Roundhay Area Guide

Roundhay is an incredibly popular area of North Leeds with those from all over the Leeds area. Thanks to its famous park, there is always a buzz in Roundhay with its open spaces, cafes restaurants and bars attracting locals and tourists alike.

Things To Do

You cannot talk about the things to do in Roundhay without mentioning the beautiful centre piece of the area which is Roundhay Park! This historical park is a real Leeds favourite and the second largest city park in Europe. You will be spoiled for choice when it comes to what to do on a day out in Roundhay Park as this is not your average park! Spend some time exploring Tropical World where you can immerse yourself in nature with Tropical World being home to several animals with species you can go see including lizards, fish, meerkats, birds, snakes and butterflies!

If it’s a walk you’re after then there’s plenty to explore whilst you’re at it, there are two lakes, a geology trail which is perfect for kids, woodlands and even a castle so just pick your route and see what you can find. Also at the park are two golf courses, tennis courts and a cricket pavilion if you’re up for a bit of sport but you can also make use of the football nets and open space about if you just fancy an active afternoon with family and friends. If that’s not enough to get you to the park then there are also regular events which use Roundhay Park as it’s venue so be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming events so you don’t miss out on all your favourite gigs, festivals and events!

Outside of the park there’s plenty to keep you busy with the local Roundhegians Rugby Club providing opportunities within thriving junior and senior rugby teams and the Roundhay Lawn Tennis Club. Also there’s a buzzing social scene with many bars and restaurants to help occupy your afternoons.

Eating & Drinking

The eating and drinking scene within Roundhay revolves around Street Lane. This busy, vibrant street which connects Moortown to Roundhay park acts as a real social hub for the local community. There are a great range of restaurants where you can go to enjoy some delicious meals with friends, whether that be Mediterranean food from the Olive Branch, Italian from San Carlo Flying Pizza, Indian from Aanya or pub classics from The Deer Park Hotel!

Also on offer in Roundhay is a number of cafes and delicatessens where you can enjoy a coffee or fresh sandwich with RAND Coffee and Hayley & Clifford always delivering on this front. If you’re just after a quick drink then Roundhay is host to a number of great pubs and bars, The Roundhay Fox, The White House and Banyan, just to name a few.

Shopping

Street Lane in Roundhay is also home to a great selection of independent shops including: Share Jewellers, Daisy Chain Florist, Grid Thirteen Kitchen Furniture, Daniel Footwear Shoe Shop and Philip Howard Book Store. Also on street lane is a range of charity shops to explore and a local Co-op where you can pick up all your essentials.

Transport

Roundhay benefits from a good selection of bus routes with lines running straight into Leeds City Centre as well as all surrounding areas. Situated just of the Leeds Ring Road, Roundhay is also in easy access of road networks, making Roundhay a perfect spot for commuters.

History

In 1872, Roundhay Park estate was purchased by the City of Leeds and opened as a public park by His Royal Highness Prince Arthur on 19 September 1872. At the time, there was much opposition as many considered the park was too far out of Leeds for the majority of the population to enjoy, and the park had just one access road and led to the park being dubbed a 'white elephant' in its early years.

Schools

Roundhay has great schooling options with the Ofsted Outstanding Roundhay School providing education for those aged 4 – 18 with separate primary and secondary campuses. Roundhay is also a convenient location for nearby Independent School options including the prestigious Grammar School at Leeds.