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MEANWOOD AREA GUIDE FOR STUDENTS


A SUBURBAN AREA WITH A COUNTRYSIDE FEEL

About Meanwood

An up-and-coming part of Leeds, Meanwood has much in common with neighbouring Hyde Park and Headingley - plenty of shops and bars, a laid-back vibe and great links to the city’s universities. You can get your shopping, grab a gourmet burger and have a cheap pint all within the same space.

Things to do in Meanwood

Meanwood Valley Trail

This urban walkway happens to go right through Meanwood, leading towards Adel in one direction and just outside the City Centre in the other. Along the way, there’s a cafe and a few parks where you can sit back and watch the world go by at your own pace.

Northside Retail Park

Located just off Stonegate Road and Stainbeck Avenue, this small retail park has a number of shops where you can pick up anything from a family-sized bucket of chicken to new sheets for your bed. Aldi, QLM, Poundstretcher and Chiltern Mills are all there, as well as a branch of KFC if you’re feeling peckish.

Holy Trinity Meanwood

This impressive church does more than just the traditional Sunday service; coffee mornings, social gatherings and community events take place here too. On top of that, the grounds are pretty lush and green, making them as good a place as any in Meanwood for a spot of quiet contemplation.

Universities

Leeds Beckett University

Address: Leeds Beckett University, City Campus, Leeds LS1 3HE

Tel: 0113 812 0000

Location: 1.75 miles south of the main shopping area. Just north of the inner ring road

Leeds Beckett has two campuses in Leeds - City and Headingley. City has the greater range of courses and facilities, although Headingley happens to be slightly closer to Meanwood. Both have on-site gyms, libraries and student union buildings for sandwiches, newspapers and stationery, among other things.

University of Leeds

Address: University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT

Tel: 0113 243 1751

Location: 1.5 miles south of the main shopping area, opposite the row of shops and banks

This is the oldest university in Leeds, but it has plenty of places to study quietly, the Parkinson Building being the grandest of them all. There’s also a large student union building with a series of restaurants and shops where you can pick up some of the essentials on the way home.

Working in Meanwood

Most part-time roles going in Meanwood are in retail, with major employers including Aldi, Asda, QLM and Waitrose. There aren’t many recruitment agencies based in the area, although all three universities in Leeds have on-campus jobshops. Failing that, Reed and TotalJobs have vacancies listed in Meanwood.

Getting around

Bus

The 51 and 51A are the main routes serving Meanwood, going through the main shopping area and taking 15-20 minutes to get to and from Leeds City Centre. Other regular bus routes in Meanwood include the 52 to Morley and the 38, which terminates in Gledhow.

Train

Geographically, Burley Park is the nearest train station, although it’s 1.25 miles south-west of the main shopping area. Trains to and from Leeds Station take around nine minutes either way, every half hour during daytimes.

Sports and leisure

Crunch Gym

Address: Star House, Authorpe Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 4JB

Tel: 07738 065619

Location: Just behind Marcel’s Cafe on Meanwood Road

One of the cheapest gyms in the area, Crunch has a ‘pay as you train’ payment system, so you don’t have to set up a monthly subscription. The equipment there is mainly for weight training, although you can use the exercise bikes and rowing machines as well.

Tigers Gym

Address: 8A Stonegate Road, Leeds LS6 4HY

Tel: 07787 390202

Location: Just to the left of The Alfred

This gym specialises in sports such as Thai Boxing, as well as self-defence. Like many of the other fitness spaces in and around Meanwood, sign-up fees are pretty low, which is handy if you want somewhere to work out but don’t want to drain your finances in the process.

Meanwood Park

Address: Leeds, West Yorkshire LS6 4LT

Tel: 0113 395 7400

Location: At the top end of Green Road, where the 51/52 buses head further north

This park has a number of places to jog around, but it also has a bowling green, tennis courts and basketball courts. All of them are free to use, but they are very popular during the summer when the weather’s a little nicer.

Shopping

The Community Shop

Address: 14-16 Green Road, Leeds LS6 4JP

Tel: 0113 275 3533

Location: In the shopping precinct, just to the left of the Asda

This local charity shop sells all kinds of second-hand goods that would easily kit out your new home. Books, household goods and, of course, vintage clothing, are all sold here for lower prices than you might find elsewhere on the high street.

Aldi Meanwood

Address: Northside Retail Park, Stonegate Road, Leeds LS7 2TT

Tel: 0800 042 0800

Location: At the right-hand side of the retail park, next to Fultons Foods

The Meanwood Aldi is by many measures the cheapest place to pick up your weekly shop. It’s also close by to many other places where you can get some of life’s essentials such as stationery and toiletries and does weekly offers on things like fresh fruit and veg.

Trash and Treasure

Address: 3 Stonegate Road, Leeds LS6 4HZ

Tel: 0113 228 8999

Location: Next door to Ladbrokes, opposite The Alfred

A second-hand shop with a difference, it’s just the place to pick up a bargain piece of furniture or, if you’re selling, getting rid of something like an unwanted birthday or Christmas present. You’ll find a greater range of things there than you might otherwise find in some charity shops.

Nightlife and entertainment

The jewel in Meanwood’s crown is The Alfred, an upmarket bar that’s part of the North Bar group; their fish and chips are to die for! Elsewhere, there’s East of Arcadia for those of you who like a wine bar-style vibe, while the Myrtle Tavern has two quizzes per week for the punters.

Restaurants

Get Baked

Address: 16A Stainbeck Avenue, Leeds LS7 2PA

Tel: 0113 230 2120

Location: Next door to the Meanwood Valley Baptist Church

This bakery with a difference is popular throughout Leeds. They make burgers with outrageous fillings, fries with even more outrageous toppings and desserts made with such ingredients as Oreos and peanut butter. Check it out to see what all the fuss is about!

The Hungry Bear

Address: 10-14 Stonegate Road, Leeds LS6 4HY

Tel: 0113 274 0241

Location: Just a couple of doors down from The Alfred

A recent addition to Meanwood’s thriving restaurant scene, The Hungry Bear has a long a la carte menu, many of which are inspired by Italian cuisine. They’re open for lunch and dinner most days and have a few vegetarian options to boot.

Zucco

Address: 603 Meanwood Road, Leeds LS6 4AY

Tel: 0113 224 9679

Location: Next door to Papa John’s on Meanwood Road

One of the most popular Italians in Leeds, Zucco serves tapas-style dishes for sharing, as well as a huge number of wines. They change some of their dishes daily, which means you’re spoilt for choice more than anything else.

Park & Green spaces

Aside from the eponymous Valley Trail, Meanwood also has part of the Stain Beck running through it, with many great spots for fishing and walking along either side. It’s also not a million miles away from Woodhouse Moor, should you want a little more space to roam.

Hospitals and emergencies

Meanwood Health Centre

Address: 548 Meanwood Rd, Leeds LS6 4JN

Tel: 0113 843 3350

Location: Just opposite the off-licence on Meanwood Road

Stainbeck Police Station

Address: Stainbeck Lane, Leeds LS7 3QU

Tel: 101

Location: Near the roundabout on Scott Hall Road, around 0.75 miles west of the centre of Meanwood

Stainbeck Dental Surgery

Address: 58 Stainbeck Rd, Leeds LS7 2PW

Tel: 0113 230 4010

Location: Around a third of a mile up the road from Northside Retail Park

Our student accommodation in Meanwood

Meanwood has a broad range of properties, from large terraces and semi-detached houses to contemporary flats. All are located close to the main shopping areas and are within easy reach of the main campuses of Leeds and Leeds Beckett Universities by bus, car and bike.

Popular areas around Meanwood

Headingley

Just to the west of Meanwood, Headingley is student central. Home to a campus of its own, there’s also a shedload of shops and bars, many of which are located on major bus routes into Leeds City Centre.

Hyde Park

Close by to the university district, Hyde Park is where it’s at for student culture. Cinemas, music venues, social centres and vintage stores line its terraced streets, while Hyde Park Corner is the place to be on a weekend.

Woodhouse

Just north of the City Centre, Woodhouse has a large park, a burgeoning restaurant and bar scene and, crucially, the main campuses of Leeds and Leeds Beckett Universities. It’s also got plenty of places to live in style and comfort too.