Thornton's Arcade

Thornton’s Arcade is one of Leeds’ most charming and historic shopping arcades. It has a warm, intimate atmosphere created by its Victorian design, and the glazed iron roof allows natural light to fill the narrow passageway. Independent shops and cafés give it a unique character, making it a popular spot for both locals and visitors in the city centre. Thornton’s Arcade was built between 1878 and 1880 during Leeds’ Victorian boom and was named after Charles Thornton, a local cloth merchant. The arcade was designed to link Briggate with Lands Lane, reflecting the elegance of 19th-century commercial architecture. Today, it remains a well-preserved example of Leeds’ retail history and heritage.

Beautiful shopping arcade with distinctive facade, intricate stone carvings and elaborate ironwork. Beyond shopping, the arcade also houses several eateries and coffee shops. Love it❤️

Excellent coffee and environment. Only wish was that there were more seating.

Really beautiful arcade,with a gorgeous victorian glass roof that lets in natural light, creating a pleasant atmosphere and stylish shopping experience.

Not visited for a while, but very pleased how vibrant. Wife found lovely Jewel store

Not quite as grand as the Victoria, but just round the corner so worth a visit. Went on a bank holiday so a few places were closed. Sunny day really added to the views.

A beautiful historic arcade, which in Summer is flooded with natural daylight, and in Winter is adorned with festive lights and decorations. A taste of Victorian elegance combined with 21st century, wonderfully varied businesses. There is a fabulous clock featuring mechanical figures. It has moving mediaeval characters striking the bells on the hour. A splendid attraction that costs nothing and often has children and adults standing and staring. Don't miss it.

Charles Thornton, (1820-1881), was the owner of the Old White Swan Inn in Swan Street, and the proprietor of the Varieties Music Hall. (Now the Leeds City Varieties.) In 1873 he built a block of shops and offices, Thornton’s Buildings, at the junction of the Upper Headrow with Lands Lane. In 1875 Thornton applied for permission to demolish the Old Talbot Inn on Briggate, and to build a new arcade of shops on the site. The Talbot was one of the oldest inns in Leeds. Thoresby writing in 1715, describes frescoes painted on the walls of a room in the Inn. The Inn was used for cockfighting, and in the 17th century was where the circuit judge stayed when he was in Leeds. The arcade was originally designed by Charles Fowler, a Leeds architect, but the Borough Engineer would not agree to the designs because of problems with the drainage. Charles Thornton changed his architect, and engaged George Smith, whose altered plans met with approval. The arcade was opened in May 1878. The arcade is three storeys high, with a glass roof. At the northern end is a clock with a mechanism made by William Potts and Sons of Leeds. It has four life-size figures of characters from Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. Richard Coeur-de-Lion, and Friar Tuck who strike the hours, and Robin Hood and Gurth the Swineherd who strike the quarters. They were made by the Leeds sculptor John Wormald Appleyard. At the other end of the arcade is the head of a woman, with long curling hair and a large hat. It is modelled on the painting of the Duchess of Devonshire by Gainsborough. Thornton’s Arcade was refurbished in 1993. Very interesting places and definitely a most to visit. 👍

I visited Leeds last summer, so this was before the Wonka movie came out. But now, after seeing the new movie and going back and reviewing the places I've visited, this area reminds me of the chocolate gallery in the movie! Great memories of England here. It has that old look and the shops were really fun. Many things to choose from here.

Thornton's Arcade is a firm favourite for me. It's got cool shops, it's got cool places to get a bit to eat and it's in a really cool building. Seriously, just take a look at that ceiling - the arcade opened in 1878 and the architecture is neo-gothic and gorgeous. Check out the Potts' Clock up at the North end - it strikes on the hour and those four figures that surround it are apparently from Ivanhoe. They used to move, but sadly no more. Inside you'll find a good range of shops, some of them independent and (almost) all of them worth exploring. It's worth visiting just for OK Comics, but while you're there check out Chimp for menswear, Tunnel for women's fashion, Welcome Skate Store, and Bon Bons for sweets. Hungry? No problem. Tall Boys Beer Market has you covered, as does Bagel Nash if you're already hipstered-out. With food and retail therapy on hand it would be a shame not not explore this place. Besides, you've got to shelter from the rain somewhere, right?

Another special arcade of Leeds, well looked after with a good range of shops. This is a really ornate walk through between two main shopping precincts. Such a shiny exterior does it have that I almost feel like I may fall over if I step inside. Blacks are housed here - the expensive big brother of Millets - along with swish chocolate and sweet shop Bon Bons, a quirky gift shop and an exclusive pen shop. Worth a little trip along to see if something takes your fancy, it has a nice way of muffling the noise from Briggate.

Thornton's Arcade runs parallel to Queen's Arcade so it is tempting to compare the two. In terms of the design of the arcade, Thornton's has very attractive painted blue arches supporting the glass ceiling that makes a walk through the arcade a pleasant diversion from the hectic atmosphere of nearby Briggate. However, I think Queen's wins with its tiled floor which just adds an edge of quality and gives Queen's arcade an added lightness and clean feel. But let's not forget the Thornton's Arcade clock featuring roughly life-sized wooden men in what appears to be rather skimpy medieval attire, whose sole purpose in life is dutifully ringing an assortment of large bells on the hour. Love it! Shops-wise Thornton's Arcade has a wide variety, including clothing shops, shoe shops, jewellery shops, a comic shop, a pen shop, an opticians, a hairdresser's, sandwich shops, a sweet shop, a Blacks and a Starbucks. So it has a range of charming quality independent shops peppered with a few chains.

I have a new found appreciation for Thorntons Arcade as a whole, oftentimes it can be overlooked for the open spaces of Briggate, and yanno, behind Briggate, in addition to the other shopping centres; The Core, Merrion Centre, St John's etc, but it is really rather special. There are plenty of independent outlets based here, and they sit well and give good competition to the more established brands that act as their neighbours. A nice home to Blacks, Chimp, both Hip stores, The Pen Shop, Ok Comics, Bon Bons of Leeds, and Argent, plus others, it's definitely worth diverting off the main route up Briggate to explore what Thorntons Arcade has to offer. Plus if you fall out of Thorntons Arcade at the top end you can fall into yet even more shopping.

Perfect Arcade for shopping !! Shopping time !! You can spend hours walking around ... all the quarter is perfect , a lot of restaurants, pubs ...

Of the shopping walkways in Leeds I'd have to say I really rate the Thornton's Arcade. It has some of my favourite shops, unfortunately paired with some less favourites, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Given that OK Comics alone is situated within the arcade is enough to entice a geek like me down their sweet little path. That is not the only reason to wander though, with Hip clothing, Chimp and dare I say Yum Yums (for the commercially crafty ones), there is plenty to get excitable along here. The arcade itself is simply pleasing to walk through, it saves walking in between the many hidden pub alleyways adjacent that invariably house the day drunks and it has a very Victorian style chiming display atop the Briggate end. All in all a pretty nice place to end up in town!