Updated on 30th January 2025

20 Incredible Things for Couples to Do in Leeds

Planning a date? We've got you.

Written on Things To Do Updated on 30th January 2025

Give your partner a date to remember with these fun, romantic activities!

Dinner and a movie? No thank you! If you’re racking your brain trying to think of creative date night ideas, don’t worry. There’s a whole host of fun things for couples to do in Leeds, from whizzing round an indoor go kart track to nailing a hole-in-one with a crazy cocktail in hand. There’s something for everyone on this list, so you’d better get planning!

Paint & sip all night long at Pinot & Picasso

If you fancy showing off your creative skills while also enjoying a couple of drinks in a fun, relaxed environment, there’s one place to go – Pinot & Picasso. This is Leeds’ first sip & paint night with its own dedicated venue in the city centre – you’ll find it in Central Arcade.

Just head to their website, find a session you like and book in. All the gear you need will be ready for you, so you just have to grab a drink and paint away. Our favourite has to be the R&B Neon Nights, where you can do your own portrait of stars like Snoop Dogg and Beyonce.

Pinot & Picasso, 22 Central Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6DX.

Battle it out at board games

A man and a woman playing a board game at Chance and Counters in Leeds

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Want to get your competitive heckles up with your other half? Make a beeline for Chance & Counters! This is unique in Leeds – a Merrion Street bar that doubles as a board game utopia. They have over 500 games for you too choose from, spread across two floors, from Monopoly to Risk.

But that’s just the start. It’s a one-stop-shop, with all the food and drink you need to keep you playing for hours on end. We’re talking menus of smash burgers, loaded fries and more, ready to be paired with 10 lines of craft beer and cider or one of their cocktails.

Chance & Counters, 6-8 Merrion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PQ.

Take a romantic stroll in the countryside

Old opencast coalmine and wildlife habitat at RSPB St Aidan's Nature Reserve, Yorkshire

Credit: RSPB

Outdoorsy types? We’re lucky to have loads of green space in Leeds, from parks to nature reserves, right on our doorstep. So why not saunter hand-in-hand through the glorious Roundhay Park? Or take in the shimmering lake and whispering reedbeds of RSPB St Aidan’s?

You can discover a host of rare and beautiful habitats together, from the wet woodlands of Breary Marsh teeming with wildlife to the wild bird-spotting territory of Water Haigh Woodland Park. It’s the perfect way to connect with nature and your loved one.

Check out the best nature reserves in Leeds.

Go on a culinary adventure with a tasting menu

A chef pouring sauce onto a plate of fine dining cuisine at Chef Jono at V&V, a fine dining restaurant in Leeds

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Take your tastebuds to undiscovered realms with tasting menus from the city’s best chefs. Start with freshly baked bread and oils before making your way through a veritable culinary cabaret of courses. How about chicken liver, hazelnut and pear? Or chocolate, cheese and black olive!

You could be eating creations from some of TV’s finest including MasterChef: The Professionals’ Jono Hawthorne, Great British Menu’s Elizabeth Cottam and many more. It’s not everyday you get to experience that, so – bon appetit!

Check out the best experimental tasting menus in Leeds.

Paint ceramics at Jackrabbits Pottery

A skull mug that's been painted during a pottery painting session

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Get creative with paint-your-own-pottery shop, Jackrabbits. It’s perfect when you’re looking for something fun to do with your partner on a rainy afternoon. Choose from shelves of mugs, piggy banks, treasure chests and more, all ready to be painted with your unique designs.

Once you’ve completed your masterpiece, they glaze and fire it, ready for you to put pride of place on the mantelpiece. They even do late night sessions where you can bring a bottle of something sparkly and order a pizza as you relax for an evening of painting.

Jackrabbits Pottery, 633a Roundhay Road, Oakwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 4BA.


Eat, drink and watch films at The Northern Market

A selection of food at The Northern Market in Leeds

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The Northern Market is the perfect night out for couples in Leeds. It’s a bar, restaurant and entertainment venue all rolled into one. Let’s start at the bar – it’s the brainchild of Northern Monk, so you’ll find all their fine beers on keg and cask, as well as wine and cocktails.

Then there’s the street food, and it takes you from The Falafel Guys’ epic wraps to Six Slice’s delicious pizza, Big Buns’ smash burgers to Yuzu’s Asian grub. To finish off, they’ve got their own private room which is actually Leeds’ smallest cinema so get in early!

The Northern Market, 12 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3DW.

