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The curved bronze and glass southern entrance of Leeds station, raised on piers above the River Aire beside brick railway arches

Yorkshire Station code LDS

Leeds

Leeds by train: free national museums, Victorian arcades, Europe's largest covered market and Kirkstall Abbey, just over two hours from King's Cross.

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The southern entrance, opened in 2016 on a deck over the River AirePhoto: Irid Escent, CC BY-SA 2.0

About Leeds

Leeds is Yorkshire's largest city. It grew from a small medieval market town into a powerhouse of the wool and flax trades during the Industrial Revolution, and the wealth of that era still shows in its Victorian arcades, civic buildings and Kirkgate Market, the largest covered market in Europe.

Today it is a big, lively city with a large student population and a strong cultural offer. Several of the best attractions are free, including the Royal Armouries' national collection of arms and armour at Leeds Dock, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Museum.

LNER runs two trains an hour between Leeds and London for most of the day, and the station is also the hub for services across the north of England, including the scenic Settle–Carlisle line, so Leeds makes a natural base for exploring West and North Yorkshire.

Journey

LDS
Fastest from London King's Cross
Around 2 hours 10 minutes
LNER routes calling
4
Previous and next calling points on each LNER route serving Leeds
RoutePrevious stopNext stop
London – Leeds stop 9 of 9 End of route
London – Bradford Forster Square stop 6 of 8
London – Harrogate stop 7 of 9
London – Skipton stop 8 of 11

May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station

The quickest LNER trains in the May–December 2026 timetable take about 2 hours 9 minutes northbound; the fastest southbound train takes 2 hours 7 minutes.

Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.

Key facts

Opened
2 May 1938 as Leeds City, combining the New (1869) and Wellington (1846) stations; rebuilt 1967 and 1999–2002
Architect
William Henry Hamlyn, LMS architect (1938 rebuilding)
Heritage status
Grade II listed (1930s north concourse)
Platforms
18
Managed by
Network Rail
Passengers a year
27.3 million (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Did you know?

  • With 18 platforms, Leeds has more than any other station in England outside London, and most are split into sections, making 47 platform sections in all.
  • Much of the station stands on Victorian brick vaults over the River Aire, the Dark Arches, which now house the cafés, shops and restaurants of Granary Wharf.
  • While the station was rebuilt between 1999 and 2002, a small temporary station called Leeds Whitehall handled some of the trains.

Photos of Leeds

Arriving at Leeds

LNER trains from London generally use platform 6, a bay, or through platform 8, which also handles trains continuing to Bradford, Harrogate and Skipton; check the screens. Follow the signs to the main concourse and out through the New Station Street or City Square exits for the city centre: the shopping streets, Kirkgate Market and the museums are 10 to 15 minutes' walk. The southern entrance, reached from the western footbridge, leads down to Granary Wharf, the canal basin and Holbeck.

Leeds station is right in the city centre, on New Station Street just south of City Square. Most of the main shopping streets, museums and the market are 10 to 15 minutes' walk away.

Getting around

Frequent First and Yorkshire Tiger bus routes serve Leeds and West Yorkshire, and PlusBus tickets can be bought with your train ticket. Taxis pick up and set down at the station, although National Rail lists the rank areas as under construction (September 2026). The Royal Armouries can be reached on foot or by water taxi from near the station.

Other train services and connections

  • CrossCountry (Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and the South West)
  • TransPennine Express (Manchester, Liverpool, York, Newcastle, Hull and Scarborough)
  • Northern (Airedale and Wharfedale lines, Harrogate and York, Settle–Carlisle line, Calder Valley, Sheffield and many more)

Station facilities

  • Step-free accessStep-free to all platforms by lift or level access (category A)
  • LiftsFrom the west footbridge to the platforms, and at the southern entrance
  • Ticket officeIn the booking hall: Mon–Sat 04:45–23:59, Sun 06:45–22:30
  • Ticket machinesIn the booking hall, on the north concourse and at the southern entrance
  • ToiletsOn the south concourse and on platforms 8 and 13
  • Accessible toiletsOn the south concourse and platforms 1, 8 and 12, plus a Changing Places toilet and shower room on the south concourse
  • Baby changingIn the accessible toilet on platform 12, off the south concourse
  • Waiting roomsOn platforms 0, 9 and 12
  • LNER First Class LoungeMon–Fri 06:00–18:30, Sat 06:30–18:00, Sun 10:00–17:30
  • Wi-FiPublic Wi-Fi available
  • Food and drinkCoffee shops, fast food outlets and a bar
  • ShopsNewsagents, chemists and supermarkets
  • Cash machinesOn the main concourse
  • Left luggageMon–Sat 07:00–23:00, Sun 08:00–23:00
  • Car park305 spaces, run by APCOA and open 24 hours; 11 accessible spaces
  • Cycle storage92 racks with CCTV (not sheltered) by platforms 0/1, 6/8 and 12/15 and in the short-stay car park
  • TaxisTaxis pick up and set down at the station; National Rail lists the rank areas as under construction (September 2026)
  • BusesFrequent First and Yorkshire Tiger routes across Leeds and West Yorkshire; PlusBus tickets available
  • HelpNo help points; ask at the Customer Information Point, ticket office or ticket barriers
  • StaffingStaffed 24 hours a day

Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.

