We’re lucky at Leeds Beckett to have access to two huge campuses, which host a share of endless facilities. Whether it’s the modern four-story library at City or the state-of-the-art sporting center at Headingley, both campuses are available to all Leeds Beckett students.

City Campus is based right on the doorstep of the city center, just minutes away from all the best shops and transport links. Headingley is based three miles out, boasting a mixture of historical and modern architecture set in beautiful leafy grounds.

I’m here to help you find your way between the two campuses to stop you from finding yourself a little lost – whether you’re new to Beckett or just looking to broaden your horizons.

Travelling by bus

This is the easiest and quickest method of getting between the two campuses in my opinion. There are several bus routes between Headingley and Leeds which all run on a regular timetable, so you’re unlikely to find yourself waiting at the bus stop for longer than a few minutes. The journey time takes between 15 - 30 mins depending on traffic. I always take my student card with me, as this allows you to access student discount tickets at £1.30, or £1.20 if you order on the First Bus App. If you plan to use the bus regularly, it may be worth researching bus passes as yearly and term time tickets are available for students. While the initial cost may seem a lot, it will be worth it if you plan to catch the bus daily.

Leeds is a busy city and so traffic can be slow during rush hour, so it is worth keeping that in mind when planning your journey.  

You can find information about specific routes, timetables and ticket costs on the First Bus website.

Walking

I sometimes choose to walk between campuses if the weather is good enough. Speaking personally, it takes me between 45 minutes to an hour, but I’m sure you could shave some time off that if you’re blessed with longer legs. The walk is straightforward and it’s hard to get lost. You just follow Otley Road and each campus is well sign posted once you get nearby.

I sometimes choose to walk through Woodhouse Moor if I fancy a more scenic route, but again, this is a simple route and takes the same amount of time as following Otley Road does. I try to walk as often as possible. Not only does it add to your daily step count and gives you some exercise to burn off all those drinks from the student night before, I find it’s a good way to relax away from the hustle and bustle of uni life and have some time to yourself. Walking doesn’t eat into your pocket either – those bus fares can start to add up!

Cycling

Another great form of exercise and transport is cycling – it’s quicker than walking too. Following the same route along Otley Road, you can get between campuses in as little as 15 minutes, but keep in mind that you’ll be going uphill on the way to Headingley.

There are plenty of bike racks where you can safely lock up your bike at both City and Headingley campus. If you don’t have your own bike, they’re available to hire from uni on a three-month period. All the information you need about cycling at Leeds Beckett is available here.

Taxi

If you’re looking for the most convenient way of getting to uni, your answer would be to catch a taxi or Uber. Although these are not cost efficient in the long run, they are handy if you’re running late between lectures or wanting to keep out of any bad weather. An Uber between campuses will typically cost anywhere between £5-£10 dependent on the time of day and traffic. Keep in mind that surcharges are put in place during rush hour or on days where there may be events on in the city, making your ride more expensive than usual.

This is also great for getting to uni quickly if you live away from campus. I’ve woken up late after a night out and caught myself in a rushed panic of getting myself ready and to a lecture more than once – calling an Uber has been a lifesaver in this situation. There tends to be plenty of Ubers that wait for passengers nearby both accommodation and housing, so it normally only takes a few minutes from ordering to them being at your door.

Car

If you’re lucky to have your own car with you at uni, both campuses have large car parks available to students, but they are costly and become expensive if you wish to park in them for extended periods of time or on a regular basis.

I sometimes share a ride with my friends if we only need to go to City campus for a short amount of time or if we have a lot of things to carry. I study journalism and we often have camera and sound equipment to carry round, so quickly driving into campus can be a savior. Carpooling with your friends is a great way to share the costs of parking and keep those emissions down too.

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