Leeds Unleashed: a city of endless opportunities

As a student in a city with so much to offer, I know it can be difficult planning your days to a suitable budget.

Leeds is emphasising its proud title as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the UK and presenting us with an assortment of opportunities.

In this blog, I'll be taking you on a journey through what our beloved city has to offer. Whether your passions be for the food you eat, or the ambience you surround yourself with, Leeds has it all.

More importantly, I'll be giving you budget friendly tips on how to experience all that Leeds has to offer, while keeping your bank account happy.

Art and history

For all you art lovers and history buffs, Leeds City Museum is currently featuring an amazing hip-hop exhibit, showcasing the multi-inclusive community of hip-hop from the Bronx of New York, all the way the grunge atmosphere of Leeds.

This is perfect for students on a budget, as this free slice of inspiration is open to the public. It's without doubt one of my favourite exhibitions so far, with the throwback to early 90s pop culture and the expansive delve into the vibrant lifestyle of street artists that colour our city.

If museums are not your usual pace, much like me, rest assured that there is something in it for you. I personally enjoyed the interactive feature of the graffitied subway car, especially with the opportunity to graffiti it yourself. This exhibit really advocates for the beauty in the vandalism, showing how often the attempts to censor such art often leads to the most beautiful and impactful voices.

Alternatively, for those who appreciate observing a story rather than actively learning about one, Leeds Grand Theatre presents Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World.

This delightful story of a student meeting the powerful female leaders that shaped the world for assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals today is a perfect ode to Women's History Month.

A little more on the pricey side - with tickets between £15 and £30 - this experience is definitely a great way to end your February.

Music for the soul

Music is one of the key aspects of Leeds' vibrant culture, so to not mention some of the events occurring over the coming weeks would be an almost criminal act.

For instance, Sela Bar is hosting weekly Jazz Joints for the low price of £5. The events feature a series of different artists until the end of May.

For free entry to diverse genres of music, Sela is also hosting events every Sunday which feature different upcoming artists spanning jazz, soul, funk and alternative music.

Do you love music but find the fast-paced lights and high intensity atmosphere a sensory overload? Well, you're in luck: Old Chapel Music Studios are running studio tours until 25 February.

These tours are an introduction to a hidden gem of Leeds, allowing you into the mind of the many successful artists that started out in this city, free of charge.

Grab a bite

One thing that you are never short of in Leeds is places to eat.

From the Caribbean chain restaurant Turtle Bay to various interchanging food stalls dotted around the city: there is something for everyone.

A place with the most exciting and diverse atmosphere has to be Trinity Kitchen. From American burgers, to Pho, to German Donner and even Canadian poutine, Trinity Kitchen has all these to offer in one vibrant space.

At very affordable prices and located at the heart of Leeds, this place is a must for lunch or afternoon dinner.

One of my favourite aspects about this place will forever be trying to figure out how they got the food trucks to the third floor of a building. As tasty as the food is, it baffles me every time.

Turning our head down now (three stories down in fact) to the underground Northern Market, resides a superb little vegan place known as Falafel Guys. A small business amidst a bustling underground market, Falafel Guys is expertly run by a small team and is a great hidden gem just out of the way of the main city crowds.

For a more mainstream franchise that has recently started doing a rewards card, Chatime is an amazing little stop just outside of the Merion Centre for all your Bubble Tea needs. I like to treat myself on the way to university in the morning to a sweet treat with my rewards points.

There are many events around Leeds throughout the year that are fun and affordable allowing our student community to make the most of their access to different cultures.

It's a great opportunity to learn about the cultural significance of the city you live in, or to expand your culinary horizons and delve into the vast assortments of different cuisines our city has to offer.