Quarry Hill sits close to Leeds city centre, occupying a stretch of ground to the east of the inner ring road. The neighbourhood takes its name from the quarrying activity that once defined this part of the city, and it has undergone considerable transformation across the centuries. Today it is bordered by the areas of Burmantofts and St Peter’s, with the main road corridors into central Leeds running close by.
Character and development
Quarry Hill is perhaps best known for the vast social housing complex that once occupied much of the area – the Quarry Hill Flats, built in the 1930s and at the time one of the largest housing schemes in Britain. The blocks were demolished in 1978, and the site was subsequently redeveloped. The West Yorkshire Playhouse, now rebranded as Leeds Playhouse, was built on part of the former estate, and the BBC relocated regional offices to Quarry Hill, making it a centre for media and arts activity in the city.
Getting there
Quarry Hill is within easy walking distance of Leeds railway station and well connected by local bus routes running along Eastgate and Marsh Lane. The inner ring road passes close to the neighbourhood, making it straightforward to reach by car from most directions across the city.