Unlike many cities which enjoyed massive growth in the industrial revolution, Leeds has found a way to evolve and develop in the post-industrial age that today sees it established as one of the most dynamic and thriving cities in the country. With a city population of 457,000 at the last census, and the wider metropolitan district home to just below three-quarters of a million people, Leeds has become one of the eight “core cities” in England. This resident population is augmented by commuters arriving every working day from dormitory towns and villages in the district around the bustling city, and the numbers using the city-centre at night keep on increasing, enjoying the entertainment and shopping facilities that have seen Leeds dubbed “the Knightsbridge of the North”, its club and bar scene helped by the growing student population from Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan Universities. There has been a settlement in Leeds since at least Saxon times, when it was a country seat for the kings of Northumbria. Its position by a crossing of the Aire helped the development of commerce, a cloth market for the woollens made in the region growing up at the bridge. When that market moved up the road to Briggate in 1684 the location of the modern settlement was established. Leeds was given city status in 1893, as befitted a place of its commercial power and size. It had mushroomed during the industrial revolution, benefiting from its natural resources – the grazing lads of Yorkshire produced the wool for the textile industry; the coal found in the area helped power industrial machinery, and Leeds became a centre for making the machinery itself. When the Aire and Calder Navigation project began in 1699 the communications network that still centres on Leeds began to develop, linking the city with the Ouse and Humber by making the Calder and Aire rivers navigable. In 1816 the magnificent coast-to-coast Leeds-Liverpool canal was added. In 1812 the railway came, the Middleton Railway bringing coal to the city centre being the world’s first successful steam locomotive powered line. Today Leeds City Station boasts 17 platforms, and is the biggest in England outside the capital. These days Leeds is served by the M1 and M62, and has Leeds-Bradford Airport connecting the city with the major hubs of Heathrow, Schippol in Amsterdam, and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The city’s past has left a legacy of fine buildings. Outside the city but within easy striking distance is that grandest of country houses Harewood. The ruins of the 12th century Kirkstall Abbey, built by the Cistercians, lie to the west of the city, and the gatehouse now houses the Abbey House Museum with exhibitions from Victorian times as well as medieval. Perhaps the city’s best known modern attraction is the Royal Armouries, housing a fantastic collection moved from London in 1996, the historical nature of the contents contrasting dramatically with the exciting modern building. Leeds can also boast a fine cultural heritage, ranging across art forms and genres: among many others there is the three-yearly international piano competition started in 1963; the Grand Theatre hosing Opera North; the City Varieties that for many years hosted BBC’s “The Good Old Days,” and Roundhay Park is the venue for many major rock and pop concerts and festivals. As befits a major city, Leeds has a great sporting tradition too, though Leeds United FC now languish in the third-tier of national football. Leeds Rhinos have fared better, last winning Superleague in 2004, whereas their round ball rivals won their last top title in 1992. The city has a great past, but it seems to be destined for a greater future. The city centre already has some stunning new high-rise buildings like Bridgewater Place, with more under construction or planned to start in the next few years. The economy has successfully been transformed from industrial to commercial and service based businesses, though there is still an important engineering sector there. And of course it is not just for those living and working there to enjoy – every year more than ten million visitors flock to Leeds to see this brilliant mix of the old and the new.
