Student creates incredible tube style map for Leeds neighbourhoods named 'Hyde Park Underground'

University of Leeds student Monty Towns noticed a tube style map on the side in the kitchen in his family home near Nottingham which showed details of the villages surrounding where he grew up.

So, when Monty found himself needing something to do over the course of this lockdown and the previous one, he decided to re-create the map orientated around his current home on Manor Drive in Headingley.

The 19-year-old started by creating the map as a personal memoir of his experiences of the Leeds student scene, but his housemates saw his talent and suggested he sell copies of the map to others.

Monty has now sold over 250 A2, A3 and A4 copies of his detailed Leeds map on the online small business retailer and supporter, Etsy.

The second-year Economics student said: "I never expected my maps to be this popular as they started off as just being something I wanted to make for myself to document my experiences of being a student in Leeds.

"I started off by marking out the places I had been to in Leeds, and then I used Google Earth to create little paths around areas of the city centre, Hyde Park, Headingley and Kirkstall primarily.

"It is sort of a representation of the start of the Otley Run and then ends with some bars and clubs in Leeds town."

Monty posted his creation into a Leeds student Facebook group and popularity of the maps grew with over 1,300 likes on his initial post.

The social media post said: "Hello Leeds friends, over the last few weeks I have been procrastinating...

"I've made a London style tube map of everything we love about Hyde Park and Leeds.

"If you want to grab one, they are available using the link below.

"I have them in A2 and A3."

It took only one day until Monty thanked the members of the group for the "amazing response so far" as he updated Leeds students on small additions he had made to the map at people's request.

Monty also told the map lovers that after requests for an A4 size, that was now available online as well.

The map which he is selling is his third variation of the artwork, having added more detail and Leeds student 'landmarks' each time.

Monty added: "I honestly thought I would only sell around 20 copies but people seem to love the maps.

"They do take a while to develop and I'm not doing it full time but it's nice to have a hobby for a couple of hours each evening during lockdown.

"The success of this map has made me start thinking about creating tube style maps for other student cities as well."

Monty's 'Hyde Park Underground' map is on sale here.