Leeds Travel Guide
Welcome to our Leeds Guide. Known as the &lsquoKnightsbridge of the North&rsquo <a href="http://www.superbreak.com/short_breaks/city_breaks_in_leeds.htm">Leeds</a> is a city of indulgence, with an array of designer stores, independent boutiques, award-winning dining and trendy bars. On the flip side the city is great for families too, visit the Royal Armouries for an interactive history lesson, take a picnic to RoundhayPark or head out to the surrounding countryside let the children blow off some steam and take in the fantastic scenery. <br /><br />Lovers of heritage will be spoilt too with Harewood House, TempleNewsham and Kirkstall Abbey all close by, as will all you culture vultures out there with major centers of art, ballet and opera based in the city. Sports fans can experience Championship football at Elland Road, international and county cricket and rugby league in Headingley. Our Leeds Guide will help you to make the most out of your stay, highlighting must do&rsquos and see&rsquos, the best ways to get around and get to the city and of course places to stay whilst you are there. There is always something going on in Leeds, from music festivals to Christmas markets, so make sure that you check out the events listing in this travel guide too. We hope that you find our Leeds Guide useful when <a href="http://www.superbreak.com/leeds-hotels-YO6.htm">planning your break in Leeds </a>&ndash have a great time! As large a city as Leeds is, walking around on foot is a very easy way to see the sights. Free maps are available at the tourist information centre as well as street maps that are dotted around the city. The main shopping area of the city centre is relatively compact, with all major stores, restaurants and bars within walking distance of each other. <span>Due to its location in the heart of England, Leeds is one of the most easily accessible cities in The UK. On a direct route between London and Edinburgh, and just a short hop over The Pennines from Manchester, train and road links to Leeds are the best way to travel to this cosmopolitan city. Leeds Bradford Airport is one of the busiest in The UK, with flights to numerous destinations across Europe and the rest of the world, so flying into Leeds is a great way to get there whether coming from abroad or the far corners of Britain. </span> Leeds is the largest city in West Yorkshire and one of the largest in the whole county, so making sure you know how to navigate the city is vital before you head off on your trip. Although the city centre shops and attractions are all rather compact and easy to walk around, there are others that are further out of the centre that will require a bus or train ride. Travelling around Leeds can be cheap if you know which tickets to ask for, and making sure you pre-book a taxi is essential if you&rsquore trying to keep costs down. Buses run regularly for travelling around the city, and numerous urban rail links are available if you&rsquore staying or travelling a little further out. Shopping in Leeds is something that draws visitors from around the north of England thanks to a huge range of stores. From designer boutiques and luxury stores like Harvey Nichols, to high street giants and local producers. There are a number of indoor shopping centres in the middle of the city, including the Merrion Centre, Leeds Shopping Plaza, St John's Centre, Headrow Centre, the Victoria Quarter, The Light, the Corn Exchange and Trinity Leeds, which is set to open in 2013. Whatever you fancy buying on your trip to Leeds, you&rsquore sure to have plenty of options on where to find it. Leeds has a rich history of fabulous restaurants, with numerous famous chefs making their home in the city. Raymond Blanc and local legend, Anthony Flinn are two of the most popular names in food around Leeds, but there are a great range of local, independent restaurants that do just as well. With so many restaurants the range of cuisine is very varied, with everything from Mexican to Thai, European to tapas and much more. Whatever your taste, you&rsquoll find somewhere delicious in Leeds. Although the main draws of Leeds on a night are the bars and clubs, there are a great range of other activities to enjoy around the city. From comedy nights to dramatic theatre shows, local gigs to the latest films, Leeds&rsquo nightlife is varied and exciting. Fro a family evening head to Vue or to The Grande Theatre and Opera House, if you&rsquore out with friends then The Wardrobe is a must visit, and for a date just for two, the Jongleurs Comedy Club is bound to be a hit. With quaint, real ale pubs, trendy cocktail bars, gritty live music venues and some of the best sports bars around, Leeds&rsquo bar and club scene literally has something for everyone. The usual Wetherspoons type watering holes adorn every other street, mixed in with unique and quirky cocktail bars to tempt you with their signature drinks. There&rsquos a great range of places for you to head I you fancy seeing the latest bands in action, and some lovely gastro pubs for the parents to enjoy a glass of pinot noir while the kids eat dessert. With free entry offers, historic buildings, wildlife galore and some amazing museums, Leeds has an incredible array of attractions with something to suit everybody. Leeds is well known for it&rsquos shopping so make sure you check out The Corn Exchange, but there&rsquos also a great variety of sporting venues, intriguing waterways and even a butterfly house! Whether with kids, friends or in a couple, Leeds will have something