Accountant
Armstrong Watson
Carter Financial Planning LLP
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Rawlinsons Chartered Accountants
Attraction
Abbey House Museum
Abbey Light Railway
BTCV Nursery and Wildlife Garden
Harewood House
Henry Moore Institute
Hollies Botanical Garden
Horsforth Village Museum
Kirkstall Abbey
Leeds City Art Gallery
Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills
Lotherton Bird Garden & Estate
Lotherton Estate & Gardens
Middleton Railway
Royal Armouries Museum
Steeton Hall Gateway (EH)
Temple Newsam Home Farm & Estate
Thwaite Mills Watermill
Tropical World
University Gallery Leeds
York Gate Garden
Budget
Ascot Grange Hotel *book online*
Bewleys Hotel *book online*
Boundary Hotel *book online*
Etap Hotel Leeds *book online*
Express by Holiday Inn Leeds Armouries *book online*
Ibis Leeds Centre *book online*
Premier Inn Leeds Bradford Airport *book online*
Premier Inn Leeds City Centre *book online*
Premier Inn Leeds City West *book online*
Premier Inn Leeds East *book online*
Quality Hotel Leeds - Selby *book online*
Travelodge Leeds Bradford Airport *book online*
Travelodge Leeds Central *book online*
Travelodge Leeds Central Vicar Lane *book online*
Travelodge Leeds Colton *book online*
Care Home
Amber Lodge Care Centre
Burley House Nursing Home
Castleton Care Home
Corinthian House
Halcyon Court
Harrogate Lodge Care Home
Larchfield
Primrose Court
Rievaulx House Care Centre
Simon Marks Court
The Sycamores
Willow Bank Nursing Home
Casino
Gala Casino
Grosvenor Casino Merrion Way
Grosvenor Casino Moortown
Charity
Bone Cancer Research Trust
Children's Heart Surgery Fund
Epilepsy Action
Heart Research UK
The Yorkshire Kidney Research Fund
Cinema
Ster Century Cinemas
Vue Leeds
Classes
Dance - Rachel Swann School of Dancing
Yoga - Kristal Clark
Club
Back to Basics
Bird Cage
Buffalo Lounge
Creation
Delaney's Bar
DV8
Faversham
Flares
Majestyk & Jumpin Jaks
Mint Club
Rehab Nightclub
The Elbow Room
The Warehouse
Think Tank
Conference Centre
Princes Exchange
Thorpe Park Business Park
Council
Dentist
Burley House Dental Care
Dental Practice
Dental Surgery
Dental Surgery
Fenner Dental Health
Hewage and Associates
Meanwood Dental Surgery
Roberts & Associate
The Dental Surgery
Doctor
Estate Agent
Butcher Henry & Co
Carter & Co
David Margerison & Partners
Frog88
Grenville Smith & Duncan
Lambert Smith Hampton
Mawsons
Morfitt Shaw
Rowbotham & Partners
Steven Goode & Company
The Property Showroom
Golf Club
Brandon
Cookridge Hall Golf & Country Club
Gotts Park
Headingley
Horsforth
Leeds
Leeds Golf Centre
Middleton Park Municipal
Moor Allerton
Moortown
Oulton Park
Roundhay Golf Club
Sand Moor
South Leeds Golf Club
Temple Newsam
Health and Fitness Club
David Lloyd LeisureDe-Layne School of Dance
Dragons Health Club
Esporta Leeds Cookridge Hall
Esporta Leeds The Light
Fitness First Leeds
LA Fitness
LivingWell Leeds City
Reviva Health Clubs for Women
Sebastian Coe Health Club
Triangle Health & Fitness Club Leeds
Hostel
Inn
Market
Alwoodley Community Association Car Boot
Bramhope Car Boot
Gildersome Car Boot
Kirkgate Market
Leeds And Bradford Car Boot
Swillington Car Boot
Performing Arts
Absolute Dance Academy
Big Red Curtain Performing Arts
City Varieties Music Hall
Leeds Festival Chorus
Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House
Leeds Symphony Orchestra
Stage One Drama
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Yorkshire Dance Centre
Pub and Bar
Ancestor
Becketts Arms
Blooming Rose
Break for the Border
Brown Hare
Bulls Head
Crowne Plaza Leeds
Dock Green Inn
Falconers Rest
Fat Cat Cafe Bar (Leeds)
Faversham
General Elliot
Grove Inn
Halton Moor
Harewood Arms Hotel
Imperial
Kiln Inn
Lord Darcy
Moorhouse Inn
Nags Head
Old Red Lion
Queens Public House
Rock Inn
Shoulder Of Mutton
The Bridge
The Ship
Waggon & Horses
White House
Whitelocks
Restaurant
Anthonys RestaurantBaby Cream
Bentley Rooms @ Woodlands
Brasserie Forty Four
Break for the Border
Brio
