Welcome to LEaF Translations.

We are a small, friendly translation company based in the beautiful city of York.

We believe in quality, in working with like-minded people and in making a positive difference. Want to know more?

Read on to find out which translation services we offer and how we can help companies and individuals based in York with our excellent translations.

Our translation services

LEaF Translations provides professional translation services in a number of languages. We work with a small pool of highly experienced native-speaker translators with excellent credentials to ensure our high quality standards are always met. All translations are also proofread by a language expert before delivery. We take great pride in our work and love nothing more than to exceed the expectations of our clients.

Our translation services include:

German translations

French translations

Spanish translations

Chinese translations

Japanese translations

Are you looking for a translator to translate a text into one of these language combinations?

Email your text over to hello@leaftranslations.com now, or ring the friendly team at LEaF on 01904 373077 and find out how we can help.

A word from our clients

Recommended for reliable, fast, high-quality and fairly priced translations! LEaF Translations is our partner of choice

– Dr Mark Misselhorn, Caphenia

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the really fast turnaround and the thorough translations, which were perfect for our requirements. It was a pleasure to work with LEaF. We are very happy customers!

– Alexander Kuhlmann, VIVANI chocolate

I worked with Lucy as part of a full German to English website translation project for a shared client. She was very easy to work with and very professional. The translations were excellent and were a perfect match for the specific voice of the company in question. I would definitely recommend LEaF Translations!

– Suzanne Frankenfeld, Kleine Prints

I am really happy with the work. LEaF delivered precisely what I needed in a very short space of time and in a way that I could easily fit into my existing documents. And all of this at a really amazing price. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending LEaF!

– Elisabeth Steger, shesmile

Check out some of our previous translation projects >>

York and LEaF Translations:
a perfect match

LEaF Translations was founded in 2017 by Lucy Pembayun. Lucy was born in York and, after moving to Edinburgh in 2001 and then to Bamberg, Fulda and Berlin in Germany, to study and work, she finally returned to York in 2011.

Regularly found on Bishopthorpe Road in York – voted the UK’s number one high street – Lucy believes that LEaF’s ethos has been in part shaped by the city of York:

York is a very welcoming city and has a definite European feel. Lots of people from different parts of Europe have made their home here and have helped to make York an outward-looking place. Aside from its beautiful architecture and fascinating history, York is also full of independent shops and businesses, and there are lots of people here trying to make a real difference. It is inspiring to know so many people trying to reduce our impact on the environment and to find ways to help those in need. It makes me even more determined to show that business can be ethical and to help make a positive difference.”

[Photo from www.visityork.org]

LEaF Translations is a proud member of Visit York and offers exclusive discounts to fellow Visit York members.

Contact us for a quote to claim your discount.

Our favourite spots in York

Here at LEaF Translations we feel very at home in York. Although a city, York has a very villagey feel. The medieval city walls surround the old town and have served to keep the centre very compact. There are lots of historical buildings and even a few world-famous landmarks within the city walls, including York Minster – one of the largest cathedrals in Europe; Clifford’s Tower and the Shambles – a street that looks like it has walked straight out of the set of Harry Potter (complete with a number of Harry Potter themed shops to add to the illusion).York has lots of highlights – it is packed full of fabulous independent businesses, gorgeous cobbled streets and fantastic restaurants. Here are some of our favourite places in York. Check them out next time you are in the area!

Bishy Road

Officially known as Bishopthorpe Road, Bishy Road has been voted the number one high street in the UK and is one of those places that has a real community feel. It is home to some fabulous restaurants and cafés – including the Pig & Pastry, possibly the best café in the world for brunch – as well as a yoga studio, two fruit and veg shops (one of which is currently on the road to going plastic-free), a traditional butcher’s, a florist, Pexton’s – a hardware store selling anything and everything – Frankie & Johnny’s, the go-to place for homeware gifts, and the Bishy Weigh, an eco pantry selling zero-packaging products – take along your own containers and fill up on rice, cereals, dent tabs, shampoo, nuts and more.

