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Hyde Park

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Woman painting a mural on the side of a house

A ten-minute walk from the University of Leeds campus and 30 minutes from Headingley, Hyde Park is home to different communities and cultures with churches, the headquarters of Leeds Muslim Council and a Hindu temple.

Izzy Walter, LUU Union Affairs Officer, said the best bit about Hyde Park is

The independent businesses and feeling that you are supporting people who live where you live - I can’t think of many places where the go-to place to go is an independent business which is always the case in Hyde Park

Her advice for living in Hyde Park was:

Moving from halls into a community where there is a real mix of people, where not everyone is living that ‘student life’, is something really worth keeping in mind, and I know it’s something commonly forgotten.

Don’t forget to seek out our series of hidden murals which were created to celebrate the diversity and culture of the area.

Lotti Morton, LUU Community Officer, said:

I love all the murals around Hyde Park which are a really nice visual representation of some great community work that has gone on there.

Community Organisations

Rainbow Junktion: a pay-as-you-feel community café that reduces food waste and run a foodbank for those who are need it.

Emily Carrigan, Community Cafe Manager at Rainbow Junktion, gave her advice for living in Hyde Park:

The people and the community spirit of this area are just the best. Get involved with local organisations doing good work for the area, there are so many to choose from and they will help you integrate into the local area. We are always looking for new volunteers for the cafe as well as supporters to organise donation drives or amplify what we share on social media.

People in the snow stood outside waiting

Hyde Park Neighbourhood Forum, South Headingley Community Association (SHCA), Hyde Park Source and Woodsley Community Centre are all community organisations working to bring together the people who care about Hyde Park.

Don’t miss Hyde Park Unity Day: an annual celebration organised by local volunteers for everyone across the community to celebrate the diversity, cultures and residents living in the area.

Greenspaces

Getting outdoors is key to a healthy lifestyle so make sure you know all the best places to explore and hang-out in the area. Always remember to respect outdoor areas and other visitors.

Woodhouse Moor joins Hyde Park and Woodhouse and is constantly buzzing with students and local residents. Don’t miss the parkrun here every Saturday at 9am.

Venture through campus for a stroll through the Sustainability Garden which is soon to include a mindfulness space or head through Woodhouse to wander along Woodhouse Ridge.

Local must-sees

  • Eat: Hyde Park Book Club: a creative space where you can hang out whilst eating, drinking, reading and writing. Check out their programme of gigs and performances
  • Drink: The Brudenell Social Club: a cornerstone of musical culture across Leeds which doubles as a lively drinking venue
  • Relax: catch a film at Hyde Park Picture House, the oldest, grade II listed cinema in the UK
  • Shop: Vintage Boutique: one of the largest vintage collections in the city!
  • Something different: get crafty at Left Bank Leeds; a creative community set in a beautiful grade 2* listed former church building on Cardigan Road.

Remember, a majority of these organisations and businesses are, unfortunately, still closed due to coronavirus restrictions.

For more advice on living independently, see our Your Time In Leeds web guides which cover waste and recycling services, safety, respecting your neighbours, avoiding noise complaints and information about community conduct sanctions.

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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our work on Student Citizenship is linked to the following SDGs:

    • Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
    • Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
    • Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
    • Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.