He served as High Sherriff of Buckinghamshirein 1909 and was created a baronet in the 1911 Coronation honours.
Over the years Leon acquired many plots of land in which he donated for public and educational uses. Leon gave the land of which is now known as Leon Recreational ground to the local council in demand for it to become a public park for the youth of Fenny Stratfordand Bletchley. He also donated other plots of land in the south of Bletchleyfor them to become public schools for the local children of the Lakes Estate.
Leon was Chairman of the Rationalist Press Association, 1913-1922.
In 1970 Leon School and Sports College was built on the Lakes Estate in Bletchley in Leon's honour. In September 2012 the school was renamed as Sir Herbert Leon Academy as a sign of appreciation for the works and funding Leon and his late wife had brought to the local area.

Herbert Samuel Leon bought over 300 acres of land beside the London and North-Western Railway line that passed through Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, developing sixty of those acres into his country estate. At the heart of the estate, he built a mansion in a curious mixture of architectural styles. One of Bletchley's greatest benefactors, he was much loved by the local people. He was awarded a baronetcy in 1911.