CITY 

Introduction: 

Leeds is the largest city in Yorkshire, third largest in England and Wales and lies on the River Aire at the eastern end of the Pennines foothills. 

Brief History: 

A forested area of the Kingdom of Elmet, contained Loidis, the original name of Leeds and was mentioned by the Venerable Bede in his book “The History of the English Church and People” in 730AD. At the time of the Norman Conquest there was a thriving manor under Ilbert de Lacy.

The town got its first charter in 1207 but expansion was slow during the Mediaeval and Tudor periods. In the Civil War, having become a part of the Duchy of Lancaster, Leeds was Royalist. The town in this time was bounded by Kirkgate,  Briggate and River Aire. Leeds Grammar School was founded in 1552. 

It was the woollen industry and the Industrial Revolution generally that shot Leeds forward in both trade and population. 

Canals arrived in the eighteenth century and the railway in 1830s. 

When Leeds was granted city status in 1893 industry had expanded to include engineering, coal, textiles, chemicals and leather. Tramways connected the city centre to suburbs. 

The twentieth century saw the establishment of the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan University and renowned medical provision expanded with Leeds General Infirmary and St. James Hospital. 

During the first world war 10,000 shells were produced in Cross Gates and the city had the Leeds Pals Regiment which suffered most of its losses at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. 

Post WW2 saw the decline of the old industries and the city expanded their retail, commerce and media bases establishing it as one of the eight regional core centres in the country. 

Things to Do: 

Leeds City Museum:

Located in the Leeds Institute building in Millennium Square the museum is a free attraction. It has four floors and has many galleries exploring Leeds Life over the centuries. There is also a spacious shop selling a good range of merchandise. The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays until 5pm. Metered car parking is on street close by and is a short walk from the central bus and railway stations. 

Roundhay Park:

Located in Princes Avenue, LS8 1DF, this is one of Europe’s largest city parks covering 700 acres of park, woods and lakes and was founded in 1872.  The greenhouses, in Tropical World, contain the largest collections of tropical plants outside Kew in London. This is a great family attraction and explores habitats such as jungle, water, desert and night time zones.

The Park has a skate park, playground, land train and cafes.

Buses 2 and 12 run to the park from the city centre regularly. 

Leeds Industrial Museum:

This fun museum is located in Millennium Square, LS2 8BH and is free entry. There are six galleries, “Ancient Worlds”, “Life on Earth”, “World View”, “Leeds Story” etc. and a couple of temporary exhibitions at any time. There are also films about Leeds life today. There is a shop, refreshments and generally open Tuesday to Sunday until 5pm. 

Temple Newsam:

This is a Tudor-Jacobean estate which was once owned by Henry VIII. It was also the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots infamous husband, Lord Darnley. The house itself contains a spectacular collection of paintings, silver, ceramics, textiles etc. The estate also possesses a park/garden designed by Capability Brown and is also home to rare breeds of cattle. The house is open from Tuesday to Sunday and there are nominal entrance fees to the house and gardens. There is also a shop and light refreshments available on site. Its location is LS15 0AD and parking is free. The no.10 bus runs from Leeds Bus Station to the house. 

Royal Armouries Museum:

Opened in 1996 in a new building the museum is the national museum for arms and armour and contains 75,000 objects from around the world. It shows weapons from the mediaeval ages to the current day soldier and pieces from the Royal houses of Europe in five galleries. 

The museum located in Armouries Drive, LS10 1LT has free entry and is open all year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. There is a shop and light refreshments available on site. 

Leeds Art Gallery:

Located on the Headrow, LS1 3AA close to the Town Hall, the gallery has works by Graham Sutherland, Tissot, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Rodin, Anthony Gormley, Francis Bacon and other well known artists together with a good selection of modern British paintings. The gallery was opened in 1888 in honour of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

It is open until 5pm every day and there is a shop and café. Entrance is free. Further information can be obtained by phoning 0113 245 7676 or by email at city.art.gallery@leeds.gov.uk . 

Harewood House:

This beautiful stately home was designed by the architects, Robert Adam and John Carr, and built in the late 18th century. The house was built for the Lascelles family and the current Earl is a close blood relation to the Queen. Furniture by Chippendale, gardens by Capability Brown and paintings of same by Turner ensures a quality home. The TV drama Brideshead Revisited used the house for filming. Visitors can view the State Rooms and Below Stairs, the Gardens and Parkland and the Birdhouse.

