Skip to main content University of Leeds homepage
Students home page

Travelling to Leeds

Two students in Leeds railway station near the barriers and departure boards

Find out how to travel to Leeds, tips on travel safety, and important contacts if you have any issues on your journey to Leeds.

Airports and airport pick-up

The nearest airports to Leeds are Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport. 

The University can arrange a free airport pick-up service from Leeds Bradford and Manchester Airports for new international students and postgraduate researchers.

If you decide to travel to a different airport, you won’t be able to book the University’s pick-up service and will need to make your own way to Leeds.

Check our guidance on how to travel independently from these airports to Leeds by public transport. 

Leeds Bradford Airport

Leeds Bradford Airport is around 12 kilometres from Leeds city centre. It’s a small local airport and immigration queues will often be shorter than other airports.

If you’d like to arrange your own transport, you can find information on transport options on the Leeds Bradford Airport website.

You can reach Leeds in around 30 minutes by bus from Leeds Bradford Airport. ‘Flyer A1’ buses run every 20 minutes between the airport and the city centre.

You can also pre-book a taxi through Arrow Cars and arrange to be dropped off at your accommodation directly. A taxi journey from the airport to Leeds city centre takes around 20 minutes. 

Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport is around 90km from the centre of Leeds.

If you’d like to arrange your own transport, you can find information on other travel options on the Manchester Airport website. 

You can travel by coach from Manchester Airport to Leeds Coach Station, which will usually be the cheapest option. The journey will take around two hours. Check the National Express or the Megabus website for coach times and to book you ticket. 

You can get a direct train from Manchester Airport to Leeds train station. The journey will take around one hour and twenty minutes.  

You can pre-book your own private taxi service through Arrow Cars or via the Uber app from the airport and arrange to be dropped off at your accommodation directly. A journey from Manchester airport to Leeds city centre will take around one hour and twenty minutes. This is the most expensive travel option. 

Travelling to Leeds by public transport

If you’re arriving at a different airport or city in the UK, you can use the Traveline website to help you plan the best route to reach Leeds by coach or train. 

Depending on where you arrive in Leeds, in most cases you will need to arrange transport to your accommodation. 

Tickets are usually cheaper the earlier you book them online. However, the cheaper ticket options can also be less flexible, which means that if you’re delayed on your journey, you won’t be able to change your ticket.

Coach

Travelling by coach is usually the cheapest option but usually not the fastest. You can check coach tickets, routes and times on the National Express and Megabus websites.

Train

You can also reach Leeds by train. Travelling by train can be difficult with heavy luggage.

Check train times, routes and buy tickets on the National Rail website and find some tips on packing for Leeds on our what to bring page.

Travel safety

We want you to have a safe trip to Leeds. Here are some things to think about when you travel: 

  • Keep your passport safe and never give it to anyone except an immigration official.  
  • Don’t carry large amounts of cash.  
  • Don’t leave your bags unsupervised during your journey.  
  • Arrange travel insurance cover before you travel. 
  • Keep essential travel documents and medication in your hand luggage. Find out more about essential items and documents to bring with you.   

Important contacts

Save the following contact details in your phone in case you have problems at any point in your journey:

Accommodation team

If you arranged to collect your keys but your journey is delayed, contact the Accommodation Office to let them know about your plans.  

If you’re staying in private accommodation, make sure you know who to contact if you’re delayed on your journey. 

Weekend/evening/emergency contacts

If you arrive at the weekend or outside of working hours and have an emergency, contact the University’s Security Services.

The University Security Office is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week. 

Studies