10 Best Places To Live In Leeds For Students In 2025

Blooming with innovation and a thriving community, Leeds is located in the heart of West Yorkshire, England. Surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, the city invites all to explore its Victorian architecture, landmarks, and lively arts scene. This city is known for its rich history, but it has changed from an industrial-based city to a business, cultural, and educational city. You can be a visitor, a student, or a young professional, but wherever you find yourself in Leeds, there are some best places to live in Leeds and support your beliefs!

Is Leeds a nice place to live?

Leeds is filled with a rich cultural environment, good education, and a reasonable cost of living compared to other UK cities. Leeds has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and the locals are known for their hospitable culture. Home to over 2,00,000 students, it is one of the lively student hubs and the UK’s fourth largest university city. Leeds, ranked 18th in the Daily Mail University Guide of 2025 and offers 300+ student societies, budget-friendly attractions, and great cultural traditions like the Otley Run.

Best places in Leeds to live

There is a diverse range of neighbourhoods, each with its charm and specialty.  Here are the ten picks that are considered some of the best places to live in Leeds, offering a mix of city life, family-friendly suburbs, and peaceful green areas to suit every lifestyle.

1. Chapel Allerton

Average rent: £1100
Known for:  Arts & dining scene
Tourist attractions: Chapel Allerton Park, Local shops & cafes
Reviews: 4.4

Chapel Allerton is a lively suburb located in the northeast of the city, known as ‘the Notting Hill of the North’. With its strong community and businesses, the city provides charm, convenience, and attracts people from all walks of life. You are never too far from a café, boutique, art gallery, music bar, and restaurant, in a traditional village setting but with urban twists. In particular, the Mustard Pot Pub and Seven Arts are popular destinations, and there's a great variety of cultural life and accessible open green space here, too! It is easy to arrive here, with great transport facilities, too. Chapel Allerton is one of the best areas of Leeds to live in, as it provides a balance of reasonable living costs with a strong lifestyle. Chapel Allerton is one of the best places to live in Leeds, as it provides a great culture, lifestyle, and community.

2. Horsforth

Average rent: £1000
Known for: Family-friendly, transport
Tourist attractions: Horsforth Village, Canal Walks
Reviews: 4.2 

Horsforth offers a peaceful neighbourhood vibe with excellent facilities and schools. It is located to the northwest of the city, combining the village and city culture, with fantastic transportation. Young professionals and students seeking a quiet place with easy travel options prefer moving to Horsforth. There are cafes, traditional bars, and parks. Rent can be higher depending on the demand, but Horsforth makes it to the list of the best places to live in Leeds for young professionals. 

3. Roundhay

Average rent: £1050
Known for: Parks & green spaces
Tourist attractions: Roundhay Park, Tropical World
Reviews: 4.5

Roundhay, in Europe, is home to the famous Roundhay Park, the largest city park in Europe. Nature lovers, families, and professionals who are longing for a slower pace often move to this amazing suburb. This area is most favoured by families, the elderly, and dog lovers who enjoy their time in beautiful green spaces. All it takes is a short drive or bus journey from the city centre to reach here! You can experience the beauty of nature by walking around scenic views like lakes and open spaces. The suburb offers golf courses and animal and plant shows like the Tropical World. If you love nature, Roundhay is your paradise! The rent is a little higher, but the lifestyle is surely worth it.

4. Meanwood

Average rent: £900
Known for: Community feel, local markets
Tourist attractions: Meanwood Valley Trail, Woodhouse Ridge
Reviews: 4.1

Meanwood offers a combination of local life with access to the city. It has a lively atmosphere and has supermarkets, restaurants, shops, and green scenery, providing a decent place for people who like both cities and nature. Compared to other suburbs, the rent here is more affordable. Students, families, and professionals prefer Meanwood due to its good and reliable transport facilities. It has a growing arts scene, green spaces, and local markets. Meanwood is the best area to live in Leeds if you are someone who likes to walk, cycle, and live more in a mixed environment. 

5. Alwoodley

Average rent: £1150
Known for: Affluent suburb
Tourist attractions: Golden Acre Park, Alwoodley Golf Club
Reviews: 4.3

Situated in the northern part of Leeds, Alwoodley is an area that is known for its spacious properties and famous golf courses. People here experience a peaceful but upgraded lifestyle. There are excellent schools, stunning natural views, spacious homes, and golf clubs.  Alwoodley attracts families and professionals seeking a social life with peace. The area has a high cost of living compared to other Leeds suburbs. Student housing in Alwoodley includes detached and semi-detached homes. The cost of housing goes mid-range to higher, depending on the type of house. Transport includes buses, cars, trains, and flights.

