Leeds Dock Yorkshire

Leeds Dock

Jake Davies

Leeds Dock in Leeds, formerly known as Clarence Dock, was renamed as New Dock in 2012 and then a year later to its current name.

Like many former industrial waterfront areas around the country the area has been redeveloped and gentrified in the past decade. Its most well known tenant now is the Royal Armouries Museum.

Leeds Dock includes moorings for residential canal boats. — Leeds Dock includes moorings for residential canal boats

History

The dock was built in 1843 to serve traffic on the Leeds Liverpool Canal and the River Aire.

It was used to transfer goods between canal boats and river boats. It seems primarily to have been used to tranship coal. With the rise of the railways and the decline of inland water transport the dock fell into disuse. Slowly the industrial buildings around the dock also fell into disuse.

Knights Way Bridge, a pedestrian bridge across the River Aire in Leeds. — Knights Way Bridge, a pedestrian bridge across the River Aire in Leeds with the Royal Armouries Museum behind

Redevelopment

The first stage of the area's redevelopment and regeneration was completed in 1996 by the opening of the Royal Armouries Museum.

Five years later the next stage included plenty of waterside apartment buildings as well as offices, numerous bars and restaurants and a hotel.

The hoped-for retail development never really took off with a few shops opening but closing after a short while. Currently there are two hotels and still plenty of bars and restaurants, as well as several coffee shops.

A little-known place at Leeds Dock is the Leeds Discovery Centre. This is the storage facility for over one million objects belonging to the collections of all the museums in Leeds. Fascinating tours can be had by appointment only.

Pedestrian access to the area from the other side of the river is provided by a new bridge. Knights Way Bridge is a crane-type cable-stayed bridge with two spans over the River Aire. It was designed by Buro Happold, one of the designers of the Royal Armouries Museum building, and opened in 2007.

Knights Way Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists across the River Aire in Leeds. — Knights Way Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists across the River Aire in Leeds

Vehicular access is provided by the Crown Point Bridge, a classic Victorian cast-iron arch bridge, that though strengthened and widened in the late 20th century still retains its original grace and decorative ornamentation.

The Victorian Crown Point Bridge crosses the River Aire near Leeds Dock. — The Victorian Crown Point Bridge crosses the River Aire near Leeds Dock

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Crown Point Bridge in Leeds is a classic Victorian arch bridge. — Crown Point Bridge in Leeds is a classic Victorian arch bridge

Access

A Water Taxi provides access by water. Operating between Granary Wharf, next to the south entrance of Leeds railway station, and Leeds Dock, it runs every 15 minutes and costs just 1 pound.

On foot, Leeds dock is a 15 minute walk from Leeds Station. The nearest bus stop is Leeds Dock C. Here the following buses all stop: #46, #47, #74, #87, #140, #141 as well as Sapphire #110, #167 and #168.

Holiday Inn Express Leeds City Centre is the nearest hotel.

The River Aire in Leeds with the redeveloped Leeds Dock in the background. — The River Aire in Leeds with the redeveloped Leeds Dock in the background

Access - Getting to Leeds

Leeds City Station is the city's main station and one of the busiest stations in England outside London with intercity and local Metro trains. Leeds Station is located just south of City Square.

There are First TransPennine Express trains to Newcastle, Manchester Piccadilly Station in Manchester, as well as Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street. Other connections include trains to Hull and Middlesbrough.

Northern has trains to York Station in York, Blackpool North, Bradford, Manchester Victoria, Huddersfield, Selby, Sheffield, Carlisle and Ilkley.

East Coast has trains to King's Cross Station in London, Waverley Station in Edinburgh, Glasgow Central in Glasgow, Peterborough, Hull and Darlington.

There are CrossCountry connections to Nottingham, Birmingham New Street Station in Birmingham, and from there to Cardiff in Wales, and Exeter in Devon.

The National Express bus station in Leeds is behind Kirkgate Market.

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