The Ultimate Leeds Bucket List – everywhere you should go before you graduate

This is it. Exams might not have started yet, but they’re on the near horizon. So nearly over.

The heady scent of liberation hangs in the air over Hyde Park. You have a small window between finishing your formal education (when you feel you can conquer the world), and your mum coming to collect you and your sad Ikea bag of possessions (when conquering home cooking again seems more feasible.)

So here is a little guide to soaking up the treasures that our beloved concrete jungle has to offer. Before it’s too late.

All the essentials

Feasting 

The three course meal is a thing of the past here in Leeds. Having become shadows of our former selves, after weeks of revision, we must gently eat ourselves back to health.

The bottomless brunch has taken our city by storm and you can fully exploit this at:

Buca Di Pizza: A nifty little underground job offering unlimited pizza and refills of Prosecco, lager or soft drinks. Yours for £22

Shears Yard: My ‘unlimited cocktails/Prosecco/ale’ brings all the boys to the yard. Serious posh nosh. Think ‘roasted heritage carrot.’ Think ‘henderson relish aioli.’ Think no further. £25

And for you meat monsters out there, I give you:

Fazenda: a culinary journey through a strange land of meaty delights. You summon a freshly grilled cut to your table with a green card and it just keeps on coming until you finally sink in defeat and hold up your red card. Lunchtime eating at £19.50, or grab that Brazilian bull by the horns and go for the £29.50 unlimited meat experience.

Praise be to elasticated waistbands.

Drinking

It’s very important to stay hydrated.

Headrow House: Belgrave’s sister act. It still smells of new wood. Mind the freezing cold toilets though, they were so busy with that fabulous roof terrace that they seem to have forgotten the toilet seats.

They even have a beer called ‘Hipster’

Smokestack:  Funk, soul, blues, jazz and mighty fine cocktails all wrapped up in two-storeys and a great night.

Most of us Hyde Parkians didn’t know about it until the flooding, but it turns out that Leeds has a river. Nestled down by it is:

212 Bar: If you fancy striking off that well travelled road that is Call Lane, then this is for you. It channels art, skateboarding, disco and house. It’s very music orientated, with a top notch sound system as well as a handy outside area for those sunny days.

Culture Vulture

So that you have something to tell your grandparents that doesn’t revolve around eating and drinking yourself into oblivion.

Salts Mill: An old textile mill that’s living its dreams as an art gallery. David Hockney’s ruling the roost at the moment and it has an excellent shop stuffed with cultured arty bits and bobs. It has the added bonus of being free – winner winner.

Harewood House: If you’ve reached the end of your tether with your grotty, damp student house, get yourself over here for a taste of old world luxury. Feast your eyes on 100 acres of greenery, a bird garden and numerous art exhibitions. You can even take a boat excursion on the lake. Daaarling.

Mr Darcy might even climb out that pond

Into the Wild

For when the concrete jungle is just too concrete. Cue greenery.

Ilkley Moors: Totally moreish. Get back to nature as you wander the windswept crags of Ilkley Moors. There are plenty of tried and tested walks, but the very best will lead you to the door of the Cow and Calf for some hearty grub.

Roundhay park: One of the biggest parks in Europe did you know? Stretch those cramped legs and have a stroll and a picnic by the lake. Tropical World is also tucked away in its leafy arms. Go and prance among the butterflies or lose yourself in creature corner. Exotic.

Meanwood Valley Urban Farm: If you ever feel unpopular, go and grab yourself a little bag of 50p feed and bask in the temporary cupboard love of llamas, pigs, donkeys and sheep. It leaves you surprisingly relaxed and if you go in the week its virtually empty.

Nice to meet ewe