6. Headingley

Average rent: £1050
Known for: Student hub, nightlife
Tourist attractions: Headingley Stadium, The Village shopping
Reviews: 4.0

Headingley is a wonderful and energetic student hub for those studying at Leeds University. Even though known as a student area, it attracts families and professionals for a comfortable and lively environment and excellent facilities. Leeds Rhinos and the Yorkshire Cricket Ground are the main tourist attractions of this place. Headingley is a typical student-friendly neighbourhood as the University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University are nearby. You will experience a great social life, and there are bars and restaurants, many food options, and local shops. Travel is easier in Headingley as the area is walkable and well-connected with buses and trains. The rent is also reasonable for shared housing, with many good student housing options in Leeds as well. 

7. Woodhouse

Average rent: £900
Known for: Student residences
Tourist attractions: Hyde Park Picture House, Local eateries
Reviews: 3.9

Woodhouse is the most desirable area to live in Leeds for students, having close ties to Leeds University. This historic and modern area with diverse facilities like cafes and pubs makes the area very interesting and welcoming. Young professionals and families prefer moving to Woodhouse as transport options are affordable and frequent. There are bus stops and train stations nearby. One of the best areas to live in Leeds, UK, Woodland offers reasonable rent prices, helping students and first-time renters who are looking for a dynamic neighbourhood with good transport. 

8. Moortown

Average rent: £1000
Known for: Suburban calm, shopping
Tourist attractions: Moortown Corner, Chapel Allerton nearby
Reviews: 4.1

Moortown is one of the best places to live in Leeds, UK. This green suburb attracts mainly families and professionals due to schools, large, wide-spaced homes, and a strong community. People who live here enjoy a peaceful environment and a calm lifestyle with amazing restaurants, golf clubs, and local shops. The cost of living is a little high, but it ensures the safety, community spirit, and quality facilities, like there are good transport. Regular buses make it easy for students. If you are looking for the best places to live in Leeds, then Moortown is a great choice. 

9. Garforth 

Average rent: £900
Known for: Village feel, commuter area
Tourist attractions: Garforth Heritage Trail, Local parks
Reviews: 4.0

Garforth is one of the neighbourhoods that brings a village-like feeling and is the best place to live in Leeds UK, for families and travelers. There are schools, green parks, street shops, cafes, and pubs. While staying in Garforth, students will also get easy access to frequent trains and buses as they are available to Leeds, York, and beyond. Housing is spacious, modern, and the cost of living is average here. If you are looking for a peaceful neighbourhood, Garforth is the best area to live in Leeds UK. 

10. Oakwood

Average rent: £950
Known for: Residential, schools
Tourist attractions: Oakwood Clock, Street Lane Local Shops
Reviews: 4.2

One of the great things about Oakwood is its proximity to Roundhay Park, one of Europe’s largest parks. Oakwood is a very pleasing, family-friendly suburb, adorned with local shops, cafés, small eateries, and local schools. The large, spacious houses in the area give a village-like feel. The most well-known landmark in Oakwood is the Oakwood Clock. There are local farmer events that are hosted by Oakwood, known as the farmer’s market. The housing is spacious and comfortable, and is perfect for families and professionals. The bus service is frequent. Despite the high cost of living, Oakwood is considered one of the best places to live in Leeds.

Popular Universities and Attractions. 

Leeds has more than 70,000 students and world-famous universities. The University of Leeds, famous for its research and providing a broad range of courses, focuses on career growth through practical learning. The Leeds Trinity University, Leeds Arts University, and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance are other universities that add to the city’s creative culture.

Famous attractions in Leeds include the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds City Museum, showcasing the local culture and heritage. Then there are Harewood House, Temple Newsam, Roundhay Park, and Leeds Grand Theatre. All these attractions, make Leeds one of the best cities to live in UK for students and culture and history lovers.

Not only does Leeds have an excellent and good quality lifestyle, but it also has a great selection of living accommodations, including university halls, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSAs), as well as shared flats. Are you searching for safe, convenient, and affordable student housing apartments in the UK? If so, amber has plenty of student housing options that will allow your time in the UK to be enjoyable and memorable.