Visiting Bishy Road is good for soul. Whether you are there to do yoga, enjoy brunch at the Pig & Pastry or just get your watch battery changed at Pexton’s, it is so full of friendly, helpful people that you are certain to leave with a smile on your face.

The Minster Gardens

Lots of people come to York to see York Minster – a huge, beautiful cathedral in the heart of York. So huge, that you can admire it from far and wide – partly because the Vale of York is so flat and partly because there is a law in York stating no building can be taller than the Minster.

We think that the best way to see the Minster is from the Minster Gardens – a small park behind York Minster, complete with grass, trees, benches and a calm, contemplative atmosphere. It is a great place to just sit and take in the Minster in all its glory.

From the Minster Gardens you can walk out the gates, past the Treasurer’s House and down my favourite street in York – Ogleforth. From there, you reach Goodramgate, another of York’s old streets that is full of cafés (including the fantastic vegetarian Goji).

If you walk back towards the centre of York and turn right, you can head back towards the Minster, passing the stonemasons – hard at work creating new stones to be used in the endless refurbishments of the cathedral.

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Clifford’s Tower

An archetypal castle perched atop a perfect mound that shines bright yellow with daffodils in the spring. A true sight to behold and a lovely welcome to the centre of York.

Despite its pleasing appearance, Clifford’s Tower has a dark history. Dating back to the 11th century, it was burnt down in 1190 after being offered to York’s Jewish community as a place of sanctuary and then besieged and burnt down. The 150 or so Jews who had been hiding out inside the tower either committed suicide or escaped the fire, only to then be murdered by the angry, anti-semitic mob waiting outside. Clifford’s Tower was rebuilt soon afterwards and is believed to have been used as a treasury and as a prison.

Nowadays it is owned by English Heritage. York residents (with a valid York Card) can visit for free on Residents’ Weekend. Perhaps the best thing about visiting Clifford’s Tower is the fantastic panoramic views of the historical city of York that you can enjoy from the top. Well worth a visit!

Spring Espresso

There are lots of brilliant cafes in York but, if fantastic coffee is your thing, Spring is the place to go. The food and cakes aren’t half bad either. The original Spring is on Fossgate and there is now a second Spring on Lendal. A brilliant independent York business selling the best coffee in town.

Did you know…

…that our translations are carbon-neutral? We work together with the good people at Ecologi to help fund climate projects around the world and to plant the equivalent of 50 trees a month.

Want to work with us?

York’s City Walls

York’s city walls date back to medieval times and are the longest surviving town walls in England, spanning a whole 2 miles. They encircle the historical centre of York and stand as an imposing ancient monument built from 13th century magnesian limestone.

They look mighty impressive, are very handy to help orientate yourself when visiting York and, most importantly, are simply a great way to see the city. There are four gates into the old town, known as bars: Monkgate Bar, Micklegate, Bootham Bar and Walmgate. These gates can all still be marvelled at to this day.

You can access the walls via steps in these gates – the section between Monkgate Bar and Bootham Bar is especially picturesque, providing views of the back of the Minster.

If you have an hour or so in York, it is well worth heading to the walls and wandering around, enjoying a unique perspective of this stunning city.

[Photo from www.visityork.org]

The Shambles

The most famous street in York and possibly the best-preserved medieval street in the world, the Shambles was first mentioned in 1086 and many of the buildings found on the street today date back to the late 14th century.

Walking up the Shambles nowadays is extremely atmospheric – you feel a bit like you have been transported back in time.

In one part of the Shambles, the opposing houses are so close that they almost touch. Apparently, the buildings were designed this way to protect the meat on display on the walls below from direct sunshine – the Shambles was originally home to butchers’ shops and their houses.

On that note, be sure to look down as you walk up the Shambles – the pavements were built raised on either side of the cobbled street to create a channel where the butchers could wash away all the offal and blood. What a lovely image that is…

[Photo from Visit York]