Leeds

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Leeds is a city in the north of England. It's within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which are quite lovely.

Get in

You can get to Leeds quite easily. It has its own airport - shared with Bradford. Manchester airport is larger, nearby and has trains that run through the night (although they're only every couple of hours or so after 1am). As well as Manchester (about an hour and a bit) the station has rail links to York (20-30 mins), London (2-2.5 hrs), Newcastle (about 90 mins) and many places further afield. Express coaches also serve Leeds - for cheap ones from Newcastle and London check Megabus.com or for slightly more expensive ones from a far wider variety of destinations, try National Express.

Get around

Getting around Leeds is fairly easy. The bus service isn't bad - most major routes within the city are every 10 minutes or so. If you're just visiting the city centre, you might as well walk. It's really not that big. Taxis can be expensive, but the black and white ones are licensed and safer then private hire cabs.

See

  • City markets.
  • Kirkgate Market[1].
  • Royal Armouries Museum[2].
  • Art Galleries.
  • Armley Mills industrial museum[3].
  • Tropical World[4].
  • Millenium Square (There is generally something going on! )

Do

  • Opera
  • Theatre
  • Walking around - in the town, and out on the Meanwood Valley Trail
  • Cinema - Leeds somehow manages to have the worst cinema this wikitraveller has ever experienced in the Kirkstall Road complex. Filthy and with no information whatsoever about current film showings, the staff give you a good reason to stay at home and rent DVD's online! You are much better off attending Cottage Road Cinema[5] in the centre of Headingley. Plenty to do afterwards as well.
  • Temple Newsam[6], (4 miles from Leeds City Centre off A63, 2 miles from M1 junction 46). Temple Newsam is one of the great historic estates in England. With over 1500 acres landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century, it is a large Tudor–Jacobean mansion housing a large collection of works of art. The garden has some excellent walks and houses a working Rare Breeds farm.

Eat

  • L'Oranaise[7], (Hyde Park). This Algerian restaurant offers authentic atmosphere and eating - even a Sheesha pipe for after the meal. The food is amongst the best this Wikitraveller has tasted in Leeds. Teas and Coffees can be taken upstairs amongst the low tables and scatter cushions.
  • The Clock Cafe, (Hyde Park). This wikitraveller has found it difficult to fault this restaurant despite several visits. Anything on the menu is delicious and the service and beers (no weak fizzy lager here!) are outstanding. The setup is basic with benches and tables but the atmosphere is pitched just right for small groups and couples - recommended.

Drink

Leeds' two large universities means there is a lot of nightlife including loads of clubs.

Leeds CAMRA offer free pub guides from their website[8]

  • Whitelocks, (off Briggate). A great old pub, one of the most impressive in Leeds.
  • Victoria Family and Commercial Hotel, (behind the town hall). A refurbished Victorian gem.
  • The Palace, (down by the bus station).
  • The Scarbrough Hotel, (near the train station). Leeds CAMRA Pub of the Year 2003/4[9]
  • The Duck and Drake, (by the markets). A 'locals' pub
  • North Bar, (24 New Briggate). Great beer selection!
  • Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen, (next to millenium square near the hands sculpture). Gay-friendly, trendy - a place to meet your date.
  • Fab Bar, (Just below the metropolitan university) Great place to visit if you like your music away from the mainstream, and they actually have what seems to be an original 'Star Wars: The Trilogy' arcade cabinet!

Buy

Leeds has a number of options for shopping including Victorian-era shopping arcades. If you're after cheap stuff - and cheap food - the city markets (Kirkgate Market) are the place to go.