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Leeds
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Local Attractions

Leeds is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. The city centre is a vibrant and exciting place to shop, or just sit in one of the many pubs, cafes and bars. At night, the nightclubs provide Leeds' reputation of the nightlife capital of the north.

Leeds is located at the very centre of the UK, at the heart of the historic county of Yorkshire, Leeds is an excellent base from which to explore the country. London is just over two hours away by train, Edinburgh a little over three hours. Dublin is an hour's flight from Leeds-Bradford Airport. Very reasonably priced tickets to these destinations are available if purchased in advance.

Closer to home, Leeds itself is home to the Royal Armouries, the national collection of arms and armour. The Henry Moore Institute houses a fine collection of the local sculptor's work, more of which can be seen a few miles away at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Armley Mills Museum records Leeds' industrial past, and Kirkstall Abbey remains as a reminder of some of the city's earliest inhabitants. The world-famous Tetley Bitter is brewed by Carlsberg-Tetley at the Hunslet brewery, on a site where brewing has taken place for over 250 years.

Leeds is also a good base for exploring the historic county of Yorkshire. The most famous places to visit are probably in York, with its Viking and Roman history. York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe. The Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth recounts the history of the famous literary family; it can be reached by steam train on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (as seen in many films).

Even though Leeds is one of the largest cities in the UK, the countryside is never far away. The Yorkshire Dales are a short drive to the north, with plenty of opportunities for walking or climbing. The historic market towns of Otley, Wetherby, Ilkley, and Skipton are all a short bus or train ride away, as is the historic spa town of Harrogate.

Those interested in history will want to visit Harewood House, one of the finest stately homes in Yorkshire, or a little further away Castle Howard. The ancient abbeys Fountains, Rievaulx, and Jervaulx are three of the finest ruined abbeys in the country. It is as well to remember that Leeds Castle is actually in Kent.

Some images of Leeds are below. Everything in these pictures is less than a mile from the University.

	A Leeds Owl An owl is one of the emblems of the City of Leeds; this particular owl can be found in Millennium Square outside the Civic Hall.
	Leeds Civic Hall Leeds Civic Hall houses the City Council. The area outside, Millennium Square, is often used for concerts and markets. The towers of the hall are topped with golden owls, and are a prominent local landmark.
	The Victoria Family and Commercial Hotel The centre of Leeds provides pubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants. The Victoria Family and Commercial Hotel is a pub located behind the Town Hall. The interior is a fine example of a traditional late Victoria pub.
	Leeds Town Hall The Victorian Town Hall stands on the Headrow, the main road through the centre of the city. It is now a concert venue, and hosts the finals of the world-famous Leeds International Piano Competition.
	Henry Moore Institute The sculptor Henry Moore was born in Castleford, a few miles from Leeds. This example of his work is outside Leeds City Art Gallery in the city centre. The gallery contains the best collection of 20th Century British art outside London.
	The Victoria Quarter The Victoria Quarter is a magnificent setting for some of the smartest shops in Leeds. It is located just off the main shopping area around Briggate.
	The Calls The Calls is part of the historic waterfront area of Leeds. The warehouses of the city's industrial past have now been replaced by smart hotels, restaurants and bars, together with some of the most desirable flats in the city.
	The Parish Church Leeds Parish Church (dedicated to St Peter) is located in the south east of the city centre, near the old city boundaries. It hosts choral services every day, the only parish church in the country to do so. Leeds does not have an Anglican cathedral, but St Anne's is the Roman Catholic Cathedral.
	The View from Crown Point Bridge The River Aire flows through the city, and marks the southern boundary of the city centre. This view is taken from Crown Point Bridge, one of the main routes out of the city; it shows how the waterfront is being regenerated with smart flats on the right bank, and more development on the left.
	The Royal Armouries The Armouries is housed in a new purpose-built building on the banks of the River Aire. It houses the national collection of arms and armour. Admission is free.
	Tetleys Brewery Leeds is home to one of the biggest breweries in the country, Joshua Tetley and Son. Tetleys dominates the area just south of the river; it produces 1.6 million barrels (a barrel is 32 British gallons) of beer and lager a year. Tetley Bitter is synonymous with Leeds.
	The Leeds and Liverpool Canal Leeds' wealth was built on wool. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal was built to get the wool from the farming areas of the Dales and Pennines into the city. This is the very start of the canal as it starts its 130 mile journey to Liverpool at Granary Wharf. Today the canal is used for leisure, and Granary Wharf itself has become home to smart craft shops and restaurants. This picture shows even more building work underway by the river and canal.
	The Black Prince This statue of the Black Prince greets visitors to Leeds in City Square. The Black Prince was a son of Edward II, whose connections with Leeds are unclear.