Bronte Restaurant
Browns
Cafe Thai
Calls Grill
Carluccio's
Casa Mia Grande
Chino Latino
Crowne Plaza Leeds
DD2
Dinos Homarus
Dysons Restaurant
Est Est Est
Fat Cat Cafe Bar (Leeds)
Fourth Floor Cafe at Harvey Nichols
Georgetown
Ha! Ha! Bar and Canteen
Hakuna Matata
Hansa's Gujarati Vegetarian Restaurant
Harewood Arms Hotel
Italian Job
Jamie's Italian
La Grillade
Livebait
Living Room
Ma Potters
Malmaison Brasserie
Maxi's Restaurant
Medina
Mononi
No 1 City Square
No 3 York Place
Normans
Olive Tree Greek Restaurant
Olive Tree Greek Restautant
Paris
Plush
Pool Court at 42
Quantro
Restaurant Anise at Hazlewood Castle
Room
Shabab
Simply Heathcotes
Slug and Lettuce
Tampopo
Thai Edge (Leeds)
The Living Room
Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa
Tiger Tiger Leeds
Vida
Wasabi Teppanyaki
Whitelocks
School
Blenheim Primary School
Carr Manor High School
Gateways School
Leeds Grammar School
Moorlands School
Richmond House School
Stage One Drama
The Froebelian School
Yorkshire Dance Centre
Self-Catering
Chambers Apartments
City Crash Pad Serviced Apartments
Entrada Apartments
Gateway Serviced Apartments
Greenhouse Apart Hotel
Harman Suites Self Catering Apartments
KSpace Waterloo Court Apartments
Leeds Central Apartments
Leeds Central Riverside Apartments
Leeds City Centre Apartments
Leeds City Centre II Apartments
Leeds City West Apartments
Residence 6 Luxury Serviced Apartments
Roomzzz City
The Chambers
The Chambers
Solicitor
Brooke North & Goodwin
Cousins Tyrer
Delaney John & Co
Fisch
Howard Cohen & Co
Ian Gillis & Co
Karim & Co Solicitors
Pinsent Masons
Shaw Martin
Taxi
1st New Yellow Cars
24-Seven
A Metro Cars
Ace Cars
Aireline Taxis
Arrow Licensed Private Hire
Coach Hire Leeds
Holbeck Line
Leeds Mini Bus Hire
Leeds Minibus
Leeds Minibus Hire
SJK Taxis
Streamline Taxis
Theatre
City Varieties Music Hall
Civic Theatre
Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House
The Carriageworks Theatre
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Vet
Sports Clubs
Adel CC (Cricket)
Adel TC (Tennis)
Aireborough Arrows (Basketball)
Aireborough RUFC (Rugby Union)
Airedale Olympic CC (Cycling)
Alwoodley TC (Tennis)
Bramhope Tennis Club (Tennis)
Global Hoops (Basketball)
Kippax Welfare Cricket Club (Cricket)
Leeds City TC (Tennis)
Leeds Freestyle Kickboxing (Martial Arts)
Leeds Hockey Club (Men's Hockey)
Leeds Hockey Club (Women's Hockey)
Leeds Metropolitan University (Men's Hockey)
Leeds Metropolitan University (Women's Hockey)
Leeds RC (Rowing)
Leeds Rhinos (Rugby League)
Leeds Sikh CC (Cricket)
Leeds Tigers Basketball Club (Basketball)
Leeds United Football Club (Football)
Leeds Womens CC (Cricket)
Leodiensian RUFC (Rugby Union)
New Farnley CC (Cricket)
North Leeds Cricket Club (Cricket)
Pool Tennis Club (Tennis)
Ramgharia Leeds (Men's Hockey)
West Park Bramhope RUFC (Rugby Union)
Yarnbury RFC (Rugby Union)
Yorkshire County Cricket Club (Cricket)
Yorkshire RC (Cycling)
Shops
Debenhams
Acorn Books
Books At The Park
The Bookshop Kirkstall
Garforth Bookshop & Stationers
Howard Philip Books Ltd
Just Books
Leeds Academic Books
Manor Books & Music
Owen Wesley
Jones the Bootmaker
Allsports
Rawcliffes Intersport
Flower Court
Daisy Chain
Boots
Wilsons
J B Meays & Son
Early Learning Centre
La Senza
Paradise Plant Nursery
Hayes Garden World
High Trees Garden Centre
Palmer Plants
Rothwell Garden Centre
William Strike Ltd
Beano Wholefoods
Love Organic
Organic Foods
Out Of This World
Vinceremos Wines and Spirits Ltd
Austin Reed
Whittard of Chelsea
High and Mighty
Dorothy Perkins
Forbidden Planet
Andrew Tylee Ltd
David H Myers Opticians Ltd
Barca Shoes
Firetrap
Radish
Shared Earth
J D Sports
Staples
Carphone Warehouse
Halfords
Fifi's
BodyShop
Blacks
Majestic Wine
Thorntons
The Loony Bin
Hawkesworth Butchers
ICHOR Gallery
Craft Centre & Design
North Street Gallery
ARTCO
Headrow Gallery
The Art-House
Autosports GAalery
Pictures & Posies
Reubens Gallery
Bruton Gallery
Deakin Guitars
Doorstep Organics
Love Organic!
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
Neal’s Yard Remedies
Org
Hawthorne House Farm
Wallis
H Samuel
Agent Provocateur
Peacocks
All Saints
Mothercare
Gamestation
Superdrug
B&Q
Goldsmiths
Urban Outfitters
Harvey Nichols
Lloyds Pharmacy
Hotel Chocolat
Barratt Shoes
Specsavers
Fat Face
T K Maxx
Crabtree and Evelyn
Millies Fresh and Organic
Tops Tiles
Sound And Vision
J J B Sports
House of Fraser
Lush
Pets At Home
Pets At Home
Hallmark Electrics
Beauty for You
River Island
Chiltern Mills
Chiltern Mills
Topman
Topman
Topshop
BHS
Office
Bikesnbits
The Entertainer
The Entertainer
Antiques
Woodstock
Windsor House Antiques (Leeds) Ltd
Victoria Antiques
Swiss Cottage Antiques
Cottage Antiques
Acorn Antiques
Carleton Clocks of Leeds
Trash and Treasure
Kolekt
Activities
Ministry of Paintball(Adventure)
Bowmen of Adel(Archery)
Bowmen of Leeds(Archery)
Panda Bowmen Archery Club(Archery)
Leeds City Cruisers Ltd(Boat Trips and Cruises)
Leeds Mercury RT(Cycling)
Leeds Premier ATR(Cycling)
West Yorkshire Rough Riders(Cycling)
Knotford Lagoon(Fishing)
Goals Soccer Centre(Football)
Motor Sport - Harewood Speed Hillclimb(Motor Sports)
Places to Stay near Leeds
Storm Jameson Court (0.28 miles)
Storm Jameson Court is a hotel-style residence, built in 2010 to a very high standard. The building is at the heart of the main campus, close to the city centre. The impressive foyer has ... More | visit website
Merrion Hotel (0.33 miles)
This modern, friendly city-centre hotel is 5 minutes' walk from Leeds Met and Leeds University, and is ideal for the city’s shopping and nightlife The Merrion, part of Brook Hotels, has reduced parking rates in the ... More | visit website
Radisson BLU Hotel Leeds (0.35 miles)
In central Leeds, this elegant hotel is located in The Light shopping and leisure complex. The rail station is a 5-minute walk away. Radisson BLU Hotel Leeds has individually themed bedrooms, each offering free Wi-Fi and ... More | visit website
Leeds City Centre Apartments (0.44 miles)
Beautifully preserved period features meet chic contemporary design in these exquisite apartments - all lovingly restored from a Victorian building in the heart of Leeds city centre. Sophisticated and ultra-stylish, the serviced apartments boast sleek interiors, ... More | visit website
The Wrens Hotel (0.45 miles)
The Ellington (0.45 miles)
The Leading Small Hotels of the World – The Ellington is a new luxury boutique hotel, offering contemporary style and elegant design, and combining a vibrant atmosphere with an intimate feel. The Ellington takes pride ... More | visit website
Residence 6 Luxury Serviced Apartments (0.45 miles)
Stay at Residence 6* and discover an unrivalled experience which will exceed the expectations of even the most discerning clientele, setting new standards for opulence, exclusivity and luxury living. Each individually air-conditioned Residence boasts over three ... More | visit website
Express By Holiday Inn Leeds City Centre (0.50 miles)
If you're looking for modern, friendly, air conditioned accommodation in Leeds, look no further than this newly refurbished hotel. Our hotel is conveniently situated for both the Leeds and the Metropolitan Universities. Set on the city ... More | visit website
Travelodge Leeds Central Vicar Lane (0.50 miles)
Sitting opposite the Grand Theatre and just a short walk away from the bustling centre, the Travelodge Leeds Central Vicar Lane is the ideal hotel for your next city break. With lots of shops, bars, ... More | visit website
Quebecs, The Leeds Town House (0.50 miles)
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