Pudsey
West Yorkshire
The
Around 150 years ago, Pudsey was completely surrounded by farmland in an area bordered by woodland, but woollen mills had been built in the area and the textile revolution in Pudsey and the neighbouring cities brought with it a huge expansion in house-building, shops and other services.
Despite recent expansion of the area, Pudsey still retains some of the old world charm of its earlier existance, retaining cobbled yards with listed buildings originating in the late 17th century.
Pudsey famously lends its name to Pudsey Bear, the mascot of the BBC Children in Need charity appeal, which was named after its designer's home town.
Town features
The town has pubs and social clubs.
The town has a range of shops and an edge-of-town retail park.
Pudsey holds a traditional outdoor market - (Tues, Fri, Sat).
The town has a Post Office.
The town has pharmacies.
Pudsey has bank and building society branches.
A choice of cafes can be found in Pudsey.
Pudsey has takeaway food outlets.
Pudsey has a community hall. 
The town has a library. 
The town has a leisure centre with swimming pool.
Pudsey has schools.
Places of worship: Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, other.
Travel
Bus travel
The town has bus services to neighbouring towns and villages and city centres. 
New Pudsey station
New Pudsey station is about a mile to the north-west of Pudsey town centre.Station managed by: NORTHERN. Operator/s: NORTHERN.
NATIONAL RAIL - Departure and station infoExternal link to National Rail live departure board for services at this station (opens in new tab).
Road travel
Pudsey can be reached via the A647 B6155 B6154 Places to visit
Middleton Railway
Moor Road, Hunslet, LeedsThe world's oldest working railway is now operated by volunteers who run trains mostly at weekends. The railway was first opened as a horse-drawn colliery railway in 1758 and was the first to successfully use steam locomotives commercially in 1812. The line was not built as a passenger railway, but solely for carrying coal. Passengers can now make the journey between Moor Road station and Park Halt at the edge of the attractive woodland of Middleton Park, where there are displays about the past coal mining in the area. The line has a timetable of diesel and steam operating days and special events and the engine shed is a celebration of the numerous manufacturers, among them Hudson, Hudswell Clarke and Manning Wardle, which once made Leeds the biggest producer of railway locomotives in the country. The railway is about 2 miles south of Leeds city centre close to Junctions 5 & 6 of the M621.
More information at the
Middleton Railway 
Kirkstall Abbey
Abbey Road, KirkstallThe ruins of the Kirkstall Abbey, dating from 1152, are in public parkland alongside the River Aire at Kirkstall, 3 miles north-west of Leeds city centre. Cistercian monks occupied the building and owned surrounding land until the abbey was closed in 1539. While much of the abbey can be seen from the surrounding park, internal admission is available every day except Monday with tickets available on site. The Abbey also has a cafe. Buses from Leeds stop next to the abbey. The nearest railway stations are Headingley, just under a mile away, and Kirkstall Forge, just over a mile away.
More information at these
Leeds City Council - Kirkstall Abbey Find on map:
Kirkstall Abbey 
Oakwell Hall and Country Park
Nutter Lane,
Find out more at the
Kirklees Council - Oakwell Hall and Country Park with further information at the
Friends of Oakwell Hall and Country Park Locate on map:
Oakwell Hall 
Emergency services
West Yorkshire Police West Yorkshire Police West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 
Local government
Metropolitan district council
City of LeedsThe City of Leeds authority covers an area extending several miles beyond the city itself, including areas of agricutural land with widely spaced villages to the north east and several separate small towns including Garforth , Guiseley , Morley , Otley , Pudsey , Rothwell , Wetherby and Yeadon .
Leeds is just one of a ring five metropolitan councils covering the many cities, towns and villages of the conurbation of West Yorkshire. Around one-third of the West Yorkshire population live in the Leeds metropolitan district, just over ¾ million at the time of the 2011 census.
In the City of Leeds metropolitan district a total of 99 councillors are elected. There are three councillors per ward across 33 wards. Councillors are usually elected for four-year terms, one councillor being elected in each of three years out of four. A Lord Mayor of Leeds is elected from the council each year.
Political composition after May 2023 election:
99 members
External link to Leeds City Council website.
Leeds City Council 
See our Yorkshire.guide Gazetteer for more about the 
Leeds metropolitan district and places within it.County strategic authority
West Yorkshire Combined AuthorityCovers some combined services of the five metropolitan district councils of
Bradford , 
Calderdale , Leeds , 
Kirklees and 
Wakefield — which were at one time provided by a West Yorkshire metropolitan county council, with the addition of the non-contiguous unitary authority area of the City of 
York council as well as the unelected Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. Since 2021 it has operated with an elected mayor as chairman and decision-maker for some responsibilities. These include transport, housing and planning and finance powers. The responsibilities also include those of Police and Crime Commissioner, a role substantially delegated to an appointee deputy mayor. Elected mayor:
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Police and Crime Commissioner
The Police and Crime Commissioner for West YorkshireThis role has become one of the many responsibilities of the West Yorkshire elected mayor since May 2021.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Fire Authority
West Yorkshire Fire AuthorityThe fire authority is made up of elected members of each of the five metropolitan district councils of West Yorkshire - Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield.
West Yorkshire Fire Authority Parliamentary constituency
Leeds West and PudseyElected MP: