, walking displays, and representatives from Irish organisations, schools, clubs and societies from across Leeds- making it a great family day out. You can join in with the parade and head through Leeds city centre before reaching the party on Millennium Square where there will be a full afternoon of music and dance from Leeds musicians, dancers and invited guests. Guinness isn't mandatory but widely encouraged.
Bongo’s Bingo is back for another round of midweek madness at the O2 Academy. We’ve been told that this year, Bongo’s Bingo enthusiasts should expect the same nostalgic escapism from previous shows, with the added chance of winning iconic prizes like Henry Hoovers, mobility scooters, karaoke machines and more.
In addition to the crazy prizes, crowd renditions of Mr Brightside, dance offs, and ‘hands in the air’ moments aplenty are all guaranteed to make an appearance.
Wednesday 16 March and Wednesday 23 March . Find out more here.
Stormzy at First Direct Arena
Image: WikiCommons
For those that missed the memo, international singer Stormzy is going to be in Leeds for one night only this month.
There's still tickets left for his highly-anticipated tour, the rapper has been trying to get to Leeds three times since the pandemic hit (previously September 2020 and April 2021) so this will be the first successful gig to take place at the First Direct Arena since 2020. Expect favourites from Stormzy's acclaimed debut ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’ and second album ‘Heavy Is The Head’ alike at the First Direct Arena.
Water Lane Boathouse is a bar that needs no introduction. The popular spot on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal has one of the best pub quizzes, beer gardens, lunch deals (so really any kind of themed day or night) around and their weekly art nights are sure to be added to this list.
There's specially guided workshops run by Beccy from Cut and Curve that will take your usual Wednesday evening and transform it into a fun and relaxing evening to learn a new skill and take home your very own hangers for your fave houseplant. Practical and creative- sounds like an ideal combination for anyone looking for a mid-week evening out that avoids a next-day hangover.
Here in Leeds, the celebrations of Holi will involve the traditional dry powder paints, as well as the serving of street food, live DJs and performances right in the heart of the city.
There will be four live DJs including Bollynights team, performances from talent near and far, as well as street food from local takeaway and catering service Punjabi Heaven. The festival last took place in 2019, and the long-awaited return has been highly anticipated. Tier one tickets have already sold out for the seven hour event, but remaining tier two tickets are still available for purchase.
Planet Earth II Live was due to tour across the UK and Ireland back in 2020, but pandemic-related restrictions have put off the performance until March 2022, when the show is finally scheduled to go ahead.
Rubbing shoulders with acrobatic primate cousins in the steaming jungles of Madagascar is hinted to be a part of the experience, as well as racing alongside fearsome hunting lions in the remote sandy deserts of Namibia, facing stormy Antarctic seas with a family of penguins and feeling the raw tension as a baby iguana tries to escape the clutches of deadly racer snakes.
Revs de Cuba's Casa del Alma- Mother's Day Special
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Every month, Latin-inspired fiesta bar Revs de Cuba hosts a bottomless brunch experience set to the tune of a gospel choir- and this month, you can treat your mama to a live performance at their Mother's Day special event.
Running from 2pm - 6pm, the two-hour bottomless sitting provides a feel-good experience for all ages. Expect soulful performances whilst sipping on an endless list of boozy options. Expect unlimited cocktails like Aperol Spritz, Strawberry Daquiris and Bloody Marys, as well as pints of Mahou and glasses of Prosecco.
Inside the hidden Alice in Wonderland inspired bar is a decked out scenery complete with floating tea pots, fairy lights and kitsch tea party decor that creates a fantastical atmosphere for karaoke.
Across multiple events, guests can expect different themed karaoke nights from their favourite artists, including the legendary Spice Girls. Expect a night of all-singing, all-dancing feel-good music, complete with complimentary cocktail or mocktail upon arrival.
From completing the infamous Otley Run to sipping on a glass of natural wine, there's so much to do in the vibrant neighbourhood of Headingley.
Sandwiched between the two largest universities in Leeds, Headingley is known nationally as the playground of the young professionals, and internationally as the place in the North to watch the cricket.
Just minutes away on the bus from Leeds City Centre, Headingley is a great place to visit on the weekend with plenty of brilliant independents to support from coffee shops to restaurants.
So, here's ten things to do in Headingley over the weekend...
Watch a game at Headingley Stadium
St Michael's Lane, Headingley
Home of Yorkshire Country Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos, Headingley stadium is the main reason that this little suburb is known worldwide. In the winter, Leeds Rhinos season will keep you entertained, whilst the summer usually sees international test matches on the pitch.
This is the ultimate crowd-pleasing event for anyone interested in sports, and for those that aren’t- there’s plenty of food, drink and activity options within walking distance instead.
Drink a glass of wine at Bottle Chop
14 Weetwood Lane
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Maybe our favourite wine bar in the whole of Leeds, Bottle Chop is a pastel pink paradise serving up a huge selection of natural wine, craft beer and irresistible deli bits.
