Leeds Minster

A church has been recorded on this site since the seventh century and it was rebuilt in the 14th century and again in the 19th century. When the current Leeds Minster was built in a Gothic Revival style in the mid-19th century, it was the largest new church built in England since St Paul’s Cathedral.

What to see at Leeds Minster

The Grade I-listed Gothic Revival-style church was only built in the mid-19th century, replacing several earlier churches that have stood on this site since the seventh century.

Leeds Minster was built in a cruciform design heavily influenced by the late 14th-century English Gothic style. It is 55m (180 ft) long, 26m (86 ft) wide with a 42m- (139 ft)-high tower. The church features Flemish stained glass windows and the Grade II-listed war memorial in the churchyard was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Visiting Leeds Minster

Leeds Minster is located at the southeastern corner of the city centre not far from The Calls. From here it is only a one-minute walk to Leeds City bus station and a 10-minute walk to the railway station. Most other points of interest in the city centre are no more than a 10–15-minute walk away.

Compared to churches and cathedrals elsewhere in England, Leeds Minster is not a popular tourist destination so it is more like a regular church that anyone can visit free of charge. It is open daily, although opening hours are relatively limited.

There is a small cafe inside the minster and there are a couple of excellent pubs, the Lamb and Flag and the Palace, located on either side of the church.