Armley is a predominantly and historically working class area, including many rows of back-to-back terrace houses. Armley is steeped in history. Armley Mills, now the Armley Mills Industrial Museum , was the World's largest Woollen Mill when it was built in 1788. In the 18th and 19th centuries Armley was, through its mills, a major contributor to the economy of the city of Leeds. Many of the buildings still standing in and around Armley were built in the 1800s, including many of the churches, schools, shops and houses.

Ledgard Way is named after the late Armley entrepreneur Samuel Ledgard. Armley also has picturesque views over the rest of Leeds from certain vantage points