Headingley Bear Pit — Attraction in Leeds

A wonderful bit of history in the heart of Headingley. A place where British 🐻 were once torn to pieces by 🐕 an otherwise generally tortured. Leading to their extinction in the UK and making travel all that much safer; I mean just imagine waiting for a bus in a bear infested area! The building is set back from the road, quite small and easy to miss. It looks like a tiny castle, you can climb on and in it and pretend to be a bear, but best done with friends with one pretending to be a dog or you may look...

"The ‘Bear Pit’ was in fact a home to bear, although only for a very limited period of time. The pit was built as part of the Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens which occupied this site in the mid 1800’s for visitors to stroll and take the air in exotic gardens." It doesn't appear to be maintained in any way, but it's a curious building that will make you ponder how until relatively recently this was considered a reasonable thing to do to a bear in...

I used to play in this as a child growing up in Headingley in the 70s. Never realised its historical significance. Its heritage should be recognised by the Council - with some TLC and maybe some informative signs. Despite its cruel purpose it's a fascinating relic of the...