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Leeds Waterfront Guided Tour

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
A docked narrowboat next to a heritage crane and surrounded by buildings and blue sky at Granary Wharf in Leeds
Image supplied by Leeds Inspired

Until 29 June 2025 Tickets from £15.00 — Book now

Leeds has rapidly developed in the past couple of decades and no place in the city has felt quite as transformed as the waterfront. Having shaken off the hangover from its industrial past, whilst keeping some of the aesthetic charm, this area has become home to cultural institutions, award winning bars, breweries and restaurants as well as Leeds’ much loved water taxi.

Some of the sites you’ll visit on the tour include Marshall’s Mill. Thought to have been the largest in Europe back in the day, you’ll see the fascinatingly unexpected Egyptian temple themed architecture. You’ll stroll along to the Leeds end of the Leeds Liverpool canal and trace the remnant signs from an era where this vital transport link made Leeds the thriving industrial hub it became. En route you’ll find Leeds Dock. An area that was previously a hub of commerce and industry but now plays home to many companies which have become household names.

Moving forward in time you’ll visit Aire Park, a recently developed area of the city on the site of the old Tetley Brewery. After going through several transformations Aire Park is in the process of becoming an area with an eight acre public park as well as hundreds of new homes, businesses and office spaces. The old Tetley Brewery will remain standing after being taken on by Kirkstall Brewery in 2024.

In between the oldest and newest parts of the waterfront, sit the communities that have been steadily growing over the past few years. These include Granary Wharf and the thriving food and drink scene around the area. While on the tour it’s great to walk through and spot where you may call on for some refreshment after.

Whether you’re a curious visitor or a life long resident keen to learn more about the past and future of the area, you’ll walk away having your perception of the canal changed. The tour is led by local independent tour guide Mike. He has recently won the ‘Best Specialist Tour Guide’ accolade for Yorkshire 24/25, so you can be sure you’re in good hands.

Until 29 June 2025 Tickets from £15.00 Book now

Performances

Date
Time
Session Features
1 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
3 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
8 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
10 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
15 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
17 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
22 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
24 November 2024
11:00am — 1:00pm
1 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
3 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
8 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
10 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
15 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
17 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
22 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
24 November 2024
2:00pm — 4:00pm
14 February 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
16 February 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
21 February 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
23 February 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
28 February 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
2 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
7 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
9 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
14 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
16 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
21 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
23 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
28 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
30 March 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
4 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
6 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
11 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
13 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
18 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
20 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
25 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
27 April 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
2 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
4 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
9 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
11 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
16 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
18 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
23 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
25 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
30 May 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
1 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
6 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
8 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
13 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
15 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
20 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
22 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
27 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
29 June 2025
11:00am — 1:00pm
14 February 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
16 February 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
21 February 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
23 February 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
28 February 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
2 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
7 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
9 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
14 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
16 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
21 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
23 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
28 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
30 March 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
4 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
6 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
11 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
13 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
18 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
20 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
25 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
27 April 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
2 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
4 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
9 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
11 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
16 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
18 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
23 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
25 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
30 May 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
1 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
6 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
8 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
13 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
15 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
20 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
22 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
27 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm
29 June 2025
2:00pm — 4:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Where to go near Leeds Waterfront Guided Tour

food and drink
Restaurant
Belzan

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food and drink
Restaurant
NORD

A Scandi-inspired restaurants that celebrates Northern hospitality, with a seasonal menu made from locally-sourced ingredients.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Mahoe Blue

Mahoe Blue is a bar and bistro that serves authentic Jamaican food in a cosy venue in South Liverpool.

music 2
City Centre
Music venue
Rough Trade

The largest of Rough Trade stores, it’s record shop, event space and concert venue in the heart of Liverpool, complete with its own gift shop

exhibition
Wirral
Gallery
Hamilton Vault Studios

A disused bank vault now conceals a unique gallery space and filming location, championing local creatives and their vision.

exhibition
Wirral
Gallery
Lake Gallery

Lake Gallery is an artist-run space in West Kirby, showcasing fine art and contemporary craft in regularly changing exhibitions.

literature
Library
Birkenhead Central Library

Birkenhead Central Library provides books and resources, and welcomes everyone to their community hub in a stunning, historic location.

library
Shop
The Reader, Calderstones Park

The Reader brings people together through a shared love of literature and their home is in the beautiful Calderstones Park in Liverpool.

bar
City Centre
Brewery
Ye Cracke

Hidden in the Georgian Quarter, Ye Cracke is a historic Liverpool pub, known for being John Lennon’s local in his student days

record shop
City Centre
Shop
81 Renshaw

81 Renshaw is a record store in Liverpool city centre, selling new and second-hand vinyl from a location with a long musical history

shop
Lark Lane
Shop
Larks

Larks is a vintage clothing and gift emporium in a bright pink shop where you’ll find a bit of everything, sprinkled with glitter.

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