The Best Places to Live in Leeds

Now we may be biased, but as far as we’re concerned, moving to Leeds is a no-brainer. Choosing where to live, however, that’s a different kettle of fish…

Listing the best places to live in Leeds is like herding cats. Everyone has a different opinion. So we’ve kept it simple, rounding up the most popular parts of the city, the unsung heroes and the ones to watch.

Looking for more Leeds inspiration? Check out our guides to Leeds property and the best restaurants in Leeds.

Most popular

These are the most popular areas of the city – the ones you’ll likely come across first when you start looking. They tend to sit higher in the price bracket, but for good reason.

Horsforth

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Right up there at the top of the list, Horsforth has become a hub for young professionals and families looking to move out of the city centre and settle down in a well-connected suburb. The train station is a major attraction – it makes getting to Leeds, Harrogate and York straightforward – but it’s far from the only reason people choose to live here.

Horsforth is a thriving suburb with a great independent scene, good schools and all the shops and amenities you need. There’s a real mix of parks, bars, restaurants and shops – who doesn’t love Sunday lunch at Bavette or bagels from High Rise? – and a strong community feel that keeps people here once they’ve arrived. Property ranges from Victorian terraces to newer builds, with prices reflecting its enduring popularity.

Best for: Families and professionals who want suburban life without sacrificing connectivity.

Chapel Allerton

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It’s easy to see why Chapel Allerton is one of the most popular places to live in Leeds. It’s a bustling suburb with a lively centre that has something to offer day and night, with a slew of independent cafes, delis and shops alongside a raft of popular bars and restaurants. We love Sukhothai, House of Koko and The Mustard Pot and a plethora of local independent favourites.

The east side of Chapel Allerton is particularly sought after, with Victoria Street, North Brook Street and The Pastures all in high demand. It sits on the quieter side of town in terms of traffic, but is just a short journey into the city centre. It also has a huge range of housing stock, with something for just about everyone – whether you’re single, moving as a couple or need space for a family.

Best for: Those who want an independent, village-like feel within easy reach of the city.

Roundhay

The main attraction here, as you can imagine, is the park – a wealth of open space right on your doorstep that Leeds-Listers have been exploring since we first started covering the city. Professionals, singles and couples love to be around and overlooking Roundhay Park, while Old Park Road has some fantastic converted properties that blend period character with modern fittings.

You’re not short of amenities either. There’s a host of independent shops and delis, as well as cosy pubs, modern bars and good restaurants. It’s not quite as lively as Chapel Allerton or Horsforth, but on a warm weekend with the park on your doorstep, you won’t miss town one bit.

Best for: Those who prioritise green space and a quieter, more residential feel.

Leeds city centre and waterfront

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The city centre remains one of the most popular places to live in Leeds, and with good reason. Everything’s right there – shops, bars, restaurants and your workplace, all within walking distance, with transport links to just about everywhere.

One area in particular has proved consistently popular: the waterfront. This stretch of the city centre offers scenic views over the River Aire, and buildings with character – Dye Works, Roberts Wharf, the Engine House – continue to attract strong demand. Leeds Dock has also matured into a well-established residential destination with bars, restaurants and office space all on the doorstep.

The city centre itself continues to expand, with development on the Hunslet side of the river, while ground was recently broken on Cole Waterhouse and Domis’ £200m+ Leeds Urban Village Development. Whitehall Riverside is expected to be up-and-running in 2026, with 500 new built-to-rent homes in the thick of the action.

Best for: City centre living with character – ideal for those who want to walk to everything.

Headingley

The student heartland, Headingley is as popular as ever – and while it skews younger, it actually has a lot to offer everyone. You might be surrounded by students in Woodie’s or The Original Oak, but we’ve always found ourselves in the company of locals aplenty too. The centre is packed with shops, bars, cafes and restaurants, with everything from traditional pubs to a broad range of global food. It’s close enough to the city centre to make commuting easy, with two train stations – Headingley and Burley Park – both running into Leeds and out to Harrogate and York.