for you. Frequent, direct trains carry visitors from London to Leeds in just over two hours. There are also regular services from Scotland, the Northeast, Midlands and across the Pennines. Located at the very heart of the UK, Leeds is one of the country's most accessible cities. With a great travel infrastructure covering land, sea and air, getting to Leeds for even the shortest break is practical. Sitting at the crossroads of the M62 and M1 with the A1/M1 link, Leeds is easy to reach from any direction the ring road connects motorists to all major routes into the city. Leeds Bradford International Airport lies just eight miles north of the city. With direct flights from Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Isle of Man, Jersey, London, Newquay, Plymouth, Southampton and many more. Leeds bus station, on Dyer Street, is served by local bus services. Buses in the city are mainly provided by <a title="FirstGroup plc" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FirstGroup_plc">FirstBus</a> and <a title="Arriva Yorkshire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arriva_Yorkshire">Arriva Yorkshire</a>. There is no cycle network or system of public bike hire but the council provides maps showing ideal road routes for cyclists. Leeds city centre is fairly compact and so is easy to get around on foot. Alternatively there are plenty of bus services and taxis to get you to where you want to go. The railway station has a public hire <a title="Taxicabs of the United Kingdom" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom">taxi</a> <a title="Taxicab stand" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicab_stand">rank</a> which operates 24 hours a day. The rank is serviced by the whole Leeds fleet of 537 taxis, 237 of which are wheelchair accessible. All are fitted with a taxi meter. Dine at Fazenda for a delicious taste of Latin AmericaTreat yourself to designer gear at Harvey NicholsHead to bars on Call Lane for a party atmosphereSee history brought back to life at the Royal ArmouriesDon&rsquot miss the penguins at Harewood House!Experience Opera North and the Northern BalletLeeds Bradford Airport is situated just 8 miles away from the city centre, meaning getting there is easy via train, car or taxi. F
lights leave frequently from LBA on domestic flights and to a huge range of destinations all over the world. Approximately 35,000 passengers travelled through Leeds Bradford Airport during 2012. Sitting at the crossroads of the M62 and M1 with the A1/M1 link, Leeds is easy to reach from any direction with the ring road connecting motorists to all major routes into the city. A short scenic drive over The Pennines gets you to Manchester and surrounding cities in around 2 hours, York is around 40 minutes away and with the A1 North/South link a ten minute drive away from the centre, journeys further afield are easy to plan. Frequent trains carry visitors from Leeds to London in a little over two hours meaning journeying to and from the capital is no hassle at all. The major cities of Manchester and Birmingham are accessible in just over an hour, and visitors can arrive in the historic city of York in around 25 minutes. With the station located right in the centre of Leeds, forwarding journeys to hotels and attractions are easy, and numerous taxi firms wait outside of the station to help you on your way. There are numerous taxi firms that are available for travelling in and around Leeds, and many wait outside the train station and airport to take you onto your destination. However, these taxis can be expensive so the best thing is to book one in advance. The cheapest firms are Amber Taxis (+44 113 231 1366) and Apollo (44 113 243 3333) with a fare of £3-7 being enough to get you around. The two bus companies that provide numerous routes around Leeds are First and Metro. An all day ticket on a Metro service can be bought for around £5.40 with the same ticket on First costing around £4.60. First is the largest bus company in West Yorkshire with routes throughout the city centre and out to the more rural villages.  The Leeds City bus arrives every 6-7 minutes and fares cost from as little as 50p. Top 5 Shopping Arcades in Leeds Top 5 Shopping Destinations in Leeds Top 5 Family Restaurants in LeedsTop 5 Treat Yourself Restaurants in LeedsInside the Leeds Marriott Hotel. With signature cocktails in a contemporary bar.  Leeds' biggest city centre park is always popular with visitor looking for some open space<div id="lipsum"><span>A modern 4 star hotel in the centre of Leeds boasting a full leisure centre, car park on site, restaurant and two bars. Accommodation of the highest level, complimented by excellent staff and facilities. The hotel is only a five minute walk to the railway station and close to the motorways and airport.</span></div>Ultra modern food made with premium products, this O'Hare venture is a new Leeds favouriteLocal and some more well-known faces take to the stage for an evening of laughter Akbar&rsquos has built a solid reputation for the very best in South Asian cuisine. With over 30 years of trading behind them, Jumbo Records is <em>the</em> place to go for music buffs. Leeds' brand new and inredibly cool shopping outlet in the very centre of the city, housing every possible shop you could want to visitHosting some of the biggest names in world music, The O2 Academy is one to check out while you&rsquore in Leeds The UK's national museum of arms, armour and artillery.One of Leeds&rsquo longest established restaurants offering the finest British and Mediterranean cuisine. &lsquoFunk, soul and Rock n Roll&rsquo in this chilled out, fashionable bar. Built in 1898, the architecture of the arcidade makes a visit worthwhile on its own. This atmospheric restaurant will give you a Thai dining experience like no other, all at a reasonable priceStroll around the Gallery&rsquos collections of paintings and sculptures and be amazed by outstanding art by exciting artists.  