Tickets are available on the day at the entrance. For all information regarding opening times and prices phone 0113 218 1010 or email to info@harewood.org .

If you use regular buses 36, Leeds to Harrogate, or 923, from Otley and  Wetherby to Tadcaster, you get tickets at half price. There is a shuttle bus to take you from main gate to the house.

There is good car parking in the grounds and you should aim for Harewood Village which lies on the A61 Leeds to Harrogate road, and just 7 miles from both.

Food and drink is available in the Courtyard café or on The Terrace. 

Also worth visiting:

There are many more attractions that are worth visiting including National Coal Mining Museum, Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Kirstall Abbey, etc. Full information available on www.visitleeds.co.uk . 

Night Life:

Nightlife in Leeds is second to none. Bars, nightclubs and old fashioned drinking dens thrive throughout the city. As an example, Oporto, in Call Lane, has been named “best night out in the UK.” Call Lane also has another couple of bars worth visiting. 

Other clubs, about a dozen, abound and live music is a staple together with good beer and food. The O2 Academy is a large scale music venue and the Hifi club has regular comedy in its basement bar. 

The venues are scattered throughout the city centre. 

Leeds Grand and Opera House theatre, located on New Briggate is the home to Opera North and Northern Ballet (in the adjacent Howard Assembly Room) and also presents West End and Broadway musicals. This 1500 seat venue is recognized as an important Victorian theatre. 

Other city Theatres include West Yorkshire Playhouse and The Carriageworks Theatre. 

Leeds Town Hall puts on concerts, comedy and film. 

First Direct Arena stages major world class music concerts, comedy and sporting events. 

City Varieties Music Hall is a national treasure. It houses the longest running Variety programme in the country as well as the “Good Old Days” popular TV show of a few years back. Based in Swan Street in the city centre this theatre is well worth a visit. To find out about acts to be featured telephone 0113 243 0808. 

Cinemas in the city are provided by Vue, Everyman, Odeon, Showcase and the Cottage Road cinema which has been showing films since 1912. 

Eating Out:

If you want it, Leeds has it, as far as eating out is concerned. The city centre is crammed with eateries of all nationalities. British, Italian and other European cusines, plus American and all ethnic menus are available.

Suburbs and nearby Dales villages are also well catered for. 

Shopping:

As to be expected, a city the size of Leeds has enormous diversity in its retail sector. House of Fraser, John Lewis, Harvey Nicholls for a start as far as department stores are concerned.

Add to this the half a dozen indoor shopping malls containing High Street chain stores and independent shops mixed together. Some of the malls include cinema complexes, food courts and hotels.

There are also a few Arcades, the Grand being the most well known with its Potts clock which involves knights striking anvils and figures moving around as the hour is struck.

Leeds Kirkgate Market is a huge indoor space which has served the community for decades.

Leeds Corn Exchange is another indoor retail space. It is interestingly circular and houses a variety of boutiques, specialist stalls and eating space. 

Accommodation:

With approximately 100 hotels and guest houses the city is not short of accommodation and the range is from 4 star International and National chains down to local boutique hotels and guest houses.

Many pubs, of course, also offer rooms. 

Transport: 

Buses:

Unlike many very large British cities, Leeds does not operate a tram or subway system. Instead a very comprehensive bus service is run through the city centre and environs. These are run by the First Group and West Yorkshire Metro. The bus station is located at the St. Peter Street/York Street junction and there are further bus hubs throughout the city centre, such as Leeds Central Station and The Headrow.

Special buses are provided for Elland Road and Leeds/Bradford Airport from the city centre. 

Railway:

A major hub for the national rail network, Leeds City station is the second busiest English station outside of London and is located south of City Square behind the Queen’s Hotel.

This terminus feeds all major cities in the United Kingdom and the London destination is Kings Cross. Five of the British train companies operate out of the station together with a Metro operation that serves West Yorkshire. 

Road: 

Air:

Leeds/Bradford is located six miles north west of the city centre, within the Leeds Metropolitan District boundary. It is a major tourist airport with its routes mainly to the rest of UK and Europe.

Access to the city centre is by bus, coach, taxi or car. 

Taxis: