The area remained working class for many decades[quantify] but the growth of the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University in the late 20th century brought a growing student population to Burley and the surrounding areas of Hyde Park, and Headingley.

Built in 1854, it is a stone church with spire, and was designated a Grade II listed building on 5 August 1976.

[5] St. Simon's Church, funded by Edmund Denison-Beckett MP, was located on Ventnor Street [6] but was closed as part of a clearance scheme in the 1960s.

Burley Branch Library was open on Cardigan Road between 1926 and 2016, closing due to the poor condition of the building.

Cardigan Fields leisure park complex contains a multi-screen cinema, a nightclub, a gymnasium, a 10-pin Bowling, a public house, and a supermarket.

The Leeds and Liverpool Canal and River Aire form Burley's southern boundary, and are popular with walkers, cyclists and fishermen.

[citation needed] Local artists open their homes as galleries to display their work as part of Triangle Art Day.

The station connects Burley with the city centre, Headingley, Horsforth, Harrogate, Knaresborough and York.

First Leeds' 15, 19, 19A, 33, 33A, 49, 50 and 50A bus services link Burley with the city centre, Bradford, Farsley, Horsforth, Ireland Wood, Tinshill, Kirkstall, Headingley, Bramley, Garforth, Guiseley, Menston, Otley, St James' Hospital and Seacroft.

Queens ARLFC play in the Pennine League Premier Division and have headquarters at Burley Social Club.