History of the station

The railway reached Leeds in 1834, when the Leeds and Selby Railway opened to a terminus at Marsh Lane, and for more than a century the city was served by several rival stations. The Midland's Wellington station opened in 1846 and Leeds Central in 1854. In 1869 the London and North Western and North Eastern railways opened New Station next to Wellington, reached by a mile of viaducts and built partly on a bridge over the River Aire; the vaults beneath it became known as the Dark Arches. On 2 May 1938 New and Wellington were combined as Leeds City, designed by the LMS architect W. H. Hamlyn, with the art deco north concourse and the Queens Hotel.

Leeds Central closed in 1967, when its trains moved into the City station and a south concourse and overall roof were built. Electrification for the East Coast Main Line's Class 91 trains followed in 1988. By the 1990s the station was overflowing, and the Leeds 1st rebuilding of 1999–2002 added approach tracks and platforms (from 12 to 17), a glass roof and a new footbridge. A southern entrance on a deck over the River Aire opened in January 2016, and platform 0 was completed in January 2021, bringing the total to 18.

A day in Leeds

Free galleries, Victorian markets, the oldest pub in town and the national collection of arms and armour.

  1. Morning

    Leeds Art Gallery

    Start on The Headrow with the free gallery's nationally important collection of 20th-century British art.

    Leeds Art Gallery in Things to do

  2. Late morning

    Kirkgate Market

    Browse some of the 800 or so stalls in the Grade I listed market hall on Vicar Lane.

    Kirkgate Market in Things to do

  3. Lunch

    Whitelock's

    Find the narrow entrance to Turk's Head Yard off Briggate for lunch at Whitelock's Ale House, established in 1715.

  4. Afternoon

    Royal Armouries

    Walk or take the water taxi to Leeds Dock for the Royal Armouries, where general entry is free.

    Royal Armouries Museum in Things to do

  5. Evening

    A show or a last pint

    Catch a performance at the Leeds Grand Theatre on Briggate, or finish at The Scarbrough Hotel, a short stroll from the station.

    Leeds Grand Theatre in Things to do

Things to do near Leeds

Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.

Eat & drink near the station

  • Pub

    Whitelock's Ale House

    Established in 1715 and billed as the oldest pub in Leeds, with a Grade II* listed 19th-century interior, real ales and home-cooked food, tucked away down Turk's Head Yard off Briggate.

    Under 10 minutes' walk Website for Whitelock's Ale House (opens in a new tab)

  • Pub

    The Scarbrough Hotel

    A Nicholson's pub on Bishopgate Street known for its changing range of real ales and its pies, handy for a drink before or after a train.

    A short stroll from the station Website for The Scarbrough Hotel (opens in a new tab)

Day trips from Leeds

  • York

    The minster, the medieval walls and the National Railway Museum.

    Direct trains take about 25 minutes, several an hour (checked on National Rail for October 2026).

  • Harrogate

    The Royal Pump Room, Valley Gardens and the Victorian Turkish Baths.

    LNER's through trains, roughly every two hours, take about 40 minutes; Northern also runs regular trains via Horsforth.

  • Skipton

    A medieval castle, the Craven Museum and the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

    Northern runs two trains an hour on the Airedale line; LNER's one daily through train takes about an hour (May–December 2026 timetable).

Annual events

Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.

Where to stay in Leeds

Leeds has a large choice of hotels, many within a few minutes' walk of the station. Compare prices with the search link.

Tips for your visit

  • Leeds is the place to change for the Settle–Carlisle line, the Yorkshire Dales and the Harrogate line.
  • LNER's direct trains to Bradford Forster Square, Harrogate and Skipton continue beyond Leeds, so check your train's final destination.

Questions about Leeds station

Is Leeds station step-free?

Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms (category A), by lift or level access.

Can I leave luggage at Leeds station?

Yes. National Rail lists a left-luggage service open 07:00–23:00 Monday to Saturday and 08:00–23:00 on Sundays.

Is there an LNER First Class Lounge at Leeds?

Yes. National Rail lists opening hours of 06:00–18:30 on weekdays, 06:30–18:00 on Saturdays and 10:00–17:30 on Sundays.

Which exit should I use for Leeds city centre?

Use the main concourse and the New Station Street or City Square exits; the shopping streets, Kirkgate Market and the museums are 10 to 15 minutes' walk. The southern entrance leads to Granary Wharf and Holbeck.

Is there parking at Leeds station?

Yes. The station car park has 305 spaces, is run by APCOA and is open 24 hours, with 11 accessible spaces.

How do I get to the Royal Armouries from Leeds station?

The museum says it is a 20 to 25 minute walk from the station, or you can take the water taxi.

Sources we checked (September 2026)

We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.

  • assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_North_Eastern_Railway
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_railway_station
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkgate_Market
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Armouries_Museum
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_Art_Gallery
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_City_Museum
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theatre,_Leeds
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thackray_Museum_of_Medicine
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkstall_Abbey
  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harewood_House
  • royalarmouries.org/venue/royal-armouries-museum/
  • markets.leeds.gov.uk/
  • thackraymuseum.co.uk/visit/
  • harewood.org/visit/
  • museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/kirkstall-abbey/
  • routing.openstreetmap.de/
  • nationalrail.co.uk/stations/lds/
  • historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1255570
  • dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage
  • whitelocksleeds.com/
  • nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/yorkshireandthehumber/thescarbroughhotelbishopsgatestr…
  • leedscarnival.co.uk/
  • millsqleeds.com/light-night-leeds-5pnz
  • nationalrail.co.uk/journey-planner/

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