Built as a flagship for Leeds railway station in 1937, and enjoying a Grade-II-listed art-deco façade, The Queens has undergone a £16 million transformation that has gently lifted it into the 21st century whilst still retaining its original glamour. It’s 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.
The welcome
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 — the hotel’s adjacency to Leeds railway station makes that choice a joy rather than a compromise. Having navigated the lobby’s 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.
The room
We stayed in a Superior Family City Square View with a thoughtful 29 m² / 312 ft² 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.
There’s 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 — 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.
The bathroom
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.
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The facilities
The hotel revitalised its dining this year with the opening of Cinnamon Kitchen, led by Chef Vivek Singh — a restaurant and bar deliberately inspired by the grandeur of historic Indian railway first-class waiting rooms, which neatly echoes the hotel’s own railway provenance.
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.
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 – last but by no means least – the visually impressive grilled king prawns in a Colombo curry.
Other examples of the kitchen’s willingness to play with British and Indian cuisine is the excellent lamb rogan josh shepherd’s pie, filled with both minced lamb and larger pieces of meat, and packed with flavour.
For dessert, the chocolate and coconut caramel mousse or the garam masala crème brûlée both provide a snug, satisfying finish.
Cinnamon Kitchen is already deservedly collecting praise and has been shortlisted for ‘Best New Opening’ at this year’s R200 Awards.
Breakfast is served in the basement as a buffet affair — 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’s ‘Rhubarb Triangle’ – a unique area famous for its cultivation of early forced rhubarb.
Finally, the hotel also houses a ballroom — a restored space that can play host to conferences, weddings and the like.
The location
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’s the quickest possible interface between rail and room — perfect for short city escapes.
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.
We saw a show at Leeds City Varieties — a Victorian music hall, with seating for less than 500. It’s an extremely intimate venue which brings performers and the audience into close quarters.
Beyond theatre, the arcades, galleries, Michelin Guide restaurants and independent retailers around the city centre are all within an easy walk.
Other nice touches
There were a few small comforts that didn’t go unnoticed. For example, complimentary still water was provided and the wardrobe housed a couple of soft waffle gowns.
The hotel also offers a sustainability option: a small green tree you can hang outside your door to opt out of daily housekeeping — a simple way to reduce environmental impact yet still offer fresh towels if needed.
The cost
Double rooms come in from around £105 per night out of season, Superior rooms from about £145, and suites from £225. The Presidential Suite — with its private terrace — starts from roughly £634.
The best bit
The best bit is the sense of occasion The Queens manages to sustain without feeling stagey. It sits at the central hinge of Leeds — a building that looks and acts like a civic drawing-room. You are simultaneously in the city’s engine room (train station at your feet) and a refuge from its pace (the hotel’s rooms are calm and comfortable). That duality — grand without grandstanding — is its most winning trait.
The final verdict
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.
Dislcosure: Our stay was sponsored by The Queens Hotel, with the support of Visit Leeds.
Paul Johnson
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 ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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