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Luxury Car Hire uk Leeds Guide
Leeds
Yorkshire's commercial capital, and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, LEEDS has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. There's still a true northern grit to its character, and in many of its dilapidated suburbs, but the grime has been removed from the Victorian centre and the city is revelling in its renaissance as a financial, administrative and cultural boomtown. An early market town, wool was traded here in medieval times by the monks of nearby Kirkstall Abbey. By the eighteenth century, the advent of canals and technical innovations such as the harnessing of steam power turned what had been a cottage industry into a dynamic large-scale economy. Leeds quickly boomed beyond its capacity to support its burgeoning population, and while the textile barons prospered, the city acquired a reputation for grimness that proved hard to shake off. In 1847 Charles Dickens described Leeds as "the beastliest place, one of the noisiest I know&q uot;, an observation that many visitors might have applied to the city until comparatively recently.
Now, however, improved communications, a major clean-up and urban rejuvenation schemes have been the making of modern Leeds. The most obvious manifestation of change has been the advent of late-opening cafes, bars, clubs and eclectic restaurants, and the arrival of the swanky department store, Harvey Nichols. It's also long been the region's cultural centre, home to Opera North, the noted West Yorkshire Playhouse and a triennial international piano competition that ranks among the world's top musical events. Museums start with the hugely impressive Royal Armouries, which hold the national arms and armour collection, while the City Art Gallery has one of the best collections of British twentieth-century art outside London. Leeds Industrial Museum and Abbey House Museumtake care of the city's historical legacy; while further from the city you might try to see one of the country's great Georgian piles, Harewood House.
Few visitors pass through Yorkshire, England's largest county, without spending time in history-soaked York, for centuries England's second city until the Industrial Revolution created new centres of power and influence. Famed primarily for its minster, the city is a comprehensive, if somewhat over-restored, ensemble of tiny medieval alleys, castle ruins, tucked-away churches, riverside gardens and top-notch museums.York's mixture of medieval, Georgian and Victorian architecture is mirrored in miniature in the prosperous north and east of the county by towns such as Beverley, centred on another soaring minster; Richmond, banked under a crag-bound castle; and Ripon, gathered around its honey-stoned cathedral. Knaresborough shares similar attributes, but is overshadowed by the faded gentility of neighbouring Harrogate, a spa town geared these days towards the c onference trade rather than health-seeking visitors. The Yorkshire coast, too, retains something of the grandeur of the days when its towns were the first to promote themselves as resorts: places such as Bridlington and Scarboroughboomed in the nineteenth century and again in the postwar period, though these days they're living on past glories. Instead, it's in characterful places such as Whitbyand Robin Hood's Bay - much smaller resorts with unspoiled historic centres that the best of the coast is to be found. The engine of growth during the Industrial Revolution was not in the north of the county, but in the south and west. By the nineteenth century, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and their satellites were the world's mightiest producers of textiles (an industry first nurtured by the monastic houses of the moors and dales) and of steel. Ruthless economic logic devastated the area in the last century, leaving only disused textile mills, abandoned steel- and heavy engineering works, and great soot-covered civic buildings in cities battered by depression. However, a new vigour has infused South and West Yorkshire during the last decade, and the city-centre transformations of Leeds and Sheffieldin particular have been remarkable. Both are now making open play for tourists with a series of high-profile attractions, while Bradford and its National Museum of Photography, Fi lm and Television waylays people on their way to Haworth
Leeds Getting around guide
Tourist office in the Arcade (Mon 10am-5.30pm,Tues—Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm; 0113/242 5242, www.leeds.gov.uk), stuffed with leaflets and information about Leeds and the rest ofYorkshire. The bus station occupies a site to the east, behind Kirkgate Market, on St Peters Street, close to the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Drivers will eventually be fed onto the City Centre Loop road and though parking in the myriad signposted pay-and-display car parks is expensive, it's better than driving around all day looking for free on-street space.
Leeds city centre is easily walked around and you'll have little use for the extensive bus network unless you're staying at a far-flung B&B or planning to use the city as a base for visiting destinations like Bradford or Haworth. Buses depart from stops all over the city, including the bus station on St Peter's Street. The Metro Travel Centre at the bus station has up-to-date service details (Mon—Fri 8.30am— 5.30pm, Sat 9am— 4.30pm; www.wymetro.com), and you can also ask in the tourist office, which has timetables for every conceivable local service; or call Metroline (daily 8am— 8pm; 0113/245 7676), which advises on current routes and fares throughout the city and region. If you're planning to see a slice of West Yorkshire over a day or two, consider one of the available passes for use on local buses and trains - there's the bus/train day rover (£4.50), separate bus or train day rovers (£3.80 each) and a family day rover (£6).
There's a good mix of accommodation in Leeds, including some fairly central places near the university campus that shouldn't break the bank, as well as business hotels that do a steady trade. The recent growth has been in stylish designer hotels, many located in revamped old buildings, while plenty of cheaper B&Bs lie out to the northwest in the student area of Headingley, though these are all a bus or taxi ride away. For short breaks and weekends away contact the tourist office's special booking line on 0800/808050. Other options include well-equipped rooms in shared self-catering student apartments, rented out during university holidays by the University of Leeds. There's no city youth hostel; the nearest one is at Haworth
City Varieties Swan St , Briggate 08456 /441881, www.cityvarieties.co.uk. One of the country's last surviving music halls, though it's less music-hall fare these days and more tribute bands, comedians and cabaret - great building and bar though.
Grand Theatre and Opera House 46 New Briggate 0113/222 6222, www.leeds.gov.uk/grandtheatre. The regular base of Opera North and Northern Ballet, also puts on a full range of theatrical productions.
Hyde Park Picture House Brudenell Rd , Headingley 0113/275 2045, www.leeds.gov.uk/hydepark. The place to come for classic cinema with independent and art-house shows alongside more mainstream films; take bus #56, #57 or #63 from the city centre.
Leeds Town Hall The Headrow 0113/224 3801, www.leedsconcertseason.com. Supports an annual international concert season of great distinction and is the venue for Leeds' internationally renowned piano competition.
West Yorkshire Playhouse Quarry Hill Mount 0113/213 7700, www.wyplayhouse.com. The city's most innovative playhouse has two theatres and hosts a wide range of productions and premieres of local works.
Hospital Leeds General Infirmary, Great George St 0113/243 2799.
Internet Internet Exchange, 29 Boar Lane 0113/242 1093. There's free access at the Central Library, Calverley St 0113/247 8274 (call for hours).
Pharmacy Boots, Leeds Station Concourse 0113/242 1713, and 49 Merrion Centre 0113/242 8194.
Police Millgarth Police Station, Millgarth St 0845/606 0606.
Post office Main Post Office, City Square.
Sports and swimming Leeds United play at EllandRd 0845/121 1992, www.leedsunited.com, and there are usually some tickets on general sale. Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Headingley 08000/326644, is the place to see county and international cricket. Leeds International Pool, Westgate 0113/214 5000, is the best, most central place for a swim.
Taxis Taxis are available 24hr at the train station, outside the bus station, and on New Briggate.
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Leeds/ Leeds Getting around guide/ Leeds Accommodation Guide/ Leeds information listings