Property here is varied, with the typical student terraces at the more affordable end sitting alongside larger family homes on the leafier streets further from the centre. If you don’t need the city centre, Headingley gives you everything you need within the suburb itself.

Best for: Students, young professionals and anyone who wants a lively suburb with great transport.

Alwoodley

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One of the more prosperous areas of Leeds, Alwoodley is popular and reflects that in its pricing. It has great schools, easy access to the outer ring road and some of the largest and most characterful houses in the city – Tudor-style properties alongside well-constructed contemporary architecture.

Local treasures include two golf courses and the beautiful Eccup Reservoir – home to some of the team’s most beloved walks. These give the suburb a distinctly out-of-city feel despite being well connected. It’s the kind of area people move to and tend to stay.

Best for: Families looking for larger properties, good schools and a more tranquil setting.

Unsung heroes

Not as talked about as their neighbours, but these areas offer real value – and in several cases, the gap is closing fast.

Oakwood

Nestled between Roundhay and Harehills, Oakwood has something of a mixed reputation, but there are genuinely lovely places to live here – essentially Roundhay-adjacent, at significantly lower prices. You’re still close to Roundhay Park, and the local bar and restaurant scene has developed well in recent years, with North Bar’s Preston a firm neighbourhood favourite.

Three-bedroom properties can often be rented for less than comparable homes in Roundhay, and there’s a solid range of housing – from high-end family houses to more affordable flats near the iconic Oakwood Clock.

Best for: Buyers and renters who want Roundhay’s lifestyle at a more accessible price point.

Rodley & Calverley

Two neighbouring suburbs that share many of the same traits, Rodley and Calverley are a way out of the city centre but sit close to Horsforth, so you’ll still have a wealth of shops, cafes and bars nearby.

You get more peace and tranquillity here without straying too far from civilisation – Rodley sits right on the canal, making it popular with walkers and cyclists, while Calverley has a good selection of pubs with strong food offerings. Both suburbs have the feel of villages, and in many ways offer the best of both worlds.

Best for: Those who want a village feel with easy access to Horsforth and the city.

Meanwood

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Meanwood has firmly established itself as one of the go-to places to live in Leeds, shedding any underdog status it once had. The arrival of a Waitrose was widely credited as an early signal of the suburb’s direction of travel, and the independent scene has blossomed since – Alfred Bar remains a beer haven, and the suburb continues to attract new openings alongside its established favourites.

Meanwood sits on the edge of the outer ring road, giving good connections in multiple directions, and is within walking distance of well-regarded schools including Cardinal Heenan and St Urban’s Primary School. The Woodlea area in particular offers a good variety of housing stock and is popular with families and professionals alike.

Best for: A suburb that’s hit its stride – independent feel, good schools and strong community.

Ones to watch

These areas may not top the popularity charts yet, but they have real potential. We think they’re worth keeping an eye on.

The South Bank

Credit: Tom Joy

The regeneration of the South Bank is moving apace, with a slew of new residential developments available now and even more coming in the future. All of them put you within easy reach of the city centre, and the southern entrance to the train station has made commuting out of the city even easier.

The recent announcement by the government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of a new town – with a potential 10,000+ new homes – on the South Bank of Leeds should accelerate the seismic changes in this area. Where it will begin and end we don’t yet know, with the area technically stretching from Leeds Dock into Holbeck and all being subject to planning approval, but it has the potential to be transformative for the area and city.

Thorpe Park

Can we call Thorpe Park an area? I think we can. What used to be a space between Garforth and Cross Gates has developed into a retail and industrial hub in recent years, with The Springs retail and leisure park opening in 2018. Since then, the area has gone from strength to strength, with a couple of major new build projects breathing further life into the area.

Redrow’s Centurion Fields development on Manston Lane and Strata’s Desire at the same location offer opportunities to live in a key commuter area with great transport links but also to be close to the job opportunities in the area. If East Leeds is having a moment, it’s also happening just to the north of here, with Persimmon developments at Morwick Green (ideal for the East Orbital route) and Wellington Green (a stone’s throw from Roundhay Park) now on sale.