Top 5 places to live in Leeds

Leeds ranks among northern England’s hidden gems. A lively cultural scene, strong economy and beautiful scenery nearby make it a popular choice for students, property buyers and renters. So, where are the best places to live in this thriving West Yorkshire city? We take a look at the highest-rated new homes in Leeds based on HomeViews resident reviews.

Top 5 new builds to live in Leeds

Below are the five highest-rated new homes developments in Leeds. These ratings are based on reviews by verified residents, giving you a unique guide to some of the very best places to live in Leeds.

*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance – as on our area guide pages.

Jumping right to the top of the list at the latest update, welcome to Moda, New York Square. It’s a collection of 515 pet-friendly apartments, designed to form an exciting next-generation neighbourhood in Leeds’ cultural district.

Enjoy being part of a community rich with amenities, from co-working and meeting spaces to a media room, private dining and a roof terraces with panoramic views of Leeds City Centre and beyond. New York Square provides exclusive partnerships to bring you the very best the city has to offer.

Read reviews and details of New York Square, LS2

In a close-run 2nd place, Altitude at Phoenix is a development managed by Allsop. Tucked within the dynamic pulse of the city, every detail, from the spacious layouts to the carefully selected finishes, reflects a commitment to creating a home that supports your lifestyle. Whether you’re relaxing in your apartment or exploring the nearby neighbourhood, you’ll feel connected to a community that puts your needs first.

Read reviews and details of Altitude at Phoenix, LS9

3rd on our list of Leeds’ best developments is Mustard Wharf, a brand-new development set on the banks of the Leeds – Liverpool canal in the exciting new Holbeck Urban Village. The development consists of 247 rental apartments, all furnished, with an option of one, two or three bedrooms. All apartments feature Juliet balconies, spacious living areas and top of the range Samsung appliances. In addition, there are plenty of amenities on-site, including a residents’ lounge, private dining, co-working spaces, superfast broadband, 24-hour front-of-house team, two roofs terrace/gardens, gym, and regular social events. It’s also just a few minutes’ walk from Leeds train station. Clearly, it cuts the mustard!

Read reviews and details of Mustard Wharf at Tower Works, LS1

In 4th place, Headlingley Park is a rental-only scheme in the popular Headingley suburb of the city, within easy reach of the city centre but with its own very distinctive sense of community. The development offers studios, one and two-bedroom apartment, fully furnished and with access to a range of on-site amenities, all set within a leafy parkland location.

Read reviews and details of Headingley Park, LS6

Leodis Square by Dandara Living is an outstanding rental-only development located in central Leeds. Offering studio to three-bed apartments, residents benefit from the development’s gym, a pet-friendly policy and a wide range of community events. As an added bonus, the development is just five-minutes from Leeds’ popular business and retail districts.

Leodis Square takes fifth place in Leeds. Residents routinely praise its location, the quality of facilities and its excellent building management team.

Read reviews and details of Leodis Square, LS11

Best areas to live in Leeds, UK

Property hunters have plenty of options when it comes to popular areas in Leeds. Horsforth comes out at the top of many lists of the best areas to live. Properties in this attractive suburb are well above the average price for the city. However, residents enjoy the benefits of suburban life with an easy commute to the centre. Not to mention Harrogate or York.

Other neighbourhoods deemed to be desirable include Headingley, Chapel Allerton and Roundhay. Recent regeneration has also made Leeds Waterfront a highly desirable location.

Cost of living in Leeds

Currently, the average property price for Leeds is £281,000 (April 2025) according to Rightmove. Most sales in Leeds over the past 12 months were semi-detached properties, at an average price of £281,000.

The median monthly rent in Leeds for 2025 is £1,200, according to Home.co.uk. One bedroom apartments average slightly less, at just £875 PCM. Other living costs tend to be cheaper in Northern England than in the south, and both travel and eating out in Leeds cost well below the national average.

What is Leeds famous for?

Leeds, like many northern cities, is a sporting mecca. The city has beloved teams across a variety of sports, including Leeds United, the city’s largest football team.

Meanwhile, Headingley is the historic home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos rugby league team. Headingley’s cricket ground also plays host to regular test match cricket.

Leeds is also a hub for Yorkshire shoppers. There are a large number of retail outlets and shopping centres in and around the city, including the high-end Victoria Quarter.

For history nuts, Leeds also has the singular attraction of the Royal Armouries Museum. This purpose-built complex was completed in 2005 to house weaponry and armour from Britain’s history, dating as far back as the Middle Ages.

To find more highly-rated new homes developments click through to our area guides below. All rankings are based on verified resident ratings to give you the very best options for new homes in the area.

Leeds is a vibrant and modern city with a reputation for its distinctive culture, vibrant nightlife as well as shops, music and celebrated restaurants. Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in Leeds. In addition, read reviews from Read more about Leeds

West Yorkshire is a county in the north of England. It borders Greater Manchester to the south, Lancashire to the west and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the east. Made up of seven districts, Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, Wakefield, Leeds, Sheffield Hallam and York, it Read more about West Yorkshire

HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.