Whether you’re a local or from further afield, Christmas shopping in Leeds offers some of the best opportunities for ticking things off your list and grabbing a bargain. Now dressed in all its festive regalia with over 10,000 illuminations, a shopping trip to Leeds this Christmas is sure to heighten your sense of anticipation and excitement as the big celebration draws near.
As one of the biggest shopping cities in the UK, people are drawn in their hoards due to its convenient transport links and predominately pedestrianised city centre, plus its huge range of shops and stunning shopping centres and arcades. Even when loaded down with shopping bags, Leeds is easy to navigate, with the majority of shops located within a fairly small area.
Big brands and independents
If you choose to do your Christmas shopping in Leeds, you’ll be truly spoilt for choice, with options catering for all styles and budgets. High street stores dominate, but you’ll also be privy to some amazing independents if you’re looking for something a little more unusual – try the Corn Exchange, or the Grand or Central arcade, all of which can be easily accessed from the main shopping street of Briggate. In this locale, you’re also on the doorstep of the highly praised Trinity shopping centre, a relative newcomer to the Leeds shopping landscape, opened in 2013. Linking several older precincts, it’s the perfect place to explore the shops while avoiding any bad weather – and if you’re looking for some great deals, it’s also home to a HUGE Primark store, covering 3 floors and 90,000 sq ft!
For the more discerning Christmas shopper, Leeds is also home to plenty of high-end shops, such as Mulberry, Vivienne Westwood, Harvey Nichols, Louis Vuitton, Karen Millen and Ted Baker – if this appeals to you, make a beeline for the Victorian Quarter.
Leeds also has the largest covered market in Europe too, so you can pick up a bargain or two and even a bite to eat all under one roof.
Cheap parking for your Christmas adventure
Being such a popular destination for Christmas shopping, parking in Leeds can be a bit of a challenge at this time of year – expect to see plenty of neon signs declaring ‘no spaces’ or ‘full’ as you approach. Of course there’s a cost consideration too, with many of the city centre car parks charging more for a days’ parking than some of the items on your Christmas list!
If you’re intending on covering a lot of ground during your shopping expedition, it might be better to consider one of the cheaper alternatives on the fringes of the city centre, such as Trafalgar Street car park, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the main shopping areas. Costs for all day parking here are just £3 for Sundays, £5 for Saturdays and £7 for mid-week – that’s roughly half the price of some of the multi-storeys!