All photos by Bryan Dearsley / LuxuryUK
The first thing you notice upon arriving at Weetwood Hall, Leeds, is just how rural it feels. Which, given the fact it’s located just four miles from Leeds city center, impressed the socks off me.
You feel it the moment you turn off Otley Road in the north Leeds suburb of Headingley. Following the tree-lined driveway, the sound of traffic simply fades away, replaced by birdsong and the sound of people playing cricket in neighboring Sports Park Weetwood. It was like rolling into a remote country village, rather than an urban hotel.
Set within a nine-acre estate of woodlands and gardens, this four-star hotel and conference center feels every inch the country retreat. Yet Leeds Bradford Airport is just a ten-minute drive away, making Weetwood Hall a smart choice for folks arriving by plane and relaxing a little before hitting the road and exploring Yorkshire.
Weetwood Hall, Leeds Go-To Luxury Hotel
The attractions of the city center, from the Royal Armouries Museum to its elegant Victorian shopping arcades, are just a short taxi ride away (a bus stop is also located at the end of the hotel’s driveway). And that’s till an option if you drove here as I did, as there’s plenty of free parking on site.
And then there’s the history. Parts of Weetwood Hall date all the way back to 1540, and at the heart of the property stands a Grade II listed, 17th-century Jacobean Manor House complete with stone mullioned windows and decorative plasterwork ceilings.
Later additions house the majority of the hotel’s 114 bedrooms, along with an award-winning collection of meeting and conference rooms, a restaurant serving good Yorkshire cooking, and a proper pub. It all adds up to a luxury property that works equally well for a weekend getaway, a family break, or a short stopover.
A Brief History of Weetwood Hall
Weetwood Hall’s origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages when the site formed part of the farmland belonging to Kirkstall Abbey, the great Cistercian monastery whose ruins still stand two miles away on the banks of the River Aire. The oldest surviving part of the property, found to the rear of the Manor House, features stone mullioned windows dating to around 1540, when a farm occupied the site.
In 1625, much of the house was rebuilt, a date still proudly displayed above the porch of the original entrance. The result was the Jacobean Manor House that gives the hotel so much of its character today. The oldest building in the Headingley area, it retains its decorative plasterwork ceilings, including distinctive lion’s head and owl inscriptions, the official emblem of Leeds since the 1660s.
During the First World War, the property was requisitioned by the War Office for use as a convalescent hospital for officers. In 1919, Leeds University purchased the estate, and the Manor House became a hall of residence for around 30 female students training to become teachers. A large main block was added between 1925 and 1927, an extension still fondly referred to as “1926”.
Accommodations at Weetwood Hall
Weetwood Hall boasts 114 bedrooms spread across the historic Manor House and the newer wings. These range in style from superior double bedrooms, family-friendly rooms with pull-outs, and posh rooms with four-poster beds. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs, desks, and little extras like Yorkshire biscuits, chocolates, and mineral water.
I stayed in the older part of the hotel, the 17th-century Manor House. Just 14 individually designed bedrooms are located here, two of which include four-poster beds,one of which I had the great good fortune to stay in. Each is styled to reflect the building’s period features. High-end perks include plush bathrobes, satellite television, and upgraded toiletries.
Guests staying in the Manor House can also arrange to have a continental breakfast served in their room, a civilized touch for anyone planning a lazy morning. The Manor House can even be taken over in its entirety for weddings, with all 14 bedrooms included in exclusive-use packages.
Food and Drink Experiences
Quality dining is very much the order of the day at Weetwood Hall, and it’s done well. The Brasserie, the hotel’s contemporary restaurant, serves a modern British menu built around good Yorkshire cooking, with ingredients sourced locally wherever possible. The offering ranges from small plates and sharing dishes, delicious curries, and handmade, stone-baked sourdough pizzas.
The Brasserie also serves a traditional afternoon tea daily between noon and 4 pm, with full vegan and gluten-free versions available on request. A glass of chilled Prosecco can be added. In cooler weather, the heated outdoor terrace with a retractable roof makes al fresco dining an option. A traditional Sunday lunch is also available.
A visit to The Stables Pub is a must-do, whether you’re staying at Weetwood or just popping in. Set in a converted farm building behind the hotel, it features a rotating selection of Yorkshire craft ales and gins in a traditional pub atmosphere. When the weather’s good (the UK’s heatwave was just getting started when I visited), plenty of courtyard seating is available.
My stay coincided with the early games of the World Cup, and large screens placed around the courtyard allowed a sizeable and good-natured crowd to watch the matches together over a pint, a reminder that this is a hotel enjoyed by locals every bit as much as by overnight guests.
Tips & Tactics
The following tips and tactics will help you make the most of your stay at Weetwood Hall, Leeds:
- Book early if you have your heart set on a four-poster bedroom or one of the 14 Manor House feature rooms.
- Hotel guests also enjoy complimentary use of an off-site health club with a swimming pool, located around two miles from the property.
- A bus stop at the end of the hotel driveway offers frequent services along Otley Road into Leeds city center, a journey of around 20 minutes, so a car is far from essential for city sightseeing.
- Planning a celebration? Two rooms within the Manor House are licensed for civil ceremonies and partnerships, and exclusive-use wedding packages include all 14 Manor House bedrooms.
- The hotel also offers dedicated sports training facilities and regularly hosts team training camps, making it a practical choice for visiting clubs and squads.
- Weetwood Hall is located at Otley Road, Leeds, LS16 5PS, on the A660 close to the Lawnswood roundabout.
- Parking on site is free for guests.
- Leeds Bradford Airport is a ten-minute drive, making the hotel a convenient first or last stop on any Yorkshire itinerary.
- For those arriving by rail, Leeds railway station is four miles away, with onward travel by taxi or by the frequent buses that run along Otley Road.
- For more information and reservations, visit weetwood.co.uk
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Travel and lifestyles writer Bryan Dearsley is Editor of LuxuryUK, a leading source of news and reviews relating to luxury lifestyles and travel in the United Kingdom, as well as RileyMag.com.
