Leeds Car Hire

Find the best deals in Leeds

With a massive choice from the biggest brands, Enjoy the best way to find the best prices for car hire in Leeds.

  • Huge choice of cars to suit every budget
  • Save up to 70% compared to buying on the day
  • 10 years experience in car hire

Compare car hire in Leeds

  • Leeds is a city in the north of England, it’s the largest city in West Yorkshire, and the 2nd largest city in England with a population of almost 800,000 people, and the metropolitan area population is over 2.6 million inhabitants.
  • Leeds is a cultural, commercial and finance hub with the 3rd largest employment zone, 5 universities and the 4th largest student population.
  • Leeds is the largest legal and finance centre in the U.K, outside of London worth £13 Billion of the city’s economy
  • The city is central to a web of motorways and trunk roads making it easily accessible by car. The M62 motorway runs to the south from the Hull in the east to Manchester and Liverpool in the west of England, the M1 coming from London and breaking off to the east of the city to adjoin the A1 which goes to Edinburgh and the M621 connects both M1 and M62 with the heart of the city centre.
  • There are numerous hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars in the centre of the city, it’s a pleasant and compact city centre with the majority of shopping centres, finance quarter, old town and market, train stations and central bus station all within walking distance of each other
  • The indoor and outdoor Kirkgate market is amongst the largest indoor markets in Europe
  • The speed limit on the motorways is 70 MPH, the trunk roads 60 MPH and built up areas unless otherwise indicated are 30 MPH. School areas are often limited further to 20 MPH.

Guide to Leeds

A shopping hub

Leeds is a cultural and financial hub, as well as a university town famed for its language centre its also a renowned shopping centre with a range of mainstream and boutique shops. The Victoria quarter is combines the flamboyant Victorian era arcades and walkways with modern snazzy shopping brands, designer labels and quality, whilst now extending to the Victoria Gate complex recently completed and home to John Lewis.

Take a 5 minute walk down Briggate and you’ll come to the more mainstream and equally modern Trinity shopping mall with hundreds of shops selling clothing, food, drink, toy stores, designer, a cinema and range of eateries and cafes. Head into the old town area of Kirkgate and find the Leeds indoor market, arguably the largest indoor market of its kind in Europe selling a range of bargains, food, street food stalls, home goods, and all of the things you’d expect to find in a market.

If you’re coming to Leeds by train, you’ll naturally stumble across Leeds City Square, famous for the Old Post Office, up until recently a Grade II listed building and post office, and more recently a restaurant and bar. The Square is now surrounded by restaurants and bars with the Black Prince monument in the centre.

Potted History of Leeds

The city of Leeds is built upon the River Aire which defines its history. During the 5th century Brythonic era, the first origins of the name Leeds can be seen in their term Ladenses meaning fast flowing river. Loidis, Leodis came after during the Roman era and become the Latin name for the city with records showing Leodensian and Loiner being descriptions of the people of Leodis or Leeds.

During the dark and middle ages the city was a textiles epicentre of the north developing as a market town and it became a manufacturing hub during the industrial revolution. The Leeds Liverpool canal was crucial to Leeds’ ongoing growth and economy when it in 1816. The Leeds and Selby railway then further advancing the city’s importance in 1834. The Corn Exchange opened in 1864 which is still today a fascinating building and trade centre containing a range of boutique shops and stalls.

Leeds Town Hall was complete in 1858, having taken 5 years to build. This beautiful building sits in the centre of the city, with Millenium Square to the rear with its bars and restaurants, the Light shopping centre to the right, and the city courts to the left. The Leeds half marathon concludes here every spring as well as the Abbey Dash (10 KM fun run).

Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales is a national park starting 15 miles north of Leeds spanning hundreds of square miles as far north as the lake district and made up of hills, rivers, moors, walkways, quaint villages and pubs. It’s a popular tourist destination attracting visitors from all over the world thanks to its beautiful and unique scenery, and wide range of outdoor activities.

The Three Peaks is a famous and iconic 24 mile hike over 3 peaks which takes place every year and in the official annual event you are given 12 hours to cover the route on foot.

Bolton Abbey estate is within the Dales and contains the remains of a 12th century monastery.

