Leeds Central Library

Get ready for some feel good vibes at this year's Summer Reading Challenge - Read to the Beat! We’re excited to welcome special guest Phil Tang (Bboy Philty) from HelloHipHop, delivering taster sessions in Breakin’ and Graffiti.

Learn to reinforce and embellish fabrics with hand stitched repeated patterns using the Japanese art form of Sashiko.

Join Pat Bourne of Leeds Museums and Galleries, as he takes you through his personal choice of museum objects that reflect 400 years of history since Leeds got its charter from King Charles I in 1626.

This talk by Samantha Yates explores the lives and careers of William Pape and John James Kayll, two figures who helped shape Leeds' stained-glass trade in the late nineteenth century.

In this illustrated talk Robert Demaine will look back 100 years to an earlier anniversary in the city’s history: the Leeds Tercentenary of 1926.

Join local author Chris Nickson to discover the life, career, and achievements of radical 19th century printer and notable Leeds woman, Alice Mann.

Join our staff to get hands-on with some key highlights from our Special Collections on the themes of History and Geography.

Join our staff to get hands-on with some key highlights from our Special Collections on the themes of Sports & Leisure and Science & Nature.

Join local historian Danny Friar to learn about the encounter between Ralph Thoresby and John, the first recorded Black person in Leeds.

Folk Song in the North of England - Traditional Song Forum Autumn Conference with Leeds Libraries Part of the Leeds400 celebrations in 2026.