City Guides
Leeds
Introduction
Leeds is the principle city in the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, with a population of 443,247 in 2001.
Regarded as the fastest growing city in the UK, Leeds boasts award-winning bars, restaurants, clubs, theatres and museums. With one Michelin-starred restaurant in its centre, and three more in the wider borough, and a vast range of international and experimental dishes served in its ninety restaurants and cafés, Leeds has plenty to offer for a quiet night out. The city is also home to a number of ‘superclubs’, numerous renowned live music venues, swathes of chic wine and cocktail bars and the usual collection of real ale pubs and franchise bars, making it first choice for most students and young professionals in the surrounding areas.
The city also has a thriving cultural life. With four theatres, city and private art galleries and a permanent art exhibition in the University Art Department, there is plenty of choice for a cultural day out.
And Leeds also boasts a long and colourful history. The city has more listed buildings than the ancient city of York, and is home to the largest medical museum in the country. A publicly-funded trust has been set up to the protect the interests of the city’s many historical monuments, and visitors’ centres have been attached to many of Leeds’ most impressive sites to provide information for the thousands who make their way to these sites every year. Admission to most of these buildings is free, and most are open seven days a week.
Leeds is also a fine choice for shopping. With over a thousand shops, a busy market and four shopping centres, there are retailers to suit everyone. The budget stores in the Merrion Centre are a short walk from the designer outlets and Harvey Nichols’ first store outside of London in the Victoria Quarter.
Like many cities, Leeds is currently undergoing a program of regeneration. There are plans to build the tallest building outside of London, as well as a new shopping area in the city centre, and a city museum exploring the social history of the area. The city art gallery is also being renovated, with plans to expand the building and make it more accessible for disabled visitors.
Regarded as the fastest growing city in the UK, Leeds boasts award-winning bars, restaurants, clubs, theatres and museums. With one Michelin-starred restaurant in its centre, and three more in the wider borough, and a vast range of international and experimental dishes served in its ninety restaurants and cafés, Leeds has plenty to offer for a quiet night out. The city is also home to a number of ‘superclubs’, numerous renowned live music venues, swathes of chic wine and cocktail bars and the usual collection of real ale pubs and franchise bars, making it first choice for most students and young professionals in the surrounding areas.
The city also has a thriving cultural life. With four theatres, city and private art galleries and a permanent art exhibition in the University Art Department, there is plenty of choice for a cultural day out.
And Leeds also boasts a long and colourful history. The city has more listed buildings than the ancient city of York, and is home to the largest medical museum in the country. A publicly-funded trust has been set up to the protect the interests of the city’s many historical monuments, and visitors’ centres have been attached to many of Leeds’ most impressive sites to provide information for the thousands who make their way to these sites every year. Admission to most of these buildings is free, and most are open seven days a week.
Leeds is also a fine choice for shopping. With over a thousand shops, a busy market and four shopping centres, there are retailers to suit everyone. The budget stores in the Merrion Centre are a short walk from the designer outlets and Harvey Nichols’ first store outside of London in the Victoria Quarter.
Like many cities, Leeds is currently undergoing a program of regeneration. There are plans to build the tallest building outside of London, as well as a new shopping area in the city centre, and a city museum exploring the social history of the area. The city art gallery is also being renovated, with plans to expand the building and make it more accessible for disabled visitors.
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