Leeds Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of Leeds

    The name Leeds is thought to have come from the name Loidis, which was the name of the district. This name developed over the years to become Leodis, then Ledes, then eventually Leeds. An existing settlement on the site was developed into a new town in 1207 by a landowner and it ran between the parish church of St Peter to the river. The main road of this settlement was called ...Read moreBriggate as it was the road leading to the bridge. Briggate is one of the main shopping streets in Leeds today. A cloth market in the Briggate area set the scene and Leeds became full of industries that were based around textiles. An important year in the history of Leeds is 1893, when it became a city. Read less

  • 2. Now in Leeds

    Leeds claims the title as the UK’s third largest city. It has two universities and two top business schools. The financial and legal sectors are both big areas of strength in Leeds. It is a busy city with a thriving business community and a strong service industry with plenty of bars, restaurants, nightclubs and theatres to choose from. Football and rugby are big in Leeds, wi...Read moreth the Rhinos and Leeds Carnegie rugby teams and Leeds United Football Club. Read less

  • 3. Events in Leeds

    Party in the Park is a free outdoor music festival held every year at Temple Newsam Park in Leeds in July. The event attracts 70,000 revellers and big names in the music industry. The Leeds Festival is a huge three-day rock and pop music festival held in the city in August every year. It is linked to the Reading Festival. The Breeze International Youth Festival is an event that...Read more has been running for 15 years to celebrate the talents of young people in the arts. Rugby fixtures regularly take place at Headingley Carnegie Stadium and football fixtures at Leeds United ground Elland Road. Read less

  • 4. Attractions in Leeds

    Leeds is home to the world’s oldest working railway. Built in 1758, Middleton Railway is still in action today and popular for tourists. Visitors can take a ride on a steam or diesel train, view the collection of locomotives, learn about the building of the trains and enjoy the nature trails and picnic facilities. Harewood House, on the outskirts of the city, was named Englan...Read mored’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2009. It was built in the 18th century and today offers visitors an insight into its history, art exhibitions and beautiful gardens. Temple Newsam House is another historic building that attracts many visitors. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do in Leeds

    Leeds has plenty of museums to choose from. Among those on offer is The Leeds City Museum, which has four floors of interactive galleries – exploring everything from tigers to Egyptian mummies. The Royal Armouries Museum hosts a collection of arms and armour and gives visitors a chance to see re-enactments in live costumed displays. Among the many open spaces on offer in Leed...Read mores is the popular 700-acre Roundhay Park containing lakes, woodlands, gardens and Tropical World. There are great shopping facilities in the city centre including the Corn Exchange, an historic building filled with modern retail outlets. Read less

  • 6. Business in Leeds

    There is a very healthy business community in Leeds, with its strengths falling in the legal and financial areas. Plenty of business centres around the city offer small or new ventures a helping hand. The shopping in Leeds is varied, from the Corn Exchange and High Street areas to the new Clarence Dock shopping facilities, which has stores and restaurