Leeds named the best city outside London for foodies in the UK - despite having no Michelin stars
From fast food to fine dining, it’s well-known that Leeds has a tasty and diverse food scene.
And now new research has named Leeds as the second-best destination for food lovers across the UK.
A study from credit card brand Aqua found that Leeds is the best city outside the capital for foodies due to its varied and affordable portfolio of restaurants across the region.
Based on analysis of 30 major UK cities, using a range of dining and social media metrics, the research found that Leeds’ food offering is affordable, diverse and stirring a rising digital buzz.
According to the study, Leeds has an incredible 38.5 restaurants per 10,000 people, meaning it has the highest number of restaurants per capita across the UK.
As well as this, Leeds has 14 different cuisines on offer across the region, and at an average cost of £60 for two people, it’s more affordable than cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Milton Keynes.
Meanwhile, social media metrics reveal that Leeds has a TikTok hashtag volume of 8,701, meaning visitors are regularly reviewing and recommending food spots in Leeds online.
Leeds managed to get the top spot despite not having a single Michelin-starred restaurant - one of the metrics used in the study.
The Michelin star is a hallmark of culinary excellence awarded annually by the Michelin Guide for restaurants which offer exceptional cuisine.
Although several Leeds restaurants, including Forde and Ox Club are recommended in the Michelin Guide, no restaurant in Leeds has held a Michelin star since the closure of Michael O’Hare’s The Man Behind the Curtain in 2023.
However, the lack of Michelin stars hasn’t stopped the Leeds culinary scene from thriving, as evidenced by this week’s Oliver Awards where hundreds celebrated the very best restaurants, bars, and cafes in Leeds.
Though Leeds currently doesn’t have any Michelin stars, Aqua’s latest research highlights that the food offering in Leeds is nevertheless outstanding, and this is a city fantastic for any foodie.
The top ten UK cities for foodies are:
- London
- Leeds
- Nottingham
- Edinburgh
- Wolverhampton / Leicester
- Sheffield
- Birmingham / Glasgow
- Bradford / Swansea
- Preston
- Milton Keynes