What about if you’ve already eaten and you don’t fancy a club or a gig? There’s lots on offer in Leeds—especially if you’re a culture vulture. Don’t forget to have your student card with you, but bear in mind that some concessions only apply to full-time students.
Theatre
The West Yorkshire Playhouse puts on 16 of its own shows each year in its two auditoria (approximately a third of which are world or British premieres). It stages over 1,000 performances, workshops, readings and community events. Student concessions: £2 off every ticket except on Saturday nights; same-day standby tickets for half-price; and if you’re under 26, you can book (no more than a week in advance) tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at just £6!
Leeds Grand Theatre would be worth it for the stunning building alone, but they do the full range of theatre, comedy, music, ballet and opera. Student concessions: You’ll usually get 15% off, but contact the box office because it varies by performance. Opera North performances have fantastic student prices (see below).
The Carriageworks is close to the College (look out for the Electric Press) and does a mix of mix of plays, musicals, dance, film, community events and workshops. Student concessions: Contact the box office, because there are usually concessions but they do vary.
Opera
Even if you’ve never tried opera, Opera North’s incredible student discounts make it perfectly easy to give it a go! Headquartered at the Leeds Grand Theatre, they’re England’s opera company in the north. Student concessions: Full-time students can get quite literally the best seats in the house (where available) for just £10; that could save you up to £47 a ticket! And on-the-day standby tickets are all £5 for full-time students.
Dance
Phoenix Dance Theatre is one of Britain's leading contemporary dance companies, touring both nationally and internationally. Student concessions: contact the relevant venues.
Cinema
Don’t forget that Leeds is home to the Leeds International Film Festival every year! Student concessions: available with an NUS card.
Right in the city centre is the Light —a relatively new shopping, eating, drinking, hotel and 13-screen Vue cinema complex! Student concessions: If you’ve got photographic student ID (a UCAS or NUS card) you’ll get in for less. At the time of writing, it was £4.85 instead of £6.
There’s the one-screen Cottage Cinema in Headingley. Student concessions: On production of an NUS card (at the time of writing, tickets were £4 instead of £5).
Not too far from Headingley is the Kirkstall Road Vue multiplex. Student concessions: If you’ve got photographic student ID (a UCAS or NUS card) you’ll get in for less. At the time of writing, it was £4.85 instead of £6.