Stop by for a couple glasses and dive into a charcuterie board alongside it, it's the perfect afternoon activity if you ask us.
If you're looking for some authentic Japanese cuisine in an elegant yet casual setting, then get yourself to TADA.
It's a fantastic independent restaurant serving up fresh sushi and the most comforting bowls of ramen ever. The staff are always lovely and happy to guide you with what to order on their extensive menu.
Watch a film at Hyde Park Picture House
Brudenell Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Now this is a proper bit of Leeds history. The Hyde Park Picture House is a Grade II listed building that dates all the way back to 1914 and is known for being the last gas-lit cinema in the whole of the UK.
They are community focused and are determined on providing an inclusive space for everyone to learn and discover. Showing a selection of bigger as well as indie films, it's a great spot for cinema lovers to stop by and immerse themselves into a flick.
Shop vinyls at Vinyl Whistle
12 Otley Road
Image: The Hoot Leeds
If you're into vinyls, then Vinyl Whistle is the spot for you. Not only do they stock plenty of records for you to browse, but they also host open decks and gigs for you to get involved with.
Oh and they serve great beer and banging coffee too, what more could you want?
Tuck into traditional Mexican food at Lupe's Cantina
204 Cardigan Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Lupe's Cantina is one of those 'if you know, you know' sort of spots and now thanks to us, you do know.
It's a family-run restaurant that's been feeding the people of Leeds for a decade, using traditional recipes passed down from head chef Rudy's family. Here you'll not only find your classic tacos, margaritas and guacamole but it's the standout dishes like the mussels in a creamy chipotle white wine sauce that'll have you going back time and time again.
Get your caffeine fix at one of the many coffee shops
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Okay we might be cheating with this one, but there's so many great coffee shops in Headingley that we couldn't just choose one.
From the experimental brews at Caffeine Addict to a cosy catchup at Loaf followed by a bagel and brew at Fika North, you're really spoilt for choice if you're looking for that morning pick me up. Trust us, just take a stroll through town and you'll find a cracking coffee in no time.
Enjoy some award-winning food at The Swine Bistro
77A Otley Road
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This beautiful restaurant is loved by Leeds locals and it's not hard to see why, run by chef couple Jo and Stu Myers who are basically legends at this point for providing the city with fantastic seasonal food at an affordable price point.
Complete the Otley Run
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Yep, it wouldn't be a Headingley guide without the Otley Run now would it.
It is a true rite of passage to any students who find themselves in Leeds during their studies and a firm favourite for societies and clubs from the various student unions across the city.
Starting at Woodies, the route takes you through fourteen boozers from Far Headingley, into Headingley itself, then towards Hyde Park before heading right into the centre of town – if you get that far.
Officially the route hosts the first eight pubs in Far Headingley and Headingley: Woodies, The Three Horseshoes, New Inn, Headingley Taps, Manahatta, The Box, Skyrack, The Original Oak before runners move onto Hyde Park pubs like The Hyde Park pub, The Library, Pack Horse, The Eldon and The Fenton before arriving at the final pub: The Dry Dock in the city.
Take a look inside the huge Tulip Festival that’s just opened in Yorkshire with over one million tulips
Clementine Hall
Farmer Copley's Tulip Festival is back and it's just as beautiful as we remember.
Spring has officially sprung and with it, so does Farmer Copley's iconic Tulip Festival that officially opened last Sunday.
Based in West Yorkshire, nestled between Pontefract and Featherstone, the Copley family really know how to get you feeling ready for the season ahead.
Just moments after entering the festival, we can assure you that winter will feel like a distant memory.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Spanning over 8 acres, Jack and the team have planted over 600,00 tulip bulbs consisting of 100+ different varieties of all shapes and colours that arrived directly from the Netherlands.
In addition to the 500,000 planted last year, that means there's over one million tulips to enjoy - now that is pretty impressive if you ask us.
Varieties include Carnaval de Rio, Tom Pouce, Gavota, Lily Flowering Mix, Blushing Appledorn, Wedding Dress and Rodolfo.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The festival includes five sections that have been split by 5 metre walkways enabling the best customer interaction in the field.
There's two dedicated pick your own areas where a mix of bulbs have been planted to ensure that visitors have a wide range of tulips to explore, pick from and create the perfect bunch of tulips. How lovely is that?
Of course there's plenty of photo opportunities, fairground rides and a bar to enjoy the view with a tipple or two.
This really is the perfect family-friendly day out and with the weather looking gorgeous (for now), we'd take the opportunity to see the tulips looking their best whilst you can.
The festival is on until Sunday 3 May 2026, with tickets starting from just £9.
To find out more and to book your ticket, take a look at Farmer Copleys website. We'll see you in the tulip fields.
Sophie Smith -
28th February 2022 
