Life in Leeds
Leeds offers the best of both worlds, combining a fast-paced, buzzing city centre with some of England’s most attractive countryside within easy reach.
The city can boast rich local history, world class sport, fantastic shopping and a diverse programme of public events.
To find out more about the area, click on any of the links below:
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Leeds has been described as a shopaholic’s dream – not for nothing was it voted the UK’s best shopping destination by the Rough Guide to Britain.
From the elegant domed structure of the Corn Xchange to the exquisite Victoria Quarter, the city centre caters for every taste.
There are upmarket department stores such as Harvey Nichols whilst the city will be given a further boost with the £700 million retail-led development on the Eastgate Quarters in the city centre, scheduled for completion in 2012.
Outside the city centre, the White Rose Centre offers many major brands under one roof while further afield lie the market towns of Ilkley and Harrogate.
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The arts
Leeds has a rich history of contemporary art and sculpture with strong links to Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and more recently Damien Hirst.
The Henry Moore Institute is acclaimed for its collections and research, and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, set in 500 acres of 18th century parkland, is less than half an hour away.
Leeds City Art Gallery has what The Times called “probably the best collection of twentieth century British art outside London” and Leeds is the only English city outside London to have its own opera house and ballet companies – the internationally acclaimed Opera North and Northern Ballet Theatre.
Leeds has a total of five theatres, including the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the largest repertory theatre outside London and Stratford, and the city plays host to the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition and the Leeds International Film Festival.
Salts Mill in nearby Saltaire has one of the largest collections of art by David Hockney pictures as well as a selection of shops and restaurants.
Leeds has long been a great place to enjoy music – and to make it.
Classic albums like The Who’s Live at Leeds and the Rolling Stones’ Get Your Leeds Lungs Out were recorded in the city while more recent local successes include Kaiser Chiefs, Corinne Bailey Rae, Embrace, The Music and The Pigeon Detectives.
Leeds also boasts a string of summer music events taking in everything from the Gatecrasher Summer Soundsystem and O2 Wireless Festival to free events like Opera in the Park, Party in the Park and Classical Fantasia.
In August, more than 70,000 music fans come to Bramham Park near Leeds for the Carling Leeds Festival, which features three days of the biggest bands in rock, metal, hip hop and dance.
Leeds International Concert Season is the largest concert season of its kind in the UK, with over 200 events from September to May each year. Every Sunday during summer, local brass, jazz and concert bands perform for free in local parks across the city.
Leeds is renowned for its good nights out.
As well as the usual high street venues, the city has a thriving array of independent bars and clubs.
The Northern Quarter around New Briggate boasts the likes of Mojo, Sandinista and North Bar, whilst the Exchange Quarter is home to a range of popular establishments from brb, Oporto and Norman to the more relaxed and refined surroundings of Art’s Café.
Leeds is also home to one of the UK’s longest running club nights, the legendary Back to Basics, which attracts clubbers from across the country.
With more than 130 bars and almost 40 clubs to choose from, it is no surprise that Leeds was voted the UK’s best city for nightlife by Conde Nast Traveller.
When it comes to eating out, you are really spoilt for choice in Leeds.
The city is filled with great places to eat, from coffeehouses where you can get a quick cuppa and piece of cake, to fine dining restaurants.
The restaurants in Leeds are recognised amongst the best in the country, with acclaimed eateries catering for every taste and creating flavours from around the world. The Which? Good Food Guide was so impressed that in 2007 it named Leeds as one of the UK’s best cities for restaurants.
The Leeds city region is home to two Michelin-starred restaurants, The Box Tree in Ilkley, and Burlington Restaurant at the Devonshire Arms. In the city centre, two restaurants hold the Michelin Bib Gourmande: Brasserie Forty 4 and Anthony’s at Flannels. Anthony’s was named Best UK Restaurant 2005 by the Observer Food Monthly, and currently holds three AA rosettes.
Sport of all sorts is a passion for people in Leeds and Yorkshire.
While the glory days are still to return for Leeds United, the football club commands a loyal and passionate following and Elland Road is one of England’s great traditional grounds.
Cricket is followed with a fervour unmatched elsewhere in the country with Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s Headingley cricket ground the stage for some of the most memorable sporting moments down the years.
While Botham’s Ashes may now be part of history, Yorkshire players such as Matthew Hoggard and England captain Michael Vaughan are very much part of the present.
Leeds has the world’s first dual-code rugby partnership - Leeds Rhinos Rugby League and Leeds Carnegie Rugby Union. The Leeds Rhinos in particular have enjoyed great success in recent years, including notable victories over local rivals the Bradford Bulls in Rugby League’s Superleague.
Leeds has a fine selection of 21 public and private golf courses to choose from and one of the first ever Ryder Cup tournaments was held in Leeds, at Moortown in 1929.
A short drive from the city, Wetherby racecourse was established in 1891 and is considered one of best jump courses in the country.
And for the more adventurous sports fan, Xscape Castleford is one of the biggest indoor ski slopes in the country.
Leeds is one of Europe’s greenest cities, boasting acres of parkland. Temple Newsam, one of England’s great historic estates, offers 1,500 acres of woodland, farm and gardens as well as guided tours of the magnificent Tudor-Jacobean house.
Roundhay Park, with its stunning 700 acres of rolling parkland, lakes, woodlands and gardens, is one of 13 ‘historic landscapes’ in Leeds, and supports a wide variety of wildlife including deer, swans, foxes and birds.
Harewood House, home of the Queen’s cousin, has outstanding art collections, fascinating exhibitions, formal gardens, a bird garden and an adventure playground.
The picturesque ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, a 12th century Cistercian monastery, are just three miles from the city centre while the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is less than 20 miles away.
Leeds is home to The Royal Armouries, the national collection of arms and armour. The Armouries is the oldest museum in Britain and one of the oldest in the world.
The collection moved to Leeds in 1996 and has five exhibition galleries, as well as outdoor spaces for various activities including jousting and falconry.
Since opening in 1997, Thackray Museum, which tells the story of medicine, has been named UK Museum of the Year, England’s Visitor Attraction of the Year, maintained the Sandford Award for Heritage Education and been short-listed for European Museum of the Year.
“Leeds. The best English city to visit outside London.” – Conde Nast Traveller 2005.
“Leeds attracts more visitors per annum than traditional holiday destinations like Brighton and Torquay.” – VisitBritain.
“One of the best 30 cities for business in Europe.” – Cushman and Wakefield’s European Cities Monitor 2006.
“The UK’s most female-friendly city.” – Future Laboratory ‘Tigra Town’ research 2006.
"Leeds. The best university destination." - The Independent 2004/5.
"Leeds. Visitor city of the year." - The Good Britain Guide 2004.
"Leeds. The best place in Britain to live." - Henley Management College ’Urban Behaviours’ study.