14 Tours in Leeds to Build a Day Around

1.Afternoon Tea Cruise in North Yorkshire

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 388 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $45Our pick

Settle into a comfortable canal boat at Coach Street in Skipton for a two-hour afternoon tea cruise. You’ll have your own table, sandwiches, scones, desserts, tea or coffee, and views of fields, wildlife, and canal-side villages. The crew, including a server named Harry on some sailings, provides attentive service, while the bar sells alcoholic drinks.

“A great tour and good food with fantastic service would highly recommend. Nice relaxing tour and very great value”

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2.1-Hour Public Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 307 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $15

Set off from Coach Street in Skipton for a one-hour cruise along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal with Skipton Boat Trips. Expect countryside views, amusing local commentary, a bar, an onboard toilet, and a relaxed pace suited to most ages. The boat returns to the same meeting point.

“Well worth the money for experience and the commentary. It was a pity we weren't able to experience a lock!”

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3.Harrogate Walking Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 286 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $145

Explore Harrogate on foot with guides such as Linda, Kay, Jill, Gill, or Paul, stopping at independent food businesses for snacks, drinks, sweets, cheese, and gelato. You’ll also see the Royal Pump Room Museum and hear local stories. The 3-hour tour begins at 11:30 am, suits ages 10 and up, and is limited to 16 people.

“We particularly enjoyed the visit to the ice cream parlour, which we found very interesting and Insightful and suggest should be the bench mark for all the places visited”

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4.2 Hour Leeds Highlights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 206 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $16

Start at City Square at 11:00 am for a two-hour Leeds city-centre walk with local guides such as Sarah, Michele, and Jenny. Expect stories of industrial Leeds, grand Victorian buildings, shopping arcades, Kirkgate Market, and the Corn Exchange. The group can include up to 25 people, and the tour returns to City Square.

“I would highly recommend taking this tour of Leeds, very interesting heritage and culture this city of Leeds”

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5.Leeds ‘Hidden Gems’ Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 110 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $104

Spend about four hours walking Leeds city centre with a local guide such as Ellen, stopping at seven independent food spots. Expect lunch-sized tastings at pubs, restaurants, street-food stalls, Kirkgate Market, and a quirky food shop. The tour begins near Leeds station at 11:45 am and finishes within a five-minute walk of the station.

“Don't eat anything that morning Very interesting local knowledge Went to some venues you would normally walk past”

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6.Daily Leeds City Walking Tour (10:30am)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 86 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19

Start outside Leeds Art Gallery at 10:30am for a 90-minute walk through central Leeds. Your English-speaking local guide, such as Sarah or Brianna, leads you past civic buildings, Victorian arcades, Kirkgate Market, and the Corn Exchange. It is wheelchair and stroller accessible, capped at 15 people, and costs $19.43.

“What a fabulous tour! My guide was excellent and well versed in the history of Leeds. She was super enthusiastic and engaging and kept the tour moving along really well. Highly recommend. It was a great way to learn and see all things Leeds. I walked away impressed by her knowledge and of how progressive Leeds was.”

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7.2-Hour Highlights Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 73 reviews · 2 hours · from $16

Meet your English-speaking Blue Badge guide at the Black Prince in City Square for a two-hour walk through Leeds. Follow the city’s wool-made fortune, Victorian arcades, Town Hall, galleries, markets, pocket gardens, and lesser-known corners. Guides such as Sarah and Michelle bring the story to life with humor, clear explanations, and useful tips for the rest of your visit.

“Two hours of excellent value for money. Michel was very knowledgeable about the content of her tour and delivered it in an engaging way. I leant a lot about Leeds and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

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8.Day Boat Hire

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 67 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Take charge of a private Skipton canal boat for up to 10 people, after a practical safety and handling lesson. Cruise the Leeds and Liverpool Canal from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., working locks and swing bridges, watching wildlife, and stopping for your own picnic or refreshments. The boat has a cooker, toilet, sink, speakers, and comfortable seating.

“Really great day out and would definitely do again. Lovely staff who were really friendly. Once you got the hang of it, it was really fun although some of the locks were really hard to open and the needed to 3 of us.”

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9.Fun, Flexible Treasure Hunt Around Leeds with Cryptic Clues & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $20

Captain Bess guides your private group around Leeds by phone, sending maps, clues, facts, and hints through an easy chat-style app. The roughly three-hour hunt starts at Leeds Art Gallery and visits Victoria Leeds, Kirkgate Market, Leeds Town Hall, arcades, Holy Trinity Church, and St Paul’s House. Pause, restart, shop, or turn it into a pub crawl.

“Perfect fun day, great treasure hunt fun, perfect way to see a city. Clues were just the right level of hard.”

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10.1 Hour Private Otley Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 1 hour 5 minutes (approx.) · from $21

Join guide Daisy for a one-hour private walk through Otley’s darker past. You’ll hear tales of navvies, haunted pubs, a watery ghost, Gallows Hill, Thomas Chippendale, and the old parish church. The route covers 11 stops, begins at Otley Market Place, ends by the Jubilee Clock, and runs in English.

“Daisy was an excellent tour guide, strongly recommend to anyone near Otley/Leeds, highlight of my Leeds visit 😊”

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11.Roast Dinner Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 49 reviews · from $48

Set off from historic Coach Street in Skipton for a relaxed three-hour cruise through the Yorkshire countryside. You’ll dine aboard a traditional barge, with a roast dinner served at your table and alcoholic and soft drinks available to buy. The route includes canal heritage, a wartime memorial, and the old settlement of Snaygill.

“Pleasant enough trip . Food was just ok . Drinks not cold . Staff were nice and friendly . Three hours is a long time as not always a view”

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12.Daily Guided City Center Walking Tour (10:30am)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 41 reviews · 1h 30m · from $18

Start outside Leeds Art Gallery at 10:30am and follow an English-speaking local guide through Leeds Town Hall, Millennium Square, City Varieties, Victoria Quarter, Kirkgate Market, and the Corn Exchange. Guides such as Sarah, Bess, Des, and Chris have brought local history and humor to the route. Expect a brisk, rain-or-shine walk with time for questions.

“Our guide was excellent very friendly we did enjoy our tour”

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13.Junkyard Golf Tickets for 9 or 18 Holes

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · 1 day · from $14Best value

Head to Junkyard Golf Club in central Leeds for 9 or 18 holes of themed mini golf. Pick from Dirk, Bozo, Pablo, or Gary, then putt through horror, circus, pollution, or 90s garage scenes. Expect loud music, photo spots, bars, and a cashless venue. Food and drinks cost extra.

“This was my first visit and went with family and friends and it was very good and would definitely go again.”

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14.Emmerdale Classic Locations Bus Tour from Leeds

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · from $19

Travel from central Leeds by mini coach with a registered Blue Badge guide to the original Emmerdale locations used until 1997. You’ll visit Esholt, see the real-life village, spot Emmerdale Farm and the Woolpack pub, and pass through Otley and Leathley. The current TV set is not included.

“Amazing trip thanks to the organisers for a truly amazing experience will come back again especially to the woolpack”

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