Leeds is a city made for creators. From grand Victorian structures to gritty backstreets filled with bold murals, it’s a playground for photographers, designers, and anyone with an eye for detail.
That visual identity runs deep. It’s no surprise the city’s energy feeds directly into the creative work being done here — including the work we do every day at Web Design Leeds, where we build standout websites inspired by the city itself.
Whether you’re snapping content or just soaking up inspiration, here are 12 locations across Leeds that remind us why great design always starts with what’s around us.
1. Leeds Corn Exchange
📍 Call Lane, LS1 7BR
This Grade I listed building is an architectural gem that’s become a favourite backdrop for creatives. Inside, its circular floor plan, domed glass ceiling, and intricate ironwork create endless photography opportunities — from wide symmetrical shots to abstract lightplay. With natural light flooding in and an eclectic mix of independent stores inside, it’s a place where form and function blend perfectly — just like a good homepage.
2. Victoria Quarter & Victoria Gate
📍 Vicar Lane, LS1 6AZ
The Victoria Quarter is like stepping into a living design archive — tiled mosaic floors, cast-iron arches, and stained glass panels make every angle worth capturing. In contrast, the adjacent Victoria Gate is bold, angular, and ultra-modern. Together, they represent the balance between traditional and contemporary Leeds — an aesthetic we often reference in our own site designs for clients wanting something timeless with an edge.
3. Kirkstall Abbey
📍 Abbey Road, LS5 3EH
The 12th-century ruins of Kirkstall Abbey are drenched in atmosphere. The stone walls, towering arches, and surrounding woodland create a cinematic feel, especially during golden hour or early mist. It’s a spot that’s rugged, peaceful, and steeped in history — a reminder that great design doesn’t always need polish to make impact.
4. Granary Wharf
📍 Little Neville Street, LS1 4BR
Tucked just behind Leeds Station, Granary Wharf is a blend of industrial heritage and sleek urban development. Colourful canal boats line the waters, and the nearby structures — from old stone warehouses to contemporary flats — create a fascinating contrast. Reflections on the water here are perfect for moodier shots. This area captures the raw-meets-refined style we often aim for in modern website builds.
5. Belgrave Music Hall and Canteen
📍 Cross Belgrave Street, LS2 8JP
Every inch of Belgrave is layered with character — from the retro signage to the rooftop terrace covered in plants and fairy lights. The venue’s mix of wall art, neon lighting, and cosy urban style makes it a hotspot for visual content. At sunset, the rooftop captures warm tones over Leeds’ skyline, making it ideal for lifestyle shoots or bold brand visuals.
6. Hyde Park Picture House
📍 Brudenell Road, LS6 1JD
This Edwardian cinema has been lovingly preserved and now stands as a rare blend of nostalgia and culture. The exterior features classic signage and brickwork, while the interior retains red velvet seats, old-school ticket booths, and even working gaslights. It’s one of the most unique settings in the city — full of mood, detail, and storytelling. Great design, like this place, is about feeling as much as function.
7. Leeds Dock
📍 Armouries Drive, LS10 1LT
Once an overlooked corner of Leeds, Leeds Dock has been reinvented as a clean, modern hub with sharp lines, mirrored water, and evolving art installations. It’s a great place to shoot sleek, minimal compositions — the kind of balance we aim for in UI/UX design. On a still day, the reflections of the buildings on the canal create perfect symmetry.
8. Park Square
📍 Park Square East, LS1 2NU
This quiet Georgian square sits just a minute from the commercial bustle of Leeds city centre, but it feels like another world. With symmetrical pathways, flower beds, a central fountain, and leafy trees that change beautifully with the seasons, Park Square offers natural calm and balance — two things that are often missing from cluttered website layouts.
9. Leeds Street Art Trail
📍 Calls Landing, Merrion Street, Sheaf Street (various LS1–LS9)
The creative heartbeat of Leeds can be found on its walls. From the giant Athena Rising mural on the Platform building to hidden gems down Sheaf Street, the city’s street art is bold, diverse, and constantly evolving. It’s a visual story of Leeds told in colour, character, and rebellion — something we channel often in our more expressive branding projects.
10. Roundhay Park & Tropical World
📍 Princes Avenue, LS8 2ER
With over 700 acres of lakes, gardens, and woodland, Roundhay Park is one of the most photogenic green spaces in the UK. Whether you’re framing misty trees at dawn or snapping reflections on Waterloo Lake, it’s a landscape that changes with the light. Inside Tropical World, expect vivid plants, exotic butterflies, and warm, lush backdrops — ideal for stylised content with colour and movement.
11. The Calls & River Aire
📍 The Calls, LS2
The Calls is a stretch of converted mill buildings and cobbled streets hugging the River Aire — perfect for capturing contrast between old brick textures and soft water reflections. It’s especially beautiful at night, when the streetlights shimmer on the river and give the whole area a cinematic glow. It’s that kind of detail and tone we aim to bring into content-heavy page layouts, where contrast matters.
12. Thornton’s Arcade
📍 Briggate, LS1 6LQ
This is the oldest of Leeds’ arcades, and easily one of the most charming. With its iconic clock, arched glass ceiling, and wrought iron details, it offers layer after layer of visual appeal. Each boutique shop front adds to the atmosphere, and the narrow structure forces you to look up — perfect for architectural shots with depth and movement.
Design, Detail, and Leeds
These locations aren’t just good for your camera roll — they tell you something about the city’s creative DNA. At Ee By Gum, we use that same energy in our work — crafting websites that are bold, clear, and designed to last. So if you’re a business in Leeds looking to stand out online, our Web Design Leeds service is built with this city in mind — creative, honest, and full of character.