13 April

Commuting to and from Leeds

Due to it being a nonstop hub of commerce, culture, heritage and nightlife, Leeds is a fantastic place in which to live, work and play. Never one to disappoint, the city presents numerous areas with their own unique personalities, whereas the surrounding villages boast some of the most picturesque scenes in the UK. Thanks to an outstanding road infrastructure, dependable buses, a plethora of taxi services, strong Uber coverage and train stations liberally dotted around the city and its environs, the commute to Leeds has never been simpler.

As a developer of stylish contemporary new homes in Leeds, we’re dedicated to helping you get the most out of living in this beautiful area of Yorkshire, which is why we’ve created this guide to commuting to Leeds from near and far.

Commuting to Leeds from Horsforth

A little over 5 miles from Leeds City Centre is the beautiful town of Horsforth. Its train services take around 20 minutes to get into Leeds Station and driving takes only a smidge longer when the traffic is good, making the daily journeys between work and home a doddle.

Horsforth is a popular area thanks to its many parks, independent shops, relaxing cafes and welcoming bars, making it lively without getting too noisy or overwhelming. The trains from Horsforth also travel to and from York, which means that having a day out in the historic city of Vikings is always on the cards.

Commuting to Leeds from Guiseley

A great place for family life, Guiseley is 9 miles from the centre of Leeds and a drive of 25-30 minutes connects the two. As with many Leeds suburbs and surrounding towns, Guiseley has its own train station that offers a direct commute to Leeds in just under 20 minutes. Meanwhile, the A65 provides quick access to Bradford by car for business meetings and cultural outings alike.

One of the best things about Guiseley is its proximity to the countryside and a variety of natural habitats. This means that you can enjoy a quieter and more rural lifestyle without feeling cut off from the hustle and bustle of Yorkshire’s most exciting city.

Commuting to Leeds from Chapel Allerton

The leafy and arty suburb of Chapel Allerton is a favourite of families, young professionals and retired couples alike. Chapel Allerton very much has its own vibe and has been referred to as the “Notting Hill of the North” due to its live music, comedy and theatre shows, not to mention art exhibitions, markets, plenty of green spaces and a wide range of cuisines on offer at its many bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

It doesn’t have a train station but commuting to Leeds is very easy, as Chapel Allerton is situated just 3 miles and a 10-minute drive from the city centre.

Commuting to Leeds from Roundhay

Not many suburbs contain a 700-acre park that regularly hosts all kinds of live events, which is why Roundhay is a highly sought-after location. Despite having such large quantities of green space, Roundhay is only 3 miles and a 10-minute drive from Leeds city centre, offering you the best of both worlds.

Roundhay also has a very independent feel to it, as the many interesting shops and inviting eateries down Street Lane attract not only locals but also people from all areas of the city. Our collection of new homes at Ambition is located close by to the leafy area of Roundhay for an easy commute into the city centre.

Commuting to Leeds from Headingley

Known as the student suburb of Leeds and conveniently located just 3 miles from the city centre, Headingley is also a great place for anyone who enjoys trendy streets, the latest style of bars and restaurants, a vibrant atmosphere and being able to meet people from all corners of the globe. That’s why our Entice development of new homes is based in this lovely part of Leeds!

Headingley’s train station not only connects the suburb to Leeds City Centre but also York, resulting in new homes in the area selling very quickly.

Commuting to Leeds from Otley

If you like the idea of living further out and nestling into the heart of the rolling Yorkshire hills, Otley is an excellent choice. A full 30-minute drive from the city centre due to an 11-mile distance, Otley is still very easy to commute to Leeds but also offers a more peaceful lifestyle.

Don’t be fooled by its rural setting though, as Otley is well-known for having 17 pubs as well as restaurants, modern cafes and regular farmers’ markets, so there’s always something to do.

Commuting between Leeds and London

If you work in London, regularly need to visit for business events or like to pop down as often as possible for some much-needed pampering, Leeds is connected to the capital by road and rail.

The average train journey from Leeds City Centre to London is 2 hours and 25 minutes and there are around 41 train services each day. This makes commuting to London from Leeds very manageable, especially if you use your journey to tap into the Wi-Fi and catch up on some emails. If you’d rather drive, you can expect a one-way journey to take around 3 hours and 45 minutes via the M1, covering a good 195 miles.

To shave a little time off the drive, living in a suburb to the south of the city is a good decision for people who regularly commute between Leeds and London. Places such as Beeston, Churchwell, Holbeck, Middleton Park, Morley and the charmingly named Robin Hood could remove up to 25 minutes from a drive to London compared to places further north such as Kirkstall, Headingley and Horsforth.

Trains between Leeds and other major cities

Many cities envy the superb transportation links that Leeds offers on a daily basis. Whether you’re commuting to work, visiting a client’s premises, attending a special event or simply having a day out with the family, you can travel by train to and from Leeds from a variety of exciting cities:

• Leeds to York by train: Around 47 minutes

• Leeds to Hull by train: Around 1 hour and 3 minutes

• Leeds to Sheffield by train: Around 1 hour and 5 minutes

• Leeds to Manchester by train: Around 1 hour and 12 minutes

• Leeds to Nottingham by train: Around 1 hour and 52 minutes

• Leeds to Birmingham by train: Around 2 hours and 25 minutes

• Leeds to Edinburgh by train: Around 3 hours and 8 minutes

• Leeds to Glasgow by train: Around 4 hours and 8 minutes

• Leeds to Cardiff by train: Around 6 hours and 35 minutes

For more insight into reasons why Leeds is an ideal place to settle down for people working across the country, check out our Leeds city hub for more information, and discover our stylish and contemporary developments of new build homes across Leeds.