Updated on 13th January 2025
Written on Lifestyle Updated on 13th January 2025

From old school barbers to thoroughly modern hairdressers, there’s no excuse to go ungroomed in Leeds.

Friendly welcomes, beautiful old school chairs, a huge range of services and people that know how to talk to you – that’s what the best barbers in Leeds offer. Whether you’re after a quick lunchtime trim or the full works, they’ve got you covered…

Basement 68

Venture down some stairs on Wellington Street and you’ll find Basement 68 tucked away, a friendly place that’s perfect for a quick lunchtime fix-up or a more indulgent weekend makeover for your barnet.

While the pool table, fridge of beers and Sky Sports News might give it a masculine feel, it’s an inclusive and very friendly place, with some of the nicest barbers to talk to in Leeds – trust us on this, it’s a stone’s throw from the Leeds-List HQ.

They’ll wash your hair before cutting it, and they’ll make sure you get a thoroughly professional finish, whether it’s a clipper back and sides job or a full hot towel razor shave. Students of Leeds – book in for Tuesdays and Wednesday for a 15% discount.

Where: Basement 68, 68a Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2EE.
Prices: Shampoo, cut and finish £26. Beard trim £15. Hot towel shave £26.

Book it: basement-68.co.uk

AL Barber

A man cutting hair at Al Barber in Leeds

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With 9 years in the game, you know you’re in expert hands at AL Barber. If you’re searching for them on Headrow, look for a sign and a short little alleyway and you’re there.

They’re open seven days a week, and you can book online or just walk in. It’s a petite, two-chair place, but they’ll do their best to fit you in for a hot towel shave or shampoo, cut and finish.

You can have a tea, coffee or water while they go to work – although they’ll warm you up with a whiskey in winter. They tick all the boxes when it comes to services too, with beard styling, cut throat shaves and a ‘Full Experience’ which takes care of your hair and beard with all the works.

Where: AL Barber, 5c The Headrow, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PU.

Prices: Shampoo, cut and finish £25. Luxury beard trim £17.50. Kid’s cut £17.

Book it: al-barber.co.uk

Lords Barbering

Time your appointment just right at Lords Barbering – it’ll have to be a late one – and you can rise from your chair with a fresh haircut and descend the stairs to Domino Club for a cocktail. What could be better?

You’re pretty much guaranteed that the haircut will be a doozy, because the Lords team, led by founder Byron, are skilled, chatty and receptive, tailoring your trim to not just your head and face shape but also your image.

The hair on your chin can be just as important as the hair on your head for the finished look, and they offer one of the best luxury shaves in town here, safe hands in control of a perilously sharp straight razor. Premium products and real skill combine for the perfect experience.

Where: Lords Barbering, 23 Grand Arcade, Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PG.

Prices: Wash, cut and dry £28. Beard trim £20. Student discount available.

Book it: lordsbarbering.co.uk

Boris & Co.

One of the biggest and best barbers in Leeds, Boris & Co is your one-stop shop for a bit of grooming. They’ve got 16 barber chairs, three tattoo artists, two piercers and they even share a building with a renowned tailor.

They’ve been around for eight years – six at the current location – and there’s barely a haircut or shave they don’t offer. If you’re getting married, they do a brilliant full-service package where you and your groomsmen can come in and get wedding-ready with food and even your own music on.

They’ll happily help you with a new style, and the fully-stocked bar makes this a very social place to book in for. If you’re a student, you’ll get 50% off your first visit if booked on a Tuesday or Wednesday – bonus!

Where: Boris & Co, 10-12 New Market Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DG.
Prices: Haircut and blow dry £28. Beard trim £13. Cut-throat shave £28. Cheaper services are available from juniors.

Book it: borisandco.co.uk

The Gentleman’s Barber

The Gentleman's Barber, Leeds

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Janek Muchowski did his apprenticeship in hairdressing at the age of 18 and now, the best part of two decades later, he’s running his own spot close to where he started out.

It’s an affable kind of place that welcomes all comers – one glance at the price list with entries for ‘old men’, ‘boys’ and ‘dad & lad’ will tell you that. And if you’re looking for the ideal place to take your son for a quality haircut, he’ll be well looked after here.

The old school barber feel with its vintage equipment will put you at ease, and they’ve also got a small but high-quality range of products so you can do your level best to recreate your barber finish at home.

Where: The Gentleman’s Barber, 388 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2HG.

Prices: Cut and finish £22. Beard trims £20-30. 

Book it: tgb-leeds.co.uk

Blue Collar Barbering

Blue Collar Barbers

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Walk in past the impressive sign (by acclaimed Leeds company Third Eye Signs, no less) and the first thing that strikes you about Blue Collar is its unique aesthetic. The walls are plastered with memorabilia and ephemera – you won’t lack stuff to look at while you’re getting a trim.

You’ll also be in the hands of a hugely experienced team – it has been open six years, but some of the team here were cutting hair back when King Koby was in Leeds Corn Exchange.

There are 11 chairs spread over two floors, offering everything from cuts to beard trims, accompanied by a soundtrack of judiciously chosen hip-hop. Next door to Wapentake, they don’t mind if you grab a pint from next door and bring it in to sup during your appointment.

Where: Blue Collar Barbering, 90 Kirkgate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7DJ.
Prices: Gents cut & finish £22.50. Beard trim £12.50. Student discount available.
Book it: bluecollarbarbering.com

Cold Bath

Cold Bath

There’s something soothing about the traditional look of Cold Bath Barber Shop in Chapel Allerton. It has only been in business since 2001, but the parquet flooring, brick walls and old chairs whisk you further back in time.

Much of the vibe is down to current owner Toby Wiltshire, who runs a welcoming but top-quality barbers that’s all about attention to detail. Want some peace of mind? Any barber working there has to have eight years of experience.

