Leeds Overview
Leeds started out as a small manorial borough in the 13th century and since then has become the largest legal and financial centre in the UK outside of London. Leeds also has the 4th largest population of students in the UK which is supported by four universities around the city. High Speed 2 (HS2) is under construction and is due to be complete in 2032 which will connect the south (London) to the north (Leeds, Manchester) meaning the number of jobs and the city as a whole will be expanding as more people move here to acquire cheaper housing. You will find a varied shopping experience in this city; renovated Victorian arcades with stained glass lining the roof, regular pedestrianised areas with all the major shops and chains, life-size WW! Aeroplane that is suspended in between the circular galleries of smaller shops. Recent refurbishment to the Canal Wharfs area has turned it into a ‘must go’ area that is full of restaurants and bars which is perfect for catching up with friends or if you like a change from the typical university life. Leeds is surrounded by a green belt; a green belt is a piece of land that can not be built on in order to preserve the wildlife and beauty of the land. This means that the surrounding areas of Leeds will stay beautiful and green which makes it perfect for any students who enjoy doing their work in the idyllic countryside with peace of mind.
Things to do in Leeds
The Royal Armouries is a museum that is built over five floors and has a wealth of knowledge about arms and armour across the world since the beginning of time. The museum is located in the Leeds dock and it opened in 1996 and is free to enter, making it a very good and cheap day out. If art and architecture are more your thing, then take a stroll to Harewood House where the Earl and Countess of Harewood live and are surrounded by 100 acre’s of beautifully kept gardens that are free to explore. There are exhibitions and events that are held at the house throughout the year which will increase your knowledge of the past ten-fold. If you enjoy small boutique shops located in a large Victorian dome that has a small food court in the middle then head over to the Leeds Corn Exchange, it is hard to miss and fantastically colourful and bright on a summer’s day. Staying with the Victorian built shopping buildings then the Grand Arcade is the next in line to visit, boasting two parallel rows of shops finished off with a huge clock at one end. Once you are finished shopping and fancy learning and drinking at the same time then jump on a Brewtown Tour, these tours are different to your regular brewery tours. On a Brewtown tour you will be able to sample locally made beers that not many people know about, you also get to see small independent breweries and find out all about the process of making such nice tasting beers. Do you like a challenge? Then Tick Tock Unlock is the perfect place for you and your friends to challenge each other whilst working together to win the game and escape the room. Tick Tock Unlock have several different games to choose from and tickets are as little as £7.50 which makes it a great fun day out for you and your friends.
Sport in Leeds
You will struggle not to stay healthy in Leeds as they have a whopping 17 leisure centres each with different sports and facilities so that you can pick the perfect one for you, you also won’t have to travel far as they are all over Leeds. Spectator sports include; Yorkshire Cricket Club who are one of eighteen first-class county clubs and is one of the most successful county cricket clubs in the world. Leeds Rhinos are a professional rugby club that were founded in 1870, they compete in the Super league which is the top-level European rugby league club competition and have won it a record eight times. Leeds United F.C are a football team that play at Elland Road with a whopping 37,890 fans cheering them on every home game.
Escape Leeds
If you enjoy getting out of the city and exploring some of the surrounding areas, then the Yorkshire Dales is the perfect place to go. The Yorkshire Dales is a national park to the north of Leeds and it includes the ruins of a 12th Century monastery. If you head down Malham village then you will find Gordale Scar which is a waterfall formed from a limescale ravine and it is a sight you must see.
Transport in Leeds
Trains from London to Leeds take roughly 2 hours with trains also heading north to Edinburgh. The metro is used for travel around the city and to nearby neighbouring towns. The M62 and M1 are easily accessible as they are only five minutes away from Leeds, once on either of these motorways you will be able to get to the rest of the UK using the motorway network. Leeds Bradford Airport is just a short 25 minute drive away from the city centre.
