Kirkgate Market is the largest covered market in Europe and the beating heart of working Leeds. Spread across two halls — the 1904 Grand Market Hall and a 1970s addition — it houses hundreds of stalls selling fresh produce, meat, fish, fabrics, clothing, household goods, and street food. The Victorian hall, with its ornate ironwork ceiling and terracotta facade, is architecturally remarkable.
The street food scene within the market has expanded in recent years. You can eat cheaply and well: Thai, Indian, Caribbean, and classic British market food all have a presence. Come on a weekday morning when the market is at its most atmospheric. The famous Victorian quarter, with its ornate 1904 arcade, is not to be confused with the neighbouring Victoria Quarter shopping area — the market is older and considerably less glamorous, which is exactly the point.