SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Hello!I've been dithering around this forum for a while now and every once in a while I find somewhere that I think may be undiscovered only to find out, everyone has seen it. I'm wondering if any one knows of any groups or anything within the east / mid leeds area, like local history / urbex groups that get out of a room and go see / explore things? I really want to get out there and see more than just pictures on a computer screen! I want to learn! I want to be able to bore the pants off people even more than I already do! Nina

There aren't I'm afraid. And I doubt there are any in the U.K either.What you will find is small groups of friends who go off and do their own thing. I get asked many times how can I start exploring places, and the only thing I can tell them is to start off small and get started on your own. Post your photos online, join the urbex forums (not 28 days later) and from there you will gradually make friends. Another way is to join an urbex forum, introduce yourself and say you are looking for someone to explore with around the Leeds area. It seems to be the way everyone starts really. Good luck

Thanks Phil, I will have a look. I'm on derelict places but I've always just stuck with this forum as I know a lot of the laces on here We are going to be going to be visiting a few places on the heritage open days so hopefully I will be able to do some exploring and get some good pictures

domino85 wrote: Thanks Phil, I will have a look. I'm on derelict places but I've always just stuck with this forum as I know a lot of the laces on here We are going to be going to be visiting a few places on the heritage open days so hopefully I will be able to do some exploring and get some good pictures Derelict Places is one of the better forums to use, and I recommend using that one if your a new starter. It seems getting started is a problem for a lot of people. I've seen your kind of request many times. It isn't something you can really be helped with though, you have to learn to walk before you can run, and the only way to meet people and get to see better places is by making a start yourself and get yourself known. It all picks up from there.I was lucky in that respect, I started a long time ago, long before many of the old veterans had even started. I started off small and looked at bigger places as I went along. I didn't actually learn about exploration forums till two years after I started, so I was already quite established. I had things different, I had people asking me if I wanted to look at certain places and not the other way round e.t.c. Someone asked me for advice how to start the other day, and really I think it's like buying a guitar, you can't expect to pick it up and be the next Hendrix. You have to expect countless hours of frustration, blistered fingers, and twanged guitar strings before you see any results at all. And it's the same with anything really, you only get out of things what you willing to put in. Exploration is no different, and in all honesty finding the places, solving the puzzles how to get in, the research and all that goes with it is just as satisfying, as actually looking round the places and photographing them. You can't do one without the other. I don't think the people who do this will just hand this knowledge on a plate to people who just ask for it. I'll post my reply to the guy who asked for help, if only to show you the kind of ethic you need to adopt to get on. Hopefully it will make you see things in a new light and get you that start you need ............................................Hi xxx.I get so many requests for advice I'm afraid I stopped giving it years ago, also I think it's actually counter productive and doesn't help anyone really. I've looked at hundreds of places and never asked for any help from anyone.The only way to find these places is if your willing to put work and effort in yourself, no one else will do it for you. The internet is your best help and tool at your fingers. Just use google search, and good search words like 'Leeds, urbex, exploration and abandoned buildings, my own photo stream has loads of Leeds stuff.Use google street view and old u.k maps website.You will learn so much more about places, find out where they are, and if you use google earth and street view properly. You will also see the best ways to get in.It's not because I don't want to help you, but my advice above is the best help you will ever get. It's the difference between looking at places, and not.Good luck!            ...................................................And I can think of no better example than someone who goes through my photo stream copying regular, I see them go out photographing the easy to find locations. But because they haven't done any research, or even looked at an old map. They have totally missed another 3 or 4 great locations nearby, sometimes only 50 yards away, they've been totally unaware of them. It does go to show just how much more beneficial it is to actually research, learn about things, and put the effort in first.        The beauty of hidden places and exploration is the fact it's not easy to find, or readily available to the general public. It goes without saying there will be many barriers to entry. But with a little effort and perseverance it can be overcome

domino85 wrote: Hello!I've been dithering around this forum for a while now and every once in a while I find somewhere that I think may be undiscovered only to find out, everyone has seen it. I'm wondering if any one knows of any groups or anything within the east / mid leeds area, like local history / urbex groups that get out of a room and go see / explore things? I really want to get out there and see more than just pictures on a computer screen! I want to learn! I want to be able to bore the pants off people even more than I already do! Nina Hi Domino85, Welcome to the forum! I think ever since all these forums appeared it seems that the most obvious inner city places have been done to death by umpteen urbex types. However that doesnt mean its not worth checking the places out yourself. I used to go round exploring places as a kid with my mates long before 'urban exploration' became a 'hobby'. I dont think there is much kudos from being the first person to explore somewhere, its more about the experience of being in these places for me. I find that www.ukurbex.com is a good forum with a community of folks who you might get along with. There are lots of previous explores by other members with plenty of pictures that might give you some ideas of places you might like to have a look at. If you ever want to come for a walk around the Kirkstall / Calverley area drop me a line cos I like to have a wander but I cant be bothered going too far out of my own area as I dont drive at the moment. There are a few interesting sites around here - the old mills down by the canal at Calverley and lots of stuff in the vicinity of the river Aire.Plus there are lots of things to see on Flickr that are worth checking out in person. I suppose it depends how far you are prepared to go, I cant see a 'local history' group being prepared to risk trespassing inside derelict factories. Plenty of the urbex groups see this as been an occupational hazard. I've never been done for trespassing - touch wood, but ever since the price of scrap metal sky rocketted many places are secured more than ever and security guards have become more unfriendly. Anyway good luck!