The Yorkshire Dales can be accessed easily by car from Leeds Bradford Airport, head towards Otley on the A660 main road (Otley Road) and you’ll be at the southerly base in about 15 to 20 minutes.

From Leeds city take the A660 towards Otley, as you approach Otley, take the A65 towards Burley in Wharfedale and Ilkley.

What is there to do in Leeds?

Leeds attractions and things to do

Visit Roundhay Park

As well as shopping which isn’t always for everyone, Leeds is home to a wide range of historic, cultural and scenic attractions. Head up to Roundhay Park in the north of the city. Just 4 miles out of the city by bus or car and you’ll find this vast country park with lakes, attractions, pleasant surroundings and woodland. A favourite for families and children this “park” is in the affluent Roundhay area of the north of the city and surrounded by modern bars, coffee shops, restaurants, traditional pubs as well as a range of attractions such as Canal Gardens. The park consists of 2 lakes, botanical gardens, numerous walk-ways and gardens, a cricket ground which is also used for events and concerts during the summer, various play areas and numerous cafés all amonst beautiful nature and woodland.

Roundhay Park is also home to the Leeds Triathlon each year, part of the World Series and not to mention the Olympic champion Brownlee Brothers (Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee), born and bred in Leeds.

There are plenty of places to eat and drink around the park too, such as 'The Mansion' which serves tea, coffee, fresh food, lunch and Sunday dinner.

Over-looking the main lake at the bottom end of the park, is the picturesque Lakeside Cafe, an extremely popular café with rear terrace and panoramic views across the lake, serving tea, coffee, bar drinks, wine, and hot and cold food.

Nearby also is the Roundhay Fox pub which serves bar meals, drinks, and has a restaurant. This is adjacent to the Park on Street Lane.

A 10 minute walk up Street Lane and you will come to the Deer Park pub & restaurant with beer garden which is a slightly up-market popular location.

Museums and galleries

You’ll find a range of museums and galleries in Leeds too such as the Royal Armouries, the Leeds Art Gallery, the City Museum, Kirkstall Abbey, the Leeds Industrial Museum, Temple Newsam House and much more.

Leeds Headingley

Leeds is a major student city with 2 of the largest universities in the country. Headingley is home to Becketts Park campus, the main out-of-city campus of the Leeds Metropolitan University, now known as Leeds Beckett University. For this reason, Headingley is home to thousands of students, and along with students comes an area with many bars and pubs.

Its in the north of the city suburbs, Beckets Park is 4 miles into the city along the main road Otley Road.

Packed with stag do’s and Hen Parties, Headingley is a popular eating and drinking destination within the city outskirts.

Headingley is also home to Headingley Stadium - The Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos rugby league.

The Otley Run

The famous Otley run is a pub crawl starting in the northern suburb of Lawnswood, working its way through Headingley and into the city. The official start point is the Lawnswood Arms in North Leeds which is a Hungry Horse pub with Wacky Warehouse. However its often more popular to start at Woodies at the top end of Headingley since the Lawnswood is quite far out.

The Otley run heads all the way into the city centre along the Otley Road (A660).

The route then heads into Headingley (by taxi) stumbling across a multitude of up to 20 pubs before arriving in the north of Leeds city centre.

The first pub you’re likely to arrive at in Headingley is Woodies, a free house serving numerous local ales with pool tables and Sky Sports. A 1 minute walk will find the Three Horse Shoes, then a 2 minute walk takes you to the New Inn. Continue along Otley Road and find Acradia Ale House, then continue down past a number of snack and food outlets such as Pizza Express, Nandos, numerous kebab, curry and other takeaways eventually coming to the next quarter where you’ll start with The Box.

A few doors down from The Box you’ll come across 2 more traditional and long standing original Headingley pubs The Original Oak and opposite the Skyrack.

If you’re still standing at this point and want to continue, then you’ll take a 5 minute taxi ride into the Hyde Park area of Leeds approaching the main city centre universities and following this, you can continue walking into the city centre passing numerous more pubs, kebab shops and pizza take aways.

