The city of Leeds, situated on the River Aire, has a long-established tradition of industry (textiles, furniture, paper, leather, electrical equipment). Its primary importance is as the regional commercial and financial center as well as being the cultural hub of the area. The university enjoys an outstanding reputation, especially the faculties of science and technology. Leeds is a good shopping center and has a number of interesting museums and art galleries, as well as an active musical life. The annual Leeds Festival takes place each year in Bramham Park.
The many attractive parks and gardens in Leeds are ideal for relaxing walks. York and the Yorkshire Dales, 25mi/40km away, are wonderful places to visit.
The north-south M1 motorway and the east-west M621 intersect at Leeds. Leeds-Bradford airport is 8mi/13km northwest of the city center. There are good rail connections to all parts of the country from City station.
A ford over the Aire was here in Roman times, the town was actually founded in the 18th century with the development of the wool trade. The first British railroad line was constructed to transport the coal from the mine at Middleton 3mi/5km away to Leeds in 1758 and the first steam trains came into operation in 1812. The industrialization of the 19th century brought economic prosperity to Leeds which was based chiefly on textiles and manufacturing.
About 2mi/3km west of Leeds city center in Canal Road stands the former wool mill Armley Mills. It presents a fascinating history of wool production in Yorkshire from the 18th C.
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May ), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, August )
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Parking: Free
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Leeds City Art Gallery showcases an extensive collection of fine art pieces by British artists. Visitors can also see some impressive sculptures by Henry Moore and his contemporaries.
A grand mansion dating back to the 18th century, Harewood House features an impressive interior with beautiful wall and ceiling paintings. A quaint park with a bird garden can be found outside the House.
A stroll through the recently restored arcade of the Victoria quarter to the southeast of Headrow is highly recommended. The glass-roofed passage reflects the style of the Victorian era.
The hub of Leeds is City Square, outside the City Station. In the square are numerous statues, including figures of the Black Prince (son of Edward III) and the inventor James Watt.
It was here that Joseph Priestley ministered and invented the first artificially carbonated water. His idea for carbonated water was obtained from viewing the fermentation vats, now no longer standing, where he observed that carbon dioxide was to be found above the vats.
Lotherton Hall near Leeds was built before the First World War. Colonel Gascoigne, who lived here, was an avid collectorand today you can view the Oriental Gallery, which has items dating back to the 19th C.
On the first floor, the Nightengale Gallery displays the work of local contemporary artists.
The house is surrounded by a formal Edwardian garden and a bird garden that is home to over 200 species.
Address: Lotherton Hall, Lotherton Lane, Aberford LS25 3EB, England
Hours:
March 3 to March 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:12pm-4pm; Closed: Mon
April 1 to October 31: 10am-5pm; Sun:1pm-5pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
November 1 to December 31: 10am-4pm; Sun:12pm-4pm; Closed: Mon, Mon, Mon
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May ), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, August )
Tips: Gardens open dawn to dusk daily.
Parking: Free
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
The Royal Armouries in Leeds have one of the world's most famous collections of arms and armor. Their are five galleries displaying over 3,000 years of history with live demonstrations, stunning reenactments and exhibits of arms and armor.
Address: Royal Armouries, Armouries Drive, Leeds LS10 1LT, England
Hours:
10am-5pm
Always opened on: Spring Bank Holiday - Britain (last Monday, May ), Summer Bank Holiday - Britain outside Scotland (last Monday, August )
Always closed on: Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Parking: Free
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
The finest of the Leeds' churches is St John's in New Briggate, built 1632-1634. The exterior is in Perpendicular style; the interior is notable for having two naves. The church has been preserved almost completely in the style in which it was built and still has the original Renaissance rood-screen, pulpit and stalls.
St Peter's, a medieval church rebuilt in 1839-41 in a mixture of Decorated and Perpendicular styles, is the oldest parish church in Leeds. It stands between the River Aire and the railroad.
Temple Newsam House is a Tudor-Jacobean mansion set in a 900 acre park. It was the birth place of Lord Darnley, who was the husband of Mary Queen of Scots. It contains many recently restored Old Master paintings, and furniture by Thomas Chippendale as well as a collection of Leeds creamware and silver. The house stands in beautiful grounds with marvelous rose bushes and rhododendrons.
This medical museum situated next to the Yorkshire city's St. Jame's University Hospital. It has a collection of 20,000 medical artifacts and displays the development of medicine through the ages. Visitors can learn about the development of keyhole, plastic and micro surgery.
Address: The Thackray Medical Museum, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7LN, England
Hours:
January 2 to June 30: 10am-5pm; Closed: Mon
July 1 to August 30: 10am-5pm; Closed: Mon
September 1 to December 30: 10am-5pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Park Row, a shopping and business street, leads to Victoria Square, in which stands the Leeds Town Hall, a Palladian building, consecrated in 1858 by Queen Victoria. There is a Corinthian colonnade along the main front which is dominated by a 200ft/61m-high clock tower. Its ornate Victoria Hall is used for concerts.
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