Cycling in the City: Staycations in Leeds

Make the most of staycations this summer by enjoying a new city by bicycle. Delve into quaint backstreets, speed through parks, ride along lakes and canals, and uncover ‘off the beaten track’ pubs - on a bicycle every city can offer a world of exciting discoveries.

Uncover all that Leeds has to offer with an exhilarating ride as you make your way to attractions, sites, and landmarks with our latest Cycling in the City installment. Peruse below our handpicked cycle routes in Leeds for a staycation with a difference.

Lower Wortley Loop

Family Ride by Kamyar Adl / CC BY (image size has been modified)

Start: Kellett Road, Wortley
End: Dixon Lane, Wortley
Duration: 1 Hour
Distance: 10.28m /16.54 Km

Details: This easy to moderate ride offers a loop just south of Leeds city centre, offering an enjoyable route away from busy roads and traffic. The trail starts around a 20 minute bike ride from our Leeds hotel, offering a nice warm up before you take on the windy roads and a couple of challenging hills of this varied, but manageable ride.

Wortley to Green Flag Loop Route

Parisian Bicycle by Phil Sangwell / Creative Commons(image size has been modified)

Start/ End: Wortley, Highfield Crescent
Duration: 1 Hour 12 Minutes
Distance: 12.5m /20.12 Km

Details: Our top pick of cycle routes in Leeds, this easy to moderate trail has a lot to offer the cycle adventurer. Starting a nice warm up distance of 2.5 miles (15 minutes ride) from Leonardo Hotel Leeds, this route takes you up and around some of the greener and more scenic areas of the city with the return leg running along the canal. The canal offers views of landmarks and sights such as Kirkstall Abbey and Armley Mills, as well as coming across multiple locks. The route also offers plenty of pubs for those wanting to stop for a drink or a spot of lunch during the ride.

Hunslet to Crossgates Route

Hot Town Summer in the City by FaceMePLS / Creative Commons(image size has been modified)

Start: Hunslet
End: Crossgates
Duration: 42 Minutes
Distance: 7.92m /12.75 Km

Details: This easy trail takes cyclists east of the city centre and out into some more rural and picturesque areas of Leeds. The route starts a short eight minute ride from Leonardo Hotel Leeds on Penny Lane Way, taking you away from hubbub of the city centre.

This ride avoids traffic heavy areas riding via some more isolated areas for a peaceful cycle, as well as taking you through Temple Newsam, which provides scenic views of the pastoral surroundings. The route (there and back) will take roughly an hour and 25 minutes in total.

Cycle Routes to Leeds Attractions

Cycle Route by Dimitri Hon / Creative Commons(image size has been modified)

There is a range of attractions in Leeds from galleries in the city centre to Kirkstall Abbey a little further out. For a broader array of activities and attractions to explore in Leeds, check out our comprehensive Leeds City Guide. So if you’re planning to enjoy the city by bicycle and want to cycle to the various sites, landmarks and attractions, cyclestreets.net can help you map out a tailored ride, as well as offering route options depending on the busyness of the roads. The site also provides detailed instructions on how to get to your desired destination, making cycling in the city even easier this summer!

Explore a few suggestions on Leeds attractions worth visiting by bike :

• Kirkstall Abbey (around 23 minute ride)
• Abbey House Museum (around 23 minute ride)
• Lotherton Hall (one hour ride)
• Harewood House (one hour ride)