Enjoy tea and refreshments and buy inspirational books and gifts in the Gallery shop As well as housing numerous clothes stores and eateries, this Grade I listed building also hosts exhibitions and music events. Officially the largest Topshop outside of London, with the latest fashion and trend setting designs One of the most popular Tudor-Jacobean mansions in the whole of the UKAn award winning pool and music bar, this place has everything for a relaxed evening with friends. A former bank with a &lsquocrazily&rsquo ornate ceiling, Jamie&rsquos is every bit as good as he says. With a relaxed atmosphere and high quality food, this is one of the best eateries in Leeds. A warm and stylish nook stacked with top-shelf liquor and over 120 fine British, German, American and Belgian beers. With every high street name, food courts and beauty salons under one roof, you won&rsquot need to go anywhere else. Built in 1898, the architecture of the arcidade makes a visit worthwhile on its own. Having hosted Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Rooney over this, this Victorian music hall is definitely worth a visit. Newly refurbished with a modern interior, this cosy eatery offers a balance of hearty tradition and contemporary mealsEat in or take out, this great deli has delicious homemade food perfect anytime of the day. Boasting fabulous architecture, wildlife and greenery, Kirkstall Abbey is a brilliant example of Medieval BritainQuality real ale in a friendly and personal atmosphere. One of the most popular pubs in Leeds. Enjoy a taste sensation with the delicious mix of Brazilian and South American traditionsDiscover all types of creatures and creepy crawlies at the locally know 'Butterfly World'135 years old, this theatre still plays some of the biggest names in entertainment With numerous stores making their out-of-London debuts here, Victoria Quarter is definitely for the up-market shopper. 20 years down the line and they&rsquore still considered Leeds&rsquo best vegetarian restaurant. Fancy treating yourself to something a little extra special? Everything you need is here A quirky basement bar with a  kitschy retro air about it. Straight from the &lsquo70&rsquos. A traditional English pub with a wide range of local and international real ales. Head to a Leeds United home game and take in the atmosphere.<em>The</em> place to head for the latest movies to hit the silver screen. Tickets cost around £ Rock &lsquon&rsquo Roll music all night long and a signature drink of Rum &lsquon&rsquo Ginger. Shops, bars, restaurants and exhibitions make the Corn Exchange a great place to visitRescued from closure in 1989, this cosy theatre withstood the war and continues its success in the new millennium. A moody, gritty, Deep-South inspired bar with a New Orleans vibe. Four floors of interactive and exiting activities, including the 'Leeds Tiger'Great food, great drinks, great local up-and-coming bands Short for &lsquoSouth Beach&rsquo, this Florida style bar thrives in the Leeds drink scene. The oldest cinema in Leeds, this building withstood the war and continues its success today.This dynamic space hosts exhibitions, live film screenings and lots more cultural events Crossing the Pennines with a distance of 127 miles, this canal is very popular with fans of boatingA chic new, north Leeds bar, perfect for Long Island Iced Teas and specialist beers. Local artists and great food with a fabulous outdoor courtyard in the centre of Leeds Leeds offers a unique shopping experience, from all the high street names to quirky boutiques. The elegant <strong><a href="http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/things-to-do/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=2191850">Victoria Quarter</a></strong> is home to over 75 designer brands 100 days of arts and culture events around the county, most notably in LeedsAward-winning chefs, sophisticated dining and fantastic local produce all add to the gastronomic experience available in Leeds. One of the biggest LGBT pride festivals in the UK, join the celebrations in early AugustRunning alongside the Reading Festival, this is one of the UK's biggest music weekendsBe entertained
at gigs, comedy or cabaret, or go for cocktails and dance till dawn in the city's coolest bars and clubs. <strong><a href="http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/things-to-do/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=2192718"><strong>North Bar</strong></a> </strong>is the coolest haunt for lovers of great beer, music and art. Or make your way to <strong><a href="http://www.visitleeds.co.uk/things-to-do/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=2194203"><strong>Oracle</strong></a></strong> – a stylish bar with an outdoor terrace overlooking the river. The Leeds Carnival is the longest running festival of its kind in EuropeThe biggest film festival in England outside London, the LIFF was established in 1987Browse our Leeds Guide and make the most out of your break. You'll find tips and inspiration on the best attractions, events, restaurants and hotels in Leeds.Leeds Guide – A City Guide to Leeds – Superbreak
