{"id":7443,"date":"2025-10-29T16:40:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=7443"},"modified":"2025-10-29T16:40:30","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:40:30","slug":"review-queens-hotel-leeds-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=7443","title":{"rendered":"Review: Queens Hotel, Leeds, UK"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Built as a flagship for Leeds railway station in 1937, and enjoying a Grade-II-listed art-deco fa\u00e7ade, The Queens has undergone a \u00a316\u2009million transformation that has gently lifted it into the 21st century whilst still retaining its original glamour. It\u2019s a renovation that sees the original art-deco flourishes now sitting alongside modern furniture and local touches that keep the hotel feeling like a city hotel rather than a corporate retrofit. Read on to learn more about our visit.<\/p>\n

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The welcome<\/h2>\n

This was my second stay at the hotel and, like last time, we opted to arrive by public transport over the headache of city driving \u2014 the hotel\u2019s adjacency to Leeds railway station makes that choice a joy rather than a compromise. Having navigated the lobby\u2019s mix of book-lined nooks and plush seating, the reception team made our arrival go smoothly with a warm, brisk and friendly handover of keycards, before we made our way up the building via the art deco lifts (which also have Grade II-listed status), with their signature pillar-box red doors and striking brass trims.<\/p>\n

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The room<\/h2>\n

We stayed in a Superior Family City Square View with a thoughtful 29\u2009m\u00b2 \/ 312\u2009ft\u00b2 layout that was both elegant and practical. The bed was a king-size, draped in crisp white linen and the room had the expected modern conveniences in abundance: an in-room safe, a hairdryer, an ironing board and iron, a mini-fridge, kettle, a Nespresso machine and a neatly presented welcome tray. <\/p>\n

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There\u2019s also a separate sofa (which can convert into a sofa bed, hence this having the option to be a family room) and a compact desk area \u2014 handy if you need to work between exploring. For families or longer stays the extra square metres are useful; for couples wanting a touch more space, the Superior City Square rooms are worth the premium.<\/p>\n

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The bathroom<\/h2>\n

Our bathroom favoured black-and-white patterned wall panels rather than an army of tiles, a modern alternative that gave it a bold, vibrant look. The rainfall shower also had a second detachable head, and the toiletries came from Argentum, a luxury British skincare and fragrance brand.<\/p>\n

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Everything you need to plan your trip in 2025<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The facilities<\/h2>\n

The hotel revitalised its dining this year with the opening of Cinnamon Kitchen, led by Chef Vivek Singh \u2014 a restaurant and bar deliberately inspired by the grandeur of historic Indian railway first-class waiting rooms, which neatly echoes the hotel\u2019s own railway provenance. <\/p>\n

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The menu blends regional Indian techniques across twelve states with local British and Yorkshire ingredients; starters such as a salt-baked beetroot hummus paired with Wensleydale and marinated endive illustrate that fusion in practice rather than name only. <\/p>\n

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Other dishes we enjoyed included an aromatic Lucknowi chicken biryani served with burhani raita; masala grilled salmon crowned with a dried-lime chilli crumble and a crisp celeriac salad, the house black lentils, and \u2013 last but by no means least \u2013 the visually impressive grilled king prawns in a Colombo curry. <\/p>\n

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Other examples of the kitchen\u2019s willingness to play with British and Indian cuisine is the excellent lamb rogan josh shepherd\u2019s pie, filled with both minced lamb and larger pieces of meat, and packed with flavour.<\/p>\n

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For dessert, the chocolate and coconut caramel mousse or the garam masala cr\u00e8me br\u00fbl\u00e9e both provide a snug, satisfying finish.<\/p>\n

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Cinnamon Kitchen is already deservedly collecting praise and has been shortlisted for \u2018Best New Opening\u2019 at this year\u2019s R200 Awards.<\/p>\n

Breakfast is served in the basement as a buffet affair \u2014 with a pleasing local nod in the form of rhubarb juice among the usual continental and cooked options. That tiny flourish is a wink to West Yorkshire\u2019s \u2018Rhubarb Triangle\u2019 \u2013 a unique area famous for its cultivation of early forced rhubarb.<\/p>\n

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Finally, the hotel also houses a ballroom \u2014 a restored space that can play host to conferences, weddings and the like.<\/p>\n

The location<\/h2>\n

Location is, for the Queens, its most persuasive argument. Perched on City Square (see the view from our room below) with a private entrance to Leeds station, it\u2019s the quickest possible interface between rail and room \u2014 perfect for short city escapes. <\/p>\n

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Leeds itself has shifted in the last decade from a hardworking commercial centre to a vibrant cultural and culinary hub: boutique shopping in the Corn Exchange, galleries like the Henry Moore Institute and the Hepworth nearby, and an increasingly confident restaurant scene make the city a credible destination for luxury travellers looking for compact, high-quality experiences. <\/p>\n

We saw a show at Leeds City Varieties \u2014 a Victorian music hall, with seating for less than 500. It\u2019s an extremely intimate venue which brings performers and the audience into close quarters. <\/p>\n

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Beyond theatre, the arcades, galleries, Michelin Guide restaurants and independent retailers around the city centre are all within an easy walk.<\/p>\n

Other nice touches<\/h2>\n

There were a few small comforts that didn\u2019t go unnoticed. For example, complimentary still water was provided and the wardrobe housed a couple of soft waffle gowns. <\/p>\n

The hotel also offers a sustainability option: a small green tree you can hang outside your door to opt out of daily housekeeping \u2014 a simple way to reduce environmental impact yet still offer fresh towels if needed.<\/p>\n

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The cost<\/h2>\n

Double rooms come in from around \u00a3105 per night out of season, Superior rooms from about \u00a3145, and suites from \u00a3225. The Presidential Suite \u2014 with its private terrace \u2014 starts from roughly \u00a3634.<\/p>\n

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The best bit<\/h2>\n

The best bit is the sense of occasion The Queens manages to sustain without feeling stagey. It sits at the central hinge of Leeds \u2014 a building that looks and acts like a civic drawing-room. You are simultaneously in the city\u2019s engine room (train station at your feet) and a refuge from its pace (the hotel\u2019s rooms are calm and comfortable). That duality \u2014 grand without grandstanding \u2014 is its most winning trait.<\/p>\n

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The final verdict<\/h2>\n

If you prize art-deco character, easy access by rail and a modern restaurant that takes culinary risks with city-centre convenience, The Queens is a polished choice. The renovation has been respectfully handled: original features are celebrated and modern comforts added in ways that feel considered rather than an after-thought. Our Superior City Square room was roomy and quietly luxurious; the new Cinnamon Kitchen adds a memorable dining reason to stay; and the location makes almost everything in Leeds within an easy, enjoyable radius.<\/p>\n

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Dislcosure: Our stay was sponsored by The Queens Hotel, with the support of Visit Leeds.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Paul Johnson<\/h3>\n

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel \u2018Best Travel Influencer\u2019 Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted \u201cone of the world\u2019s best travel blogs\u201d and \u201cbest for luxury\u201d by The Telegraph.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Source: https:\/\/www.aluxurytravelblog.com\/2025\/10\/29\/review-queens-hotel-leeds-uk\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Built as a flagship for Leeds railway station in 1937, and enjoying a Grade-II-listed art-deco fa\u00e7ade, The Queens has undergone a \u00a316\u2009million transformation that has gently lifted it into the 21st century whilst still retaining its original glamour. It\u2019s a renovation that sees the original art-deco flourishes now sitting alongside modern furniture and local touches […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7422,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}