Leeds is heading through the looking glass this summer as LeedsBID brings a beloved literary classic to life with Wonderland Awaits – an immersive, city-wide celebration inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Running from Saturday 26th July to Sunday 31st August 2025, the free, family-friendly event promises to fill the city with magic, curiosity, and colour, following on from success of last year’s MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover, which saw over 550,000 visitors and also spawned a documenmtary commission.
This year, Leeds Business Improvement District invites visitors to journey down the rabbit hole for an unforgettable adventure featuring interactive installations, larger-than-life characters, theatrical performances, puzzles to solve, and plenty of surprises.
Participants will be invited to pick up a special trail map and step into a dreamlike version of Leeds, where iconic locations across the city become scenes from Carroll’s world. Whether you’re sipping tea with the Mad Hatter or spotting the grinning Cheshire Cat, adventure awaits around every corner.
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A not-for-profit, non-political organisation, LeedsBID works collaboratively to put Leeds on the map, making new things happen in the city centre for the benefit of all who use it.
The largest BID outside of London, LeedsBID, now in its 11th year, brings an annual investment of £3.6m to Leeds city centre through its projects, events, and activities.
There’s also a puzzle woven into the trail, with weekly prizes to be won, adding a layer of playfulness and discovery to the experience. Additional themed events and activities will pop up throughout the summer, giving lovers of the books plenty to explore.
LeedsBID has teamed up with Cuddle Creative Works for the activation: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing the extraordinary works of Lewis Carroll to life for this year’s ‘Wonderland Awaits’ project,” said Dan Leroy, business manager at Cuddle Creative Works. “It’s such a pleasure to lift these surreal scenes from the pages of the books and reimagine them on the streets of Leeds.”
Wonderland Awaits is a truly collaborative event, with key partners across Leeds including: Aire Park, Leeds Corn Exchange, Merrion Centre, Royal Armouries, Trinity Leeds, Victoria Leeds, and Leeds Conservatoire, whose students will take part in live theatrical performances.
“LeedsBID creates a portfolio of inspired events across Leeds city centre to animate it for key holiday periods like the summer, which has created an expectation of what is to come, said Andrew Cooper, chief executive of LeedsBID. “This summer Wonderland Awaits will inject creativity and colour into the city centre for five weeks to delight and entertain families and visitors, encouraging them to embark on their own mini adventures. People really won’t want to be late to join in the fun.”
James Broughton, head of marketing communications, Town Centre Securities PLC (Merrion Centre), added: “LeedsBID’s events always bring energy and vibrancy to the city. These creative activations are hugely popular with our visitors and truly enhance the shopping and leisure experience. We’re thrilled to support another unforgettable summer.”
Keep an eye on the website wonderlandleeds.com for the latest, and follow @wonderlandleeds across social media platforms for further details in the run up.
