City Square, at the gateway to Leeds city centre beside the railway station, is one of the city’s most prominent public spaces and a striking introduction for visitors arriving by train. First laid out in 1897, it was designed to reflect Leeds’ new civic status and has since evolved into a landmark blending history, art, and modern life. The square is framed by notable buildings including the former General Post Office and the Queens Hotel, while its centrepiece is the dramatic equestrian statue of the Black Prince by Thomas Brock, surrounded by bronze figures of local worthies and allegorical nymphs. Over the years, City Square has been reshaped to meet the needs of a changing city, from its early role as a transport hub to its 21st‑century redesign prioritising pedestrians and public events. Today, it serves as both a civic stage and a place of pause, linking the commercial core with the cultural quarter and embodying Leeds’ ambition, heritage, and identity in a single urban space.
Leeds United Kingdom
City Square is located in the heart of Leeds city centre, adjacent to the Leeds Railway Station and opposite the iconic Queens Hotel. This historic public square is distinguished by the equestrian statue of Edward, The Black Prince, and is surrounded by impressive architecture including the Old Post Office Building and The Majestic Building. The square offers a vibrant atmosphere with an array of pubs, bars, and restaurants around the perimeter, making it a popular social and business meeting point. Its central location places it close to key transport links, shopping areas such as Trinity Leeds, and prominent city landmarks, combining convenience with historic charm in the core of Leeds.
Museum
Kirkstall Abbey
Abbey
Leeds City Museum
Museum
Leeds Industrial Museum
Museum
Temple Newsam House
Tourist attractions
Lotherton Hall
Museum
Leeds Discovery Centre
Museum
Thwaite Watermill
Museum
Royal Armouries Museum
Museum
Thackray Museum of Medicine
Museum
Leeds Playhouse
Theatre
Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House
Theatre
Carriageworks Theatre
Theatre
City Varieties Music Hall
Theatre
The Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre
Theatre
Leeds Art Gallery
Gallery
The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery
Gallery
Sunny Bank Mills Gallery
Gallery
Screw Gallery
Gallery
Patrick Studios
Gallery
Assembly House
Gallery
Leeds Town Hall
Town Hall
Harewood House
Tourist attractions
Roundhay Park
Park
Golden Acre Park
Park
Woodhouse Moor
Park
Pudsey Park
Park
Potternewton Park
Park
Kirkgate Market
Market
Leeds Corn Exchange
Shopping Centre
Meanwood Park
Park
Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve
Park
York Gate Garden
Garden
Pudsey Market
Market
Millennium Square
Square
Park Square
Park
Victoria Square
Square
Harewood Castle
Castle