Eating out in Leeds

You’ll find the city cobbled with charming eateries, bars, restaurants, bistros as well as traditional pubs, with so many to choose from here’s a selection of possibilities:

Issho Japanese Restaurant: This rooftop restaurant and bar sits above the new Victoria Gate complex adjacent to John Lewis. Serving a range of Japanese dishes, and Japanese beers, this is a modern and contemporary restaurant suitable for lunch and dinner. Its particularly popular within the business community and the food is fantastic.

Address: ISSHO Victoria Gate 3rd Floor Rooftop Leeds LS2 7AU. Phone: 0113 426 5000

Sous Le Nez: 5 minutes walk from the City Train Station, this is a French A La Carte restaurant serving French dishes, with a true French feel and mostly French waiters. For the starter you could go traditional with the French onion soup or you could try the scallop option. For the main you can enjoy a quality steak, French style, or a fish option.

Address: The Basement, Quebec House, Quebec Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire. LS1 2HA

My Thai: Traditional Thai street food from a traditional Thai menu. This is a relatively new chain of small boutique Thai café’s in Leeds. Due to its popularity you may want to book especially ‘The Old Steps’ in the financial quarter of the City. There are 3 restaurants now in Leeds.

Bar & Grill: Overlooking the City Square, this was once the main post office building in Leeds City Centre. In summer you can sit outside and enjoy the range of beers, wines and spirits whilst watching the bustling city pass by. The menu is a combination of foods from around the world, with locally sourced meat and quality dishes.

Blackhouse: Phenomenal steaks, live piano music on weekends, oysters, fine wine, what else could anyone ask for? This is a steak house in the south of the city and minutes walk from the train station and City Square.

Leeds bars and pubs

The Hop: Under the Dark Arches in the modern canal area tucked away behind the City Train Station is The Hop. It serves a range of local real ales and has live music.

The Adelphi: One of the oldest traditional pubs in Leeds, a local pub with a local feel, this pub dates back to the Victorian times and now serves a range of traditional beers, and local real ales.

Address: 1-3 Hunslet Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1JQ

The popular student area of the city runs between the north of the city where the university is situation, through the Hyde Park area to Headingley (about 3 miles north of the city).

Headingley is also jam packed with pubs and bars.

Transport and accomodation around Leeds

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)

Leeds Bradford airport is located 10 miles to the north west of the city and accessible by car and bus. There is no train connected the city and airport which is seen by some as a barrier to growth for the airport. Despite this, LBA has grown over recent years and now has exceeded 4 million annual passengers. It is the home of Jet2 airlines, who have their head office in the city as well as Ryanair, KLM and BA running daily flights to London.

Car hire in LBA airport

Car hire companies onsite at the airport include the usual major brands such as Alamo and Europcar, as well as cheaper ones such as Keddy and Easirent.

Where to stay in Leeds City

The Hilton Double Tree, Leeds City Centre: This is a modern hotel in the canal area in the south of the city, situated right on the Leeds Liverpool canal, by one of the Locks, its is surrounded by restaurants, cafes and bars. The highlight is its rooftop cocktail bar with panoramic views of the city and surroundings. If you’re not staying the night, the rooftop bar is still well worth a visit.

Quebecs: A luxury boutique 5 star hotel close to the train station and 5 to 10 minutes walk into the heart of the shopping district.

Leeds motorway network and driving

Leeds is surrounded by an extensive motorway network and easily accessible by road from the south, London, the north, the east and the west.

the M1 motorway is the backbone of England conneected the north with the south, this runs almost into the heart of Leeds city, with the M621 motorway taking over a few miles to the south and connected Leeds with both the M1 and M62.

The M62 runs to the south of the city and connects the east and west, bringing easy access to Hull, Huddersfield, Manchester and Liverpool.

Leeds City station is in the south of the city centre, infact it is the busiest train station in the north of England, and connected passengers to the rest of the UK with direct routes to Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, and the majority of major cities and towns.

