Whether you want finger dots, fine line florals or a full sleeve of your favourite things, here are the best tattoo studios in Leeds to get sick tats.
You’re ready. It might be your first tattoo, it might be your 50th, but you’re feeling the need to feel that buzzing pain, set to walk away with an incredible piece of artwork, part of your body forever.
You know what you want, but where should you go to get it done? Leeds is full of cool tattoo studios packed with talented tattooists, so we’ve rounded up the best ones in the city. All you have to do is choose!
Rose & Thorn Tattoo
Part of Bramley’s Swinnow Grange Mills, Rose & Thorn was established in 2017 and has been an integral part of the Leeds tattoo scene ever since. It’s home to five resident artists, all with different styles, from fine line florals to traditional snakes and daggers.
The interior is rustic and cool, with exposed pipes, bare floorboards and, of course, art plastered all over the walls. They even share a space with Gray’s Salon, so how about a manicure afterwards to complete the look?
Rose & Thorn Tattoo, Unit 1a, Swinnow Grange Mills, Stanningley Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS13 4EP.
Red Tattoo and Piercing
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Red Tattoo and Piercing are a stalwart of the scene in Leeds. They’ve been around since 2007, and they’ve found their forever home in the form of a light and airy studio in Leeds Corn Exchange. There are five resident artists, including owner Ruth Rollin, and they’ve got an eclectic mix of styles.
You could walk away with a medieval-style knight, a colourful neo-traditional portrait of your dog, a black stippled sword or a trad snake head. You can also grab ink from guest artists here too!
Red Tattoo and Piercing, Leeds Corn Exchange, 42 Call Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 7BR. Bookings are made through the individual artist.
Rude Studios
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Rude Studios is one of the best tattoo studios in Leeds. They’ve got three locations across the city, and each one is purpose-built for your safety, comfort and privacy. Their tattoo artists are all apprentice-trained, offering a wide variety of styles – they’ve got at least eight, so you’re sure to find one that’s right for you.
We’re talking Alice in Wonderland rabbits and traditional skull and flowers to battle-axes and scorpions. Can’t find what you want on the flash wall? Talk to an artist about custom work.
Rude Studios, 6 Vicar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7JF; Unit 28, Merrion Centre, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8NG; and 13B North Lane, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 3HG. Bookings are made through individual artists.
Buzz Club Tattoo Studio
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Buzz Club Tattoo Studio is a fully vegan tattoo shop with studios in Headingley and Leeds city centre. They don’t use animal products in their ink, their tattoo glide or their stencil paper. They even use latex-free gloves!
You can get a number of tattoo styles here, including large florals, but they specialise in fine line, traditional and realism. Want a tattoo but don’t think you could hack it? Beautifully delicate hand poke tattoos are available here – it takes longer, but it’s a less intense, less painful experience for a beautiful end result.
Buzz Club Tattoo Studio, 60 Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2EE and 154 Hyde Park Road, Woodhouse, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 1AG. Appointment only. Bookings are made through the website.
Sacred Electric Tattoo
Sacred Electric looks like your typical tattoo parlour from the outside. Based in the centre of Leeds, it’s all big black walls covered in flash, but once you get inside, you realise it’s full of friendly humans waiting to give you cool, fresh ink.
If ever there was a place to get an epic traditional tattoo in Leeds, it’s here. Bold and iconic, with minimal shading, all the six artists here nail this style. Fancy some art for your walls as well as your body? You can grab original paintings and prints from the tattoo artists too!
Sacred Electric Tattoo, 2-3 Mill Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DQ. Bookings are made through email or phone call.
Ultimate Skin
Ultimate Skin is one of the best and most well-known tattoo studios in Leeds, having been around since 1997. They’ve got four full-time tattoo artists and an apprentice on their roster, specialising in traditional, neo-trad, pattern work and Japanese tattoo styles.
There’s a regular line up of incredible guest artists from around the country as well as a set of realism tattooists from Spain. They’re all friendly and knowledgeable, making it the perfect place to get your first tattoo. Want rid of old ink? They do laser removal here too.
Ultimate Skin, 33 New Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JD. Bookings are made through email or the website contact form.
Snake & Tiger
Snake & Tiger is a tattoo studio for tattoo lovers. They’re super nerdy about the history of tattooing – even their name is a reference to an iconic Japanese tattoo design which has stood the test of time.
There are four resident tattoo artists catering to a range of styles, including traditional and Japanese (naturally). You can also get delicate fine line ink here, as well as dot work and more. They’ve got a couple of claims to fame too – they’ve tattooed actress Lena Headey and Olympic boxer Nicola Adams.
Snake & Tiger, 11 Thorntons Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LQ. Bookings are made through the studio and through individual artists.
Fyne
Credit: Fyne
Fyne is one of the more unusual tattoo studios in Leeds, in that it feels more like a spa than a typical tattoo shop. Think tonal neutrals, natural materials and lots of plants. There’s even a mixed-genre playlist with songs chosen to calm and uplift you in equal measure.
It’s a private studio owned by Olivia Fayne, the sole tattoo artist here. She designs ornamental, floral tattoos in a fine line, single needle style. You can grab a flash design from her store or work with her to create your own custom tattoo.
Fyne, 25-26 Grand Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PQ. Appointment only. Bookings are made through the studio or Instagram.
Grimm Tattoo
Grimm Tattoo is a six-year-old tattoo studio in Leeds offering a modern and welcoming tattoo experience. They have four resident tattoo artists and, while they offer a range of styles, they specialise in realism, surrealism, black work and geometric tattoos.
Keep your eye on their guest artist spots too, they play host to some absolute corkers. Unusually, they have a dedicated studio manager, who sorts out quotes and books you in with your chosen artist – the result is a really quick response and a smooth process from start to finish.
Grimm Tattoo, 234 Easterly Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 3ES. Bookings are made through social media messages.
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