Leeds has plenty of ways to fill a day without building it around shopping. Try something hands-on, find lunch in the market, book a meal you want to linger over or choose a performance worth gathering people for.

These ten ideas cover different interests and kinds of company. Some are central; the pottery studio, climbing centre, dock and Brudenell involve different journeys. Start with one main plan and add something nearby if you have time.

1. Try two ways of making at Sunken Studio

Book a pottery taster at Sunken Studio in South Bank. The session introduces wheel throwing and handbuilding, so you can feel the difference between shaping moving clay and constructing a form by hand.

This is an adult studio with structured tuition, rather than a drop-in pottery-painting café. Read the course details and choose an available session. You select a piece for finishing and firing afterwards, so check collection arrangements. Leave the expectation of a perfectly symmetrical first bowl at home.

2. Learn the basics at The Climbing Lab

Book an introductory session at The Climbing Lab in Kirkstall Industrial Park. Bouldering turns balance, route reading and a bit of persistence into a satisfying activity, with low walls and padded flooring instead of ropes.

Choose the right introduction for adults or families and complete the required forms. Experienced climbers bringing beginners must follow the centre’s supervision rules. Plan the trip from the centre and wear comfortable clothes; hire shoes are a more sensible first step than buying a whole climbing wardrobe.

3. Compete at Electric Shuffle

Reserve shuffleboard at Electric Shuffle Leeds on The Headrow for a group outing with clear rules and plenty of turns. The technology handles the scoring, leaving you to concentrate on placing the puck and disputing whose success was pure luck.

Check the player arrangements and admission policy for the session you choose. Regular play has adult requirements; designated family sessions have separate rules. Read what your booking includes before adding food or drinks, and choose for the ages actually coming along.

4. Build lunch around Kirkgate Market

Head to Kirkgate Market’s food hall when a group wants choice without going in different directions. The traders include Vietnamese food at Bánh & Mee, vegetarian Indian cooking at Manjit’s Kitchen and plant-based burgers at Fat Annie’s.

Look at the individual menus and service times before making a particular stall essential to your plan. Leave time to explore the produce and shops as well. It is a useful way to make a central lunch feel like an outing in its own right.

5. Share Indian street food at Bundobust

Visit Bundobust Leeds on Mill Hill for vegetarian Indian street food and drinks. Smaller dishes let you try a few different things, and communal benches make it an easy place to gather for a relaxed meal.

Reserve ahead for a group and discuss dietary needs directly. Check access carefully, as the Leeds venue has steps between areas. It works for a meal alone too, with smaller seating options alongside the bigger tables. Beer is part of the offering, but alcohol-free choices are available.

6. Give dinner time at Ox Club

Book Ox Club in Headrow House for cooking built around live fire. The approach gives the menu a clear identity, with seasonal ingredients and dishes worth choosing for themselves rather than treating dinner as a quick refuelling stop.

Read the current sample menu and ask about dietary requirements before reserving. Allow time for the meal, especially if you are ordering several courses. If you are adding a performance afterwards, book a realistic gap instead of relying on the kitchen to rescue an optimistic itinerary.

7. Explore the collections at Royal Armouries

Visit Royal Armouries at Leeds Dock for arms, armour and the histories behind them. The galleries cover different parts of the world and periods, giving you room to follow an interest rather than trying to absorb the entire collection.

Check the current displays and any demonstrations before travelling. Families can choose a manageable route and leave time to talk about what they see. Read access and sensory information if needed, and plan the journey to the dock separately from your city-centre stops.

Spend time at Leeds Art Gallery on The Headrow for collection displays and changing exhibitions. Choose a few rooms and give the work your attention, with time for different people to pick out different favourites.

Check which areas are open and whether any particular activity needs a booking. The Tiled Hall Café makes an easy break if you want to extend the visit. A gallery trip can be as unhurried as you like; there is no prize for seeing the most paintings.

9. Choose a production at Leeds Playhouse

Browse Leeds Playhouse and pick a play, musical, comedy show or family production. A booked performance gives you a reason to commit to an evening, whether you are organising company or choosing something for yourself.

Read the age guidance and select the right auditorium and access performance where relevant. Book the seats first, then arrange food around the curtain time. Leave room for the journey to Quarry Hill rather than assuming every central restaurant is just outside the theatre.

10. Hear a gig at the Brudenell

Look through Brudenell Social Club for a live gig in Burley. Its programme gives you a chance to see an artist you follow or take a punt on a sound you have not heard much of before.

Confirm the venue on the listing, as the team also promotes shows elsewhere. Read age, access and standing or seated arrangements for the particular event. Plan the trip home alongside the ticket, especially if you are travelling beyond Leeds after the show.