Discover the delights of Harewood House

The outside of Harewood House, one of Leeds' stately homes

Harewood House is easily one of the most romantic things to do in Leeds. It’s an 18th-century country estate with lots of stories to tell. From the majestic rooms to the huge art collections, you can learn all about the decor and how the other half lived throughout history.

Don’t pass up on the chance to explore the beautiful grounds either. You can round off your date with tea and cake in the Courtyard Cafe – they’ve got cream ones, chocolate ones and even vegan ones, all best enjoyed in the sun in this stunning slice of Leeds’ past.

Harewood House, Sandy Gate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 9LE.

Go head-to-head at Arcade Club

Arcade machines at Arcade Club in Leeds

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Arcade Club is your chance to show your partner who’s boss when it comes to Pac-Man. It’s three floors of video game heaven, with more than 300 arcade and pinball machines to play on. Think low lighting, brightly coloured LED lights and that iconic mish-mash of video game sounds.

There are loads of vintage and classic games to relive your youth on, as well as contemporary ones – you can even play against each other on their latest Xbox One, PS4 and VR gaming set ups. Be careful, time flies when you’re beating your personal best!

Arcade Club, Unit 3, Abbey Retail Park, Savins Mill Way, Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS5 3RP. 

Discover the city’s secret cocktail bars

There’s nothing more romantic than a secret cocktail bar no one else knows about. Leeds has got lots of them, if you know the right places to look. Let’s start with Blind Tyger, with its Prohibition-style decor and cosy corners to hatch plans in – their mixologists really know their stuff.

Or how about The Maven? Through the unmarked door and up the stairs, with impeccably dressed bartenders whipping up cool cocktails to sip on. Fancy more of an escape? Tiki Hideaway transports you somewhere tropical, with a classic Pina Colada served in a frozen pineapple.

Check out the best secret cocktail bars in Leeds.

Get lost in the drama at the theatre

Actresses and actors in period dress, in front of a candlelit table

Credit: Tristram Kenton

Leeds’ theatre scene is thriving, and it’s the perfect date night. Get swept up in all the emotion of the plot, admire the beautiful sets and sing along to the show tunes. Whether you’re a lover of drama-filled opera or you prefer a rip-roaring West End show, there’s something for everyone.

You could head to Leeds Grand Theatre for the thrill of opening night on the latest sellout show, catch modern takes on classic shows alongside new works at Leeds Playhouse, or see unique shows at Carriageworks. Don’t forget your interval ice cream!

Check out what’s on in our guide to this month’s best shows & plays.

Watch the sunset together

Sunset at Cow and Calf

Sit in quiet contemplation as you watch the sun go down in a spectacular array of pinks, oranges and purples. But where are the best spots in Leeds? There’s the Surprise View at Otley Chevin, giving you magnificent views over the valley and a romantic spot to settle down in.

You can see picturesque vistas from the top of the Cow & Calf rocks too. Prefer to watch the sunset with a drink in your hand and a plate of something tasty in front of you? There are lots of rooftop bars across the city that make for an ultra-romantic date.

Check out the best rooftop bars in Leeds.

Enjoy music together at a gig

Ellur playing at Hyde Park Book Club for Live at Leeds 2023

© Copyright Leeds-List 2025

Take a walk through Leeds and there’ll always be something that catches the ear. Our city is bursting with incredible live music venues, you just have to find the right one for you. Luckily, you’re more than catered for, with all kinds of musical goings on nightly.

Book a gig to see an internationally-renowned rock band at O2 Academy Leeds, get a preview of an up-and-coming folk star at the Brudenell Social Club or just pop into Sela Bar to see which resident band is on. Whatever you’re both are into, you’re sure to find a gig to remember.

Check out the best music venues in Leeds.

Cook up a storm at Leeds cookery school

Do you and your other half fancy yourself burgeoning chefs? If so, you can put yourselves to the test at Leeds Cookery School! Together with a small group, you’ll be led by an expert chef for a few hours of food-filled fun.

There’s loads of classes available, be it Mexican or pizza & prosecco, pasta or doughnuts. It’s a perfect way to learn a new skill and to spend some quality time together.

Leeds Cookery School, The Old Fire Station, Gipton Approach, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 6NL.

Dine at romantic restaurants

Candles at Kendells Bistro

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Romantic dinner for two? Leeds has got you covered with a medley of incredibly romantic dining rooms. Kendells Bistro ticks all the boxes for a traditional date night. Intimate candlelit tables? Check. Decadent French food? Check. Relaxed service? Check.