Next time you hire a car in Leeds

  • The most popular Leeds hire car is a Vauxhall Corsa or similar.
  • 56% of Enjoy customers purchase excess protection, meaning if they damage their car their excess is protected.
  • On average Leeds car hire customers save £597 by buying excess protection if they damage the car.
  • The most popular car rental brands in Leeds are Enterprise, Europcar and Keddy.
  • The most popular Leeds Bradford Airport suppliers are Easirent, Keddy and Europcar.
  • Customers save on average 38% when booking a Leeds or Leeds Bradford airport car online in advance.
  • The average number of days Leeds customer book in advance in the city is 3.5 days, but at LBA airport it is 19 days.
  • The average price per day is £22.08 for a Leeds hire car.
  • The cheapest Leeds car hire in the last month was £9.58 per day.
  • 60% of our customers hired a car in Leeds for less than £22 per day.
  • Fiat 500, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Aygo and Nissan Qashqai are also popular.

Top Tips when hiring a car in Leeds

● Are you excited to start your trip in Leeds? It's advisable to enhance your visit to Leeds by starting off with a Leeds car hire. If you landed in Leeds Bradford Airport then you'll be glad to find out the best car hire deals are found in Airport locations!

● The city centre is the most popular car hire location in Leeds, but the car rental centre in the airport is without a doubt the place to rent from for cheap car hire deals.

● If you just landed the rental car desks are found in the Rental Car Centre, and you can pick up your hire car from there.

● The car hire locations above are all easily accessible and even though there may be differences in prices and convenience, they are offer a wide variety of vehicles, from van rental to luxurious hire car models.

● Without a doubt getting a hire car directly as soon as you land will make it easier to explore Leeds, reach the city centre and then visit all the popular parts of Leeds such as Roundhay Park, Victoria Quarter, Southern Cross, Kirkstall Abbey and more.

● If you're planning to go for a car hire, you should have with you a valid driving license and it's also recommended to look into the free parking areas near where you'll be staying, become familiar with the rush hour in the city and more.

● A big number of our users encountered rental cars in Leeds for less than £35 per day.

● Booking your rental car in Leeds in advance even if it's by only 1 day before your trip, will ensure you get below average rate car hire deals.

● The most popular Leeds car hire are the economy rental cars which are much cheaper than other car vehicle types.

Got a Question? Chat with our UK support team

Online chat help is open 08:30am to 17:00 weekdays. Email: [email protected]

ENJOY FAIR FUEL POLICY

Leeds Car Hire FAQ’s

Most frequently asked questions about hiring a car in Leeds

You can hire a car from around £8 a day in the winter and the average is more like £15 a day depending on the time of year.
The cheapest car hire in Leeds is around £9 a day
It can cost as little as £9/day from LBA but the average is more like £15/day
The minimum age for renting a car in Leeds is 21 years old.
You can hire a Ford Fiesta or similar from around £10/day
You could hire a Tesla Model S for around £65 a day, or a Mercedes E Class, or Volvo S90, all from upwards of £60/day.
It is 9 miles and roughly a 30-40 minute drive depending on traffic.
There are a number of buses but the quickest way is by taxi and should cost around £25.
The Otley Run is a popular pub crawl starting in the north of the city’s Headingley district and ending in the city centre covering up to 20 pubs.
The official start point is the Lawnswood Arms however its more common to start at Woodies.
You can easily cover 20 pubs if you survive the full Otley Run pub crawl and then continue into the City Centre.
The main route is via the Otley Road (A660) and its about 12 miles. You can also take a bus.
The Yorkshire Dales is a national park which begins around 15 miles north of Leeds and runs all the way to the edge of the lake district. You can get there by car from Leeds or Leeds Bradford Airport in 20-40 minutes.
While Leeds is not the most touristic part of the UK, it’s still one of the most expensive. You’ll spend about £105 per day traveling to Leeds.
Picking up a car to rent in Leeds can be a great timesaver while getting to know the city so it’s definitely worth it.
In general, one usually visits the outskirts of this city, exclusively to get to know Leeds Castle, there are circuits and day trips from London, which offer the opportunity to see its impressive castle.
The best months to visit Leeds are June, July, August and September.
The most inexpensive cars start at £154 for a week, or £22 per day.
The price of fuel in Leeds ranges between £1.19 and £1.02 per litre.

Enter your email address for the latest discount codes and special offers across car hire, holiday accomodation and much more!

Get the latest travel news and offers
Thanks for signing up