A city of contrasts, Leeds is home to gleaming skyscrapers and historic Victorian arcades. Its modern malls make it a mecca for shopping enthusiasts, while it also boasts fantastic restaurants, trendy craft breweries and cosmopolitan nightlife.
Things to do in Leeds
Famous for its beauty, the Victoria Quarter shopping arcade is brimming with luxury retailers. The building is adorned with a tiled mosaic floor, wood-panelled shopfronts and a stained-glass ceiling. Inside you'll find high-end retail outlets, such as Louis Vuitton and Harvey Nichols.
Book tickets to a show at the Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, one of the city's top live music venues. It hosts everything from comedy acts and burlesque shows to folk concerts and rock gigs. There's also a breezy roof terrace with sweeping views of the city.
Originally built to house relics from the Tower of London, today the Royal Armouries showcases weaponry from across the United Kingdom. Highlights include fencing swords, medieval chainmail, jousting lances and Indian elephant armour.
Leeds is a city of diverse neighbourhoods, such as Chapel Allerton, known as the "Notting Hill of the North". It’s filled with independent boutiques, galleries and bars. Headingley and Hyde Park are popular with students, with plenty of organic cafes, craft beer bars and thrift stores to explore.
Getting around Leeds
Central Leeds is easy to navigate on foot, as many of its streets are reserved for pedestrians. Leeds is also well-serviced by a network of buses that run throughout the city. Leeds-Bradford International Airport is 15 kilometres north of the city centre, with local buses making the trip in around 30 minutes.