If you want your date to be elevated, then give Six by Nico’s six-course tasting menu a try. They change it every six w. Like sharing? Empire Cafe’s small plates satisfies that affectionate ‘feeding each other’ moment.

Check out the most romantic restaurants in Leeds.

Go on a foodie feast around Leeds

People eating street food at Leeds Food Tours

Credit: Michael Law, North Core Creative

If you and your other half are self-confessed foodies, then boy have we got one of the best things for couples to do in Leeds. Leeds Food Tours is run by Ellen Miller, who designs tastebud-transporting tours of the city’s finest independent eateries.

You’ll visit six on any one tour – the Hidden Gems one is a belter, taking you from centuries-old pubs to trendy restaurants and street food stalls in Kirkgate Market. As you eat, you’ll get the inside track on the city’s foodie past. Just make sure you come hungry!

Find out more about Leeds Food Tours.

Enjoy a perfect picnic in one of Leeds’ beauty spots

The ruins at Kirkstall Abbey

Enjoy those cloudless skies and that glorious sunshine with a picnic packed for two in one of Leeds’ most beautiful spaces. You can enjoy the ruins of a 12th-century monastery at Kirkstall Abbey, then head to the Abbey House Museum after you’ve polished off your pork pies.

Or earn your sandwiches with a five-mile hike around Eccup Reservoir, then settle down to try and spot 150 different species of bird on the lake. For a choice of settings, try Harewood House’s acres of landscaped grounds and manicured gardens.

Take a picnic at Kirkstall Abbey, Roundhay Park or Eccup Reservoir.

Enjoy a night of cool karaoke at Hello Music Lounge

The bar area at Hello Music Lounge with brightly coloured walls behind and tables in the foreground.

Credit: Mark Newton

Karaoke doesn’t always have the best rep, but let us change all that with a visit to Hello Music Lounge. This is karaoke made cool again so why not treat your other half to a sing along? Make a note of all your favourite songs, pile into their booth and belt them out!

Better still, you’ve got a whole night ready made in here. It sits above House of Fu so you can get your fill of noodles and ramen before you head upstairs. Next to the karaoke booths is Hello Music Lounge’s epic bar where you can enjoy cocktails as DJs spin tunes on vinyl.

Hello Karaoke, House of Fu, 15-19 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 6PU.

Go wine tasting at Lazy Lounge

Two glasses of wine on the table at Lazy Lounge, a bar in Leeds

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If you and your partner have a taste for the finer things in life, then a wine tasting will be right up your street. Lazy Lounge’s wine tasting sessions let you slurp your way through seven different wines from across the world.

You’ll try vino made of Trebbiano grapes from the hills of Abruzzo, a delightful sauvignon blanc from New Zealand and a quaffable zinfandel from California. They’ve even got food and wine pairings for you to try. This is an informal chat, but you’ll learn how to pick a perfect bottle.

Lazy Lounge, Unit D, Westpoint, Wellington Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4JY.

Take in some culture at the city’s finest art galleries

Paintings on the wall at Leeds Art Gallery, with a statue in the foreground

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Coffee in hand, marvel at some of the most important artwork in the country at one of Leeds’ art galleries. Head out of the city to find modern, innovative art from the new generation of artists at galleries like Left Bank Leeds, Sunny Bank Mills and The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery.

The big name, however, is Leeds Art Gallery, where you can find one of the biggest collections of 20th-century British art in the UK, including important works by Francis Bacon, Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst, alongside rotating exhibitions.

Check out the best art galleries in Leeds.

Revel in an evening of jazz at The Domino Club

The inside of Domino Jazz Club

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Hidden below a barber shop and down a set of stairs, you’ll find The Domino Club. With a sultry speakeasy vibe, this underground jazz bar offers the perfect date night. With live music almost every night, grab a leather booth and enjoy one of their signature cocktails.

As you sip, bands will soundtrack your stay with blues, funk and soul stylings – but what will you order up? Try the High Jinks – a tart, bitter mix of gin, Aperol infused with roasted red pepper, vermouth and Fernet.

The Domino Club, Grand Arcade, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6PG.

Cover image credit: Scaled
Image of Joseph Sheerin
Joseph Sheerin Senior Writer

Joseph was one of the longest-serving members of the Leeds-List team. He’s lived in Leeds for 15 years and knows the city like the back of his hand. From restaurants to gig venues, walking routes to coffee shops, he’s been there, done that and written about the experience.

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