They’ve got discounts for kids and ‘retired gentlemen’ (looking forward to joining that category in a few years), a curated offering of high-quality grooming products and a fine line in a soundtrack to your hair cut of choice.

Where: Cold Bath Barber Shop, 43 Harrogate Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 3PD.

Prices: Haircut and finish £26. Beard trim £16.

Book it: cold-bath.co.uk

W2 Barber Shop

W2 barber shop in Leeds

Want to get a tune-up at an award-winning Leeds barber shop? Get yourself over to W2, where there’s decades of experience in charge of the scissors and shavers.

Whether you want something simple or traditional or a cutting-edge style that’s very zeitgeisty, they’ll give you what you want, and they’re past masters at catering for all ages too, with a sizeable discount for gents over 65.

The range of services is as comprehensive as it gets, from skin and zero fades through to undercuts, patterns and, because some people just cannot be reasoned with, mullets.

Where: W2 Barber Shop, 131 Easterly Road, Oakwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2TP.

Prices: Regular haircut from £16. Hot towel wet shave £16. Beard MOT £20.

Book it: w2barbershop.nearcut.com

Thornton’s Barbers

The outside of Thorntons Barbers

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The real trick at Thornton’s Arcade is traversing the length of it without somehow getting your hair cut. It’s a veritable scissor-fest and, on a clear day, you can catch the scent of pomade and barbicide on the breeze.

One of the picks has to be Thornton’s Barbers, however, run by Gavin Davidson who has been in haircut business for over a quarter of a century. It’s walk-in only, but you’ll be greeted by Gavin and either a tea, coffee or a beer.

This one-man band can draw on his plentiful experience for haircuts of all styles, as well as beard trims and wet shaves. There are high-end products from Murdock and American Crew, and students get seen for a bargain £15!

Where: Thornton’s Barbers, 18 Thornton’s Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LQ.

Prices: Dry cut £24. Student and OAPs £15.

Book it: Walk-in only.

CRF Barbers

A barbers chair at CRF

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Want to find a men’s hairdresser in Leeds that offers a complete one-on-one experience? Then head to the back of Kapow Coffee, climb two narrow set of stairs and you’ll be greeted by the entire staff of CRF Barbers – one Copeland Freeman.

Copeland has been in the hair game for 10 years – he used to work at the renowned Modern – and has been flying solo for four years. There’s no faff, no fuss, no added extras – he just offers damn good haircuts.

A standard haircut is £27, while NHS workers get a couple of quid off. Students get a full fiver off the price. You’ll get a great chat, a fine bespoke haircut, all while the smell of excellent coffee wafts up from Kapow.

Where: CRF Barbers, 3rd Floor, Kapow Coffee, 15 Thornton’s Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LQ.

Prices: Haircuts from £27. Students £22.

Book it: crfbarbers.co.uk

Movemen

Inside of Movemen barbers in Leeds

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Just off Briggate, Movemen is hidden in Queens Arcade, and is the hairdressers formerly known as Arkade (in fact, there’s still an Arkade sign hanging up outside).

Aesthetically it’s a modern place, all tones of grey and steel, with three chairs downstairs and a staircase leading to three more upstairs. When we popped in, they weren’t all occupied by barbers – they say they’re on the lookout for skilled hairdressers to take them on.

This is one of the best barbers in Leeds in terms of offering the whole range of services. You’ll have your hair washed before it’s cut, and they’ve got a towel steamer so you can have a hot towel shave. They do the works!

Where: Movemen, Unit 7, Queens Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6LF.

Prices: Haircut £30. Beard trim £15. Hot towel shave £23. Student & NHS discount available.

Book it: movemen.co.uk

Temple

The inside of Temple barbershop in Leeds

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Temple is a spacious, airy and very neatly designed men’s barber that’s just a stones throw from Leeds General Infirmary – great news for NHS staffers who work there, as they get a discount on their do.

There’s a distinctly local vibe to the decor, with signs full of Yorkshire sayings, and there’s a Yorkshire friendliness to the staff, who invite you to have a game of pool while you’re waiting to be seen.

Temple has been open for over six years, and has seven chairs which means you shouldn’t have to wait too long if you’ve chanced your arm on a walk-in. It’s LGBTQ+ friendly and you might even get to meet gorgeous resident dachshund Frank.

Where: Temple Barbershop, 63-65 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3BB.

Prices: Haircut £28. Beard trim £13. Child’s haircut £20. NHS & Student discount available.

Book it: booksy.com

Studio 12 Barbershop

The outside of Studio 12 barbershop in Leeds

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Studio 12 can be found in Thornton’s Arcade, which the city might as well just rename ‘Barbershop Arcade’ and have done with it. If you recognise some of the staff, it might be because they were at King Koby before it closed down.

That means they know their way around men’s bonces, and they’ll sort yours out whether you’ve booked in (via Booksy) or walked in. There are six chairs in total, and they’ll crack open a beer for you to enjoy while you get your trim.

Students get a discount every day of the week, but they’ve also got a great deal for freshers making their first visit on Monday to Wednesday – an extra 30% off. Just need your beard sorting? They’ll take care of that for you as well.

Where: Studio 12 Barbershop, 20 Thornton’s Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkhire, LS1 6LQ.

Prices: Haircut £28. Beard trim £14. Student discount available.

Book it: booksy.com

Credit: © Copyright Leeds-List 2025

Andrew Porter-Emery Senior Writer

Andrew joined the Leeds-List team in 2021, bringing with him 20+ years of experience and a thorough knowledge of Yorkshire. He’s a regular at the city’s gigs, a foodie by nature and an all-round sociable kind of guy who loves nothing more than catching up with friends or even just reading a book in the pub.

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