An extremely short walk in Leeds City Centre, perfect for a lunch break.
Table of Contents
The Route
- Start Point: Leeds Bridge
- Finish Point: Leeds Bridge
- Distance: 1.24 miles
GPX Route Map
Download file for GPSWalk Description
what3words for start point: ///chest.doing.forced
There are numerous bridges and river crossings in Leeds. However, there is only one referred to affectionately as “Leeds Bridge”. This is where our walk starts.
There has been some form of crossing here since the middle ages. The bridge you see today was built out of cast iron in the early 1870’s. In 1888 the bridge was witness to a world first. The “Father of Cinematography”, Louis Le Prince, shot what is considered to be the world’s earliest moving pictures from the bridge.
Dock Street began its life as a commercial entity in the 1800’s. Then, during the Industrial Revolution, the canal network provided the catalyst for the city’s growth. As its name suggests, boats used to dock along Dock Street. A deep dock allowed the loading and unloading of barges into warehouses.
Today Dock Street still looks familiar, but the warehouses have become housing and business spaces. Converted and conserved in the 1980’s.
Continuing along Dock Street you will pass Centenary Bridge. This bridge was built in 1993 to celebrate 100 years since Leeds was granted city status. It also created better pedestrian access across the Aire.