Winner of the prestigious RPS Award – the “BAFTAs of the classical music world”.
We have installed public ‘street pianos’ all around Leeds and Bradford for everyone to play and enjoy. Bringing music to every street corner our street pianos are supported by the University of Leeds, Leeds City Council, Bradford Council, Arts Council England, Big Give, LeedsBID, Besbrode Pianos and Steinway & Sons.
Both of our pianos trails are hives of musical activity. Across the Leeds and Bradford pianos we organise monthly events called ‘Days of Play’. These range from jazz events and craft workshops all the way to open mics. If you want to see what events we have coming up please look at our social media pages. If you’re interested in performing on our trail please email [email protected] for more information!
Check out the Leeds Piano Trail map with opening times and locations of the pianos here
Check out the Bradford Piano Trail map with opening times and locations of the pianos here
Find a piano near you and come and play.
One of the largest indoor markets in Europe and at the heart of Leeds retail since 1857, Leeds Kirkgate Market is home to some of the most characterful traders in the city, with businesses spanning generations and representing a wide range of nationalities.
Renowned for its acclaimed productions, Leeds Playhouse also has an impressive Creative Engagement programme. The piano at Leeds Playhouse was decorated by members of Heydays, the largest and longest-running arts programme for older people in UK theatre.
The Heydays piano is vibrant and eye-catching, decorated in bright colours and denim to remind us of fun times.
Trinity Leeds is a busy, lively and light-filled place which hosts what is probably the most-played piano on the Piano Trail – a terrific spot for those seeking an audience!
The Victoria Quarter is a stunning complex of restored 19th century shopping arcades, with one of the best acoustics in Leeds.
Leeds artist Rosie Vohra’s pianos design is inspired by the warm colour palette of oranges and greens in Brian Clarke’s famed canopy.
The piano in The Light – a lovely Boston which was donated to the Competition – is the best instrument on the Piano Trail.
It has been lovingly decorated in fresh, spring-like colours by Leeds-based artist Rosie Vohra, to reflect the architecture of the building and the nature within and around it.
The Merrion Centre has been a fixture of Leeds life since 1964 (it was built just one year after the Leeds International Piano Competition was founded).
Leeds-based artist Rosie Vohra references the Merrion Centre’s long history in her playful design for the piano, incorporating wheels, cogs and a fish tail shape that was attached to the end of the“Featherstone-Kite Openwork Basketweave Mark Two Gentleman’s Flying Machine”, on display at The Merrion Centre from the 1960s.
The University of Leeds campus is a brilliant place to experience something new – hundreds of different activities take place there every week, including a huge range of music societies and free lunchtime concerts in the Clothworkers Hall. Many students love playing the piano but don’t have one in their student accommodation, so we put a piano on campus, in the foyer of the famous Parkinson Building, which has dominated the Leeds skyline since 1951.
The St John’s Centre piano is the newest on the trail, unveiled on World Piano Day 2024. Leeds-based artist Rosie Vorha worked with children from Blenheim Primary School to create the piano’s design – you can check out Rosie’s other piano designs in The Light, Merrion Centre and Victoria Quarter
| Locations | Opening Times |
| Kirkgate Market | Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays every week| 12:00 – 14:00 First Saturday of each month | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| Leeds Playhouse | Available to play 24/7 (next to the Playhouse kitchen on level 2) |
| Trinity Leeds | Every Monday, 10:00 – 14:00 and on Days of Play |
| Victoria Leeds | Available to play on Days of Play |
| The Light | Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays | 11:00 – 17:00 |
| Merrion Centre | First Saturday of the month Every Sunday | 11:00 – 16:00 |
| University of Leeds – Parkinson Building | Available to play 24/7 (in the foyer) |
| St John’s Centre | Thursday – Sunday | 11:00 – 15:00 |
| Leeds Bus Station | Monday – Friday | 1100 – 1400 |
Find a piano near you and come and play.
The Broadway is a shopping and leisure complex in the centre of
Bradford, which opened in 2015.
Airedale Shopping Centre is located in the centre of Keighley, and features a Dementia Friendly drop in centre on Towngate.
Find the accessibility information for The Broadway here
Find the accessibility information for Airedale Shopping Centre here
Find the accessibility information for Cliffe Castle Museum here
Find the accessibility information for Kirkgate Centre here
Partnerships lie at the heart of The Leeds, helping us to bring the Piano Trail to life.
