Leeds

Once upon a time Leeds was drab industrial city. Now it’s a cultural and commercial hub where you’ll find free festivals, a lively waterfront and pedestrianised streets lined with shops, bars that bring in the partygoers, restaurants selling dishes from around the world and Leeds Festival, sister festival to the legendary Reading Festival.

Leeds city centre is a shopper’s paradise, offering visitors everything from sparkling shopping centres to big brand retailers and independent boutiques, many being housed in renovated Edwardian and Victorian-era buildings. You’ll find over 200 shops around the The Corn Exchange, Victoria Quarter and Trinity Leeds.

After all that shopping you’re likely be famished, and Leeds’ restaurants are some of the best places to refuel in the country. Drawing influences from up to 130 nationalities, here you can sample cuisine from China, India, Mexico and Pakistan plus traditional British dishes. The Waterfront is an exciting area with cafés, restaurants and fast-food joints.

If you’re coming to Leeds to enjoy a night on the town, then head toward the Exchange Quarter. Trail around Leeds traditional English pubs, chic lounge bars, dance clubs and live music venues for a night on the town you’ll be recounting for years to come.

If you’re visiting Leeds for culture, then the city has a great selection of attractions for you. Explore the beautiful architecture surrounding City Square and Millennium Square. Enjoy sculpture from 20th Century sculptors at the Henry Moore Institute and peruse masterpieces by great British painters, such as John Constable, at the Leeds Art Gallery. Learn about Leeds’ past and browse artefacts from the ancient world at Leeds City Museum. Visit The Royal Armouries Museum, which has over 8,500 objects of armour and weapons.

If you’re into sport the Leeds has you covered. Watch the cricket at Headingley or a bit of football at Elland Road. If music is more your thing, check out one of the countless summer music festivals, both free and paid-for. The epic Leeds Festival welcomes international acts of all genres while Opera in the Park and Classical Fantasia are both free events focussing more on classic music.

Trains and buses provide direct services to Leeds from major British cities, including Bristol, Liverpool and London. You can easily explore the city on foot or use public buses to visit areas outside the city centre. Among these are the lush Roundhay Park, Harewood House and Kirkstall Abbey.