After five weeks of an unforgettable summer adventure for families and fans of the iconic board game, the MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover has officially drawn to a close.

Bringing in over half a million visitors to Leeds city centre during the five-week period, the city has reaped the benefit seeing an economic boost of over £6.5 million spent by people taking part in the animation. Not only have we seen these remarkable economic results, but 90% of visitors also stated that the trail made Leeds city centre a more attractive place to visit.

In partnership with global games company Hasbro, MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover invited players to explore 22 key locations, solve puzzles, play mini-games, and discover giant tokens scattered across eight themed zones. It also celebrated Leeds’ rich gaming heritage, paying homage to the city where the first UK’s MONOPOLY was produced by Waddingtons, a Leeds-based company that brought the iconic game to life in the UK in 1936.

In collaboration with the Leeds Civic Trust, a 197th blue plaque marking the heritage of Waddingtons in the city was unveiled at Layton Grange, honouring Leeds-born Norman Victor Watson, managing director and later chairman of John Waddington Ltd. Norman was also the first person to play MONOPOLY in the United Kingdom. Additionally, in collaboration with Chapter 81, a mini-documentary has been commissioned, spotlighting Waddingtons and celebrating the history behind the well-known board game.

The Story of Waddingtons (MONOPOLY) Documentary

MONOPOLY Leeds Takeover was a hugely successful event that brought joy to the city, but also a tribute to Leeds’ vital contribution to the legacy of this iconic game.