In 1852 Cuthbert Brodrick was awarded first prize in a competition to design Leeds Town Hall; he was also awarded £200 in prize money. At the time Brodrick was an unknown architect, but his monumental classical design caught the attention of Sir Charles Barry, the competition's judge. Brodrick's intention was to rival the architecture of southern English municipal buildings.

The building is in the classical/baroque style, rectangular in shape, with two storeys over a basement. Above the south entrance is the clock tower, and at each corner of the roof are four smaller towers, which are ventilation shafts. There are three entrances to the ground floor; the main entrance is approached by a wide flight of stone steps, with two plinths with stone lions on either side. There are two other entrances to the ground floor, one on the north side opening onto Great George Street, and one on the east onto Calverley Street. Other entrances lead into the basement.  There are various carvings: mythical heads on the keystones at the rear of the hall, and heads carved on the keystones on the west side of the building. Above the main door is a sculpture by John Thomas. This 'represents Leeds in its commercial and industrial character, fostering and encouraging the Arts and Sciences.'