Guided Walks for Leeds 400

Guided Walks for Leeds 400 start at Merrion Street Gardens on Saturday 24 October, as part of the city's year-long celebration of its 400th anniversary. The whole thing kicks off because 2026 marks 400 years since Leeds received its first Royal Charter from King Charles I on 13 July 1626 — the milestone that set the town on the path towards self-governance and city status. The Leeds 400 programme runs across culture, heritage, sport, learning, communities, innovation and the future, and it's open to residents and visitors alike to mark the city's past and its future together.

The walk itself takes you through four centuries of Leeds life, from the city's earliest merchants and markets to its newest green development, Aire Park. Along the way, you'll pass the Briggate Arcades, Kirkgate Market, the Corn Exchange, the Waterfront and Park Square, before the route circles back to where it began. It's a good way to see how the city has grown and changed over the centuries, with the landmarks you'd usually just walk past given a bit of context.

There's a nice bit of local history to the starting point too. Merrion Street Gardens opened in 1932 as a memorial to Thomas Wade, and it sits right next to St John's Church, which is described as the oldest surviving church in the city. So you're starting at a spot that's already got a few layers of the city's story built into it before you even set off.

The walk is free, and it's part of the wider Leeds 400 programme running throughout the year. If you're around on Saturday 24 October, it's a straightforward way to spend a morning or afternoon seeing the city from a slightly different angle.