Leeds is a major city in West Yorkshire, in the north of England. It sits roughly 8 miles north of Wakefield, to the east of Bradford, and south of Harrogate. The city centre includes Leeds City Bus Station (York Street), close to Kirkgate Market / Quarry Hill, and is a central hub for buses across the wider West Yorkshire area.​

🚌 Bus Services and Operators:

Leeds has a varied and active network of bus services, with operators including:

• First West Yorkshire: the main and largest operator in Leeds itself. They run numerous city routes and some services connecting Leeds with surrounding areas from their Bramley and Hunslet depots (under their First Leeds sub-division) and their Bradford depot (under First Bradford).

• Arriva Yorkshire: has a significant presence in the city centre, running services connecting Leeds with some outlying towns.

• Transdev Blazefield: operate regional routes from Leeds City Bus Station, under their brands The Harrogate Bus Company, The Keighley Bus Company, Flyer and Coastliner.

• Yorkshire Buses: a small, independent operator based in Leeds, operating a small number of infrequent services into the city.

🕰️ Historical Overview:

The current Leeds City Bus Station opened in 1938 as Leeds Central Bus Station. It was built in the style similar to the Quarry Hill flats.

It was rebuilt in 1963 to handle bigger and longer buses, with wider carriageways, etc.

Further modernisation took place in the 1990s (it was again rebuilt / refurbished and officially reopened in 1996) when the National Express / coach operations were consolidated at the site.

There used to be a separate “FreeCityBus” service in the city centre, linking key points (bus & rail station etc.), which in 2011 was replaced by “LeedsCityBus” under First West Yorkshire / West Yorkshire Metro.

Over recent years there has been a drive toward low and zero-emission buses in Leeds, with First introducing electric buses (both single and double deck) and new liveries.

📷 Bus Spotting Popularity:

Leeds is quite good for bus spotting, for several reasons. Leeds City Bus Station is sizable (34 stands) and busy, with many routes converging from different directions. You'll see a variety of operators and buses, including standard diesel, hybrid/electric, long-distance coaches etc. On the other hand, bus spotting in Leeds does have its challenges. Because Leeds is large and spread out, buses are less frequent in outer suburbs; spotting certain “rare” buses and services may require travel.

📝 Summary:

Leeds is a strong spot for bus spotting: it offers an interesting mix of old and new, a variety of operators, a sizeable bus station that sees heavy use, and evolving vehicle types (especially with zero/low emission buses). For enthusiasts interested in modern fleet changes, liveries, or the history of regional bus transport, Leeds is well worth a visit.​