Princes, Lions and Golden Owls: A Leeds Walking Tour

(13 reviews)

Leeds audio tour: Princes, Lions and Golden Owls: A Leeds Walking Tour

This is a 1.7mi walking tour

It takes an average of 75 mins to complete.

Leeds

The United Kingdom

$8.99

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About the Tour

Leeds is a city of surprises. From the mysterious stone owls that perch on its Victorian buildings, to echoes of its mighty wool empire, it’s steeped in history, culture and unique stories.

On this walking tour, you’ll find out about the city’s industrial roots, and hear a few fascinating stories about the people who shaped it. I’ll also share some quirky facts, fables, and foibles from this great city.

The tour begins at the iconic Leeds Bridge where pioneering photographer, Louis Le Prince, shot one of the earliest moving pictures. From there, you’ll explore Leeds City Centre and ‘The Calls’ district, named after the boisterous warehouses that it used to accommodate. Along the way, you’ll discover how Leeds evolved from a medieval settlement into a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution, renowned for its textile and clothing industries.

I’ll point out our grand Victorian shopping plazas, County Arcade and Thornton’s Arcade, and a few stately municipal buildings. Our tour ends at City Square, home to several statues, including eight nymphs and the majestic Black Prince statue.

On this Leeds walking tour, you can look forward to:

Hearing about the mischievous nocturnal adventures of Leeds Town Hall’s lions
Finding out how renowned escapologist Harry Houdini nearly came to a boozy end, courtesy of a local Leeds brewery
Pondering the surprising crime wave triggered by a new set of traffic lights
Guessing what Charles Dickens really thought about Leeds (Spoiler Alert: We won’t be inviting him back!)
Meandering around beautiful public spaces like Park Square, Nelson Mandela Gardens, Millennium Square, and Dortmund Square
Taking in Leeds Corn Exchange, and hear about its decline and revitalisation
Admiring Leeds Art Gallery, home to a collection of 20th-century British Art with a focus on sculpture
Having a hoot with the abundance of owls that roost throughout the city!

Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the tour, but don’t rush! There’s plenty to explore. And if you need a break, there are lots of cosy cafes and restaurants where you can stop to refuel.

Join me to uncover the spirit of Leeds on this fun and enlightening walking tour.

Tour Producer

Sarah

3 tours

My name is Sarah, and I love sharing the stories that make places feel real. Whenever we visit somewhere, we experience just one brief moment in its long life. That moment is unique to us—but the place has seen gazillions of others before we arrived. Generations of people have passed through, each leaving their own mark, big and small, and creating many fascinating tales.

On my tours, I reveal the hidden stories behind the place; the surprising events, local characters, and long-forgotten details that bring a location to life. My aim is to help you see beyond what is there now and connect with who has been there before you.

“Everywhere we go, there is a story to tell!”

Preview Location

Location 29

Leeds Town Hall

To your right is the Town Hall. Stop at a convenient place where you can see it.

It's currently closed and is undergoing some major restoration work until 2025 so there may be some hoardings in place.

The town hall was built in 1858 to house the municipal functions of t... To your right is the Town Hall. Stop at a convenient place where you can see it.

It's currently closed and is undergoing some major restoration work until 2025 so there may be some hoardings in place.

The town hall was built in 1858 to house the municipal functions of the growing city and was opened by Queen Victoria. It had law courts, offices, a public hall, and ceremonial suites. Many of these functions have now moved elsewhere in the city, but you can still get married here usually.

Inside there is a really spectacular concert hall and one of the largest musical organs in Europe. I have in fact played my recorder there at a concert in the 1980s where hundreds of Leeds schoolchildren came together to play The Entertainer on their recorders in joyous harmony. We made a glorious sound, I can tell you….hundreds of recorders echoing around the concert hall. Fear not, I won't play for you now!

Underneath the steps of the town hall are the old police cells from Victorian times, called Bridewells. They were a pretty awful place, made deliberately bleak to act as a deterrent for offenders. Each cell could accommodate four inmates, although often more were crowded in. Inmates either lay on a straw-covered floor or were shackled to the walls. There were no windows and it got very cold and damp in the winter.

Incredibly, these cells were still in use until 1993 and they’re actually how the Leeds indie band, the Bridewell Taxis, got their name: a 'Bridewell Taxi' was the slang name given to the police vans that would collect local drunks and bring them here after a heavy night out!!

It's obviously closed at the moment, but when tours are running, you can visit the Bridewells, the organ, and climb up the Bell Tower for an amazing view of the city.

The four lions guarding the building arrived in 1867 and are admittedly looking a little worn now. But looks can be deceptive. Legend has it that occasionally, just occasionally, the town hall clock up above you strikes not 12 but 13 times. When this happens, Leeds time stands still...everything freezes.... and this is the cue for the lions to wake up and take a stroll through the streets of Leeds. When they've been for a walk (I heard they rather enjoyed this audio tour actually!), they make their way back to their plinths and everything returns to normal…

When you're ready, continue walking up the Headrow, with the town hall on your right. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Leeds Bridge
Leeds Corn Exchange
County Arcade
Victoria Quarter
Thornton's Arcade
Dortmund Square
Millennium Square
Nelson Mandela Gardens
Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Art Gallery
Park Square
City Square

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
1-17 Hunslet Rd, Leeds, UK
Total distance

3km
Final location
City Square, Leeds LS1 2HA, UK
Distance back to start location

551.46m

Directions to Starting Point

The start is easily reached from Briggate, one of the main shopping areas in Leeds. Walk down Briggate. Keep walking straight until it changes into Bridge End and then keep walking until you reach Leeds Bridge which crosses the river Aire.

Cross over the bridge. The tour starts on the other side of the bridge, outside the old building which has “Aire and Calder Navigation” written in stone letters. It is on your left as you cross over the bridge.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Leeds is full of wonderful little cafes, restaurants and place to stop. You definitely won’t go hungry on your trip!
If you have time, browse the shopping in the Corn Exchange, Kirkgate Market and the Arcades. Alternatively, make a stop at the museum or art gallery; the main exhibitions are free to get into, and the art gallery has a truly breathtaking cafe with tiled walls and ceilings on the top floor.

Best time of day

Do the trip during daylight hours to give the best visibility on the tour and to ensure that buildings and arcades are open.

Precautions

As you would in any big city, keep valuables safe and out of sight and be aware of pickpockets. Keep to areas where there are plenty of other people around.

Take care whilst crossing roads and in particular, be aware of the cycle lanes in the city. As a pedestrian, it is quite easy to stray into them!

Dress for the weather conditions, take an umbrella or sunscreen and a bottle of water. There are plenty of places to shelter on the route if needed.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”