Leeds Street Art: A guide to the Instagram hotspots of the city center

Last Updated on 12/03/2023

Leeds is a city brimming with culture. Its past as a Northern industrial Yorkshire town still bubbles beneath the vibrant modern city of today. One place that is more apparent than any other is in Leeds street art.

With some of the tallest and most visually compelling works in the United Kingdom, it isn’t hard to see why Leeds has some of the most Instagrammed street art. We’ve put together this handy guide on where to find some of the most inspiring pieces so you can admire them firsthand.

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Leeds Street Art

We’ve gathered together a selection of our favourite pieces of Leeds street art. Keep reading until the end of the post to find a map with the locations pinned so you know where to spot them!

George Street Welcome

George Street Welcome was created by illustrator Nathan Evans. It is a 20-meter mural taking over a wall on George Street. This eye-catching wall greets passersby with a ‘hello & welcome to Leeds.’

The piece can be found on the outside wall of the city’s outdoor market. It was designed shortly before the opening of the new John Lewis store and the Victoria Gate, and certainly bid them a colourful welcome to Leeds. George Street’s proximity to the bus station means it also says a big hello to the hundreds of people passing by on buses entering the city. 

Winifred

Winifred is an imposing elephant by street artist Russell Meeham, also known as Qubek. She is a representation of the city; the factories on her back signifying Leeds’s industrial past and she wears a garland of Yorkshire roses. The armor she wears is a nod to the Royal Armouries, also located in Leeds, who owns the only example of an almost complete, all-metal elephant armor in any public collection in the world.

You can find Winifred above the walkway that runs between York Place and Park Place. It is worth noting, as the nearby buildings are offices, access to the walkway is only available on weekdays.

Athena Rising

Believed to be the UK’s tallest piece of street art, Athena Rising by Nomad Clan can be found on the Platform Building near Leeds Train Station. It stands an impressive 46.8 meters (153 feet) tall and greets visitors as they pull into the city by rail.

Due to the scale of this piece of work, the best place to admire it is from the Leeds Trinity car park. If you take an elevator to one of the higher floors you’ll be able to appreciate the full scale of this incredible masterpiece.

The Grey Heron

The Grey Heron can be found on the bank of the River Aire. It is designed to be submerged and then reappear as the river level changes.

Peter Barber is the artist who painted The Grey Heron. He said, “The grey heron was chosen as a subject for the mural because several of these birds are now regularly sighted slightly further down the river, just beyond the Royal Armouries. The presence of these birds demonstrates the health of the waterway running through the city.”

Washing Marine

Brewery Wharf is home to the UK’s largest 3D artwork. This striking piece was created by Leeds based artist Ralph Replete and can be found just around the corner from The Grey Heron.

Replete described the inspiration for the work and said,  “I considered lots of ideas for Brewery Wharf, but the shape of the wall, the surrounding residential apartments, and the waterfront, paved the way for Washing Marine. As far as I’m aware, it’s now the biggest 3D, anamorphic work of its kind anywhere in the UK and I’m delighted with how it looks.”

Metal Gear Rising

This imposing piece was commissioned by Konami ahead of the release of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance release. It features the game’s protagonist Raiden. What makes it so special is that it’s just one of three murals in major UK cities alongside Liverpool and London.

The artwork was painted by Yoji Shinkawa. You can find it located on Aire Street, behind the train station.

Cornucopia

Cornucopia was painted by Graeme Wilson in 1990. It subsequently received the Leeds Award for Architecture and the Environment.

The mural can be found next door to the Corn Exchange. The piece was commissioned the time the Corn Exchange was being converted into a retail outlet and the mural was intended as a way of advertising the new use for the building.

Leeds Street Art

We’ve only scratched the surface of some of the amazing art Leeds has to offer. If you want to explore more of the art and culture the city has, look here for more information.

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If you like our guide to the best Leeds Street Art, be sure to follow Get Lost on Pinterest. That’s where we’ll be sharing all our great UK travel itineraries.

Planning a visit to Leeds, England? See our guide to the amazing street art in this Yorkshire city with map and tips on to see them. Murals can be found in several places such as the Corn Exchange, market, dock and train station. The urban graffiti is the tallest in the United Kingdom and features some clever illusions. Exploring the street paintings is one of the top things to do in Leeds; it’s easy to see why they are Instagram hotspots!  #Wanderlust #TravelInspiration #UKTravel #EnglandTravel

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18 thoughts on “Leeds Street Art: A guide to the Instagram hotspots of the city center”

  1. So many amazing murals! I especially like Cornucopia – it absolutely deserves its Architecture Award! Thanks for this street art inspiration!

    Reply
    • Aren’t they fantastic? I was surprised that Cornucopia is now 30 years old! I had always thought street art is a new phenomenon but clearly not! I’m ashamed to say I have walked past many of these without even noticing them. I’m glad I got to explore some of the street art Leeds has to offer!

      Reply
    • We’re glad you enjoyed the guide! I really enjoyed the opportunity to see the street art in Leeds. It is really impressive and I was surprised how much of it there is!

      Reply
  2. I would never have connected Leeds and street art but I guess it’s popping up in all cities nowadays. I love urban art so I might have to check it out myself with a trip up North!

    Reply
    • Leeds certainly has some fantastic street art, it’s well worth checking it out if you visit the city!

      Reply
    • It’s crazy, isn’t it? Just how much street art there is in Leeds! I worked in Leeds and walked past some of these most days without even realising! It is fun to track them all down!

      Reply

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