The Art of the Approach: from gate lodges to mansion

The Art of the Approach is a guided walk through Roundhay Park, starting at the Gate lodges on Wetherby Road on Sunday 3 January 2027. It's a slow-paced look at the history and design of the park, with the walk itself as the main event.

The route takes you from the gate lodges and into the park, following the approach that gives the walk its name. Along the way, the guide talks through how the park was laid out and the history that shaped it, so you'll see the landscape with a bit more context than you would on a usual stroll. It's a guided tour, not a hike, so it's more about stopping to hear the stories than getting your steps in.

There's a practical side to it, too: the proceeds from the walk go towards the restoration of the gate houses. So, when you pay for your place, you're helping to keep those buildings standing. It's a good way to spend a Sunday morning if you're into local history or just fancy seeing a familiar part of the city from a different angle.

Tickets start from £7.21, and the walk kicks off at the Gate lodges on Wetherby Road, the entrance to Roundhay Park, on Sunday 3 January.