In the late 19th century, the old tramway brought the bustle of the city to the leafy suburbia of Oakwood. When the last tram left for Leeds at the close of the fifties, the flurry of activity remained, the small suburb today offering enough chic shopping and refined dining to become a destination in its own right. A remnant of the city, the Grade II listed clock that used to watch over the hubbub of Kirkgate Market now overlooks the ornate gables of Oakwood Parade.
The annual Oakwood and Roundhay Festival is back for another week of fun and frolics under the iconic Oakwood clock, kicking off on 27th October with a special food and craft market. Across the half term week, local traders and residents are set to offer a range of pop-events from food tastings, pamper parties to themed quizzes. Last year, the Roundhay Parochial Hall hosted a family Arabian night with face painting, disco and a buffet, helping to raise funds for disadvantaged children.
Oakwood is renowned for seriously snazzy boutiques, and the new kid on the block, Dress Up, proves no exception. Expert seamstress, Marya brings years of sartorial experience to the lucky fashionistas of North Leeds, helping you dress the picture of elegance with handcrafted lady’s formalwear designed and tailored with only you in mind.
Some more fresh-faced additions to the Oakwood scene include District Deli & Pizzeria, curating a selection of take-out treats, perfect for a picnic in Roundhay Park. But the stars of the show are its own scandalously juicy rotisserie chicken, roasted to crisp perfection in a clever self-basting oven, alongside slabs of stone-baked pizza goodness. Will Pugh, the man behind all this deliciousness appears to be on a mission to feed all of North Leeds. After cutting his teeth in Michelin-starred kitchens, he founded Moortown health food hub, Filmore & Union. Last year, he went on to open Hessian just up the road from District Deli, offering contemporary British cuisine from morning ‘til night in modern, airy surroundings.
Another chef on a roll is Leeds own Masterchef maestro, Matt Healy. Hot on the heels of his recent venture, Matt Healy X The Foundry, he’s bringing a Scandi-inspired menu to Oakwood. His new vegan-friendly offering, Grön Kafe is keeping it clean in every sense, using both healthy and sustainable ingredients to please the health-conscious vegans of Leeds with minimum impact on the environment.
Wash it all down with a crafty pint at Preston – Oakwood’s own outpost of North Bar, the city’s original craft beer institution. Oakwood hop-heads can get their fix from a wide selection of pumps pouring the best in independent libations from the north and beyond, with a fridge stocked with enough rare finds to surprise the most discerning aficionado. Only two miles up the road from its brewery, you can bank on its core range hitting the taps super fresh, alongside local usual-suspects Northern Monk, Magic Rock and Kirkstall Brewery.
Every third Saturday some of Yorkshire’s finest foodie delicacies are on offer at Oakwood Farmer’s Market, from Leeds Bread Co-op’s famous sourdough loaves, to the Slow Rise bakery’s chewy bagels that are even better than your gran’s! If you’ve still got some dough left over, on the last Saturday of the month, Oakwood Craft Market offers a range of arty wares from local handicrafters to add that unique touch to your autumn home décor.
It’s not just retail and leisure, as new kid on the block, Oakwood Solicitors arrives on the scene to provide professional legal advice. Offering a variety of services, specialising in employment law, residential property and debt recovery, Oakwood’s finest legal minds have got your back. They also give local businesses and SMEs a helping hand with regular workshops and free seminars to help the community thrive.
If after all that excitement, you’re just looking to get away from it all, Oakwood Travel is here to help you plan your perfect late getaway. Leave the British weather behind and let its team of travel experts fly you off to a sun-drenched beach. But with all the delights Oakwood has to offer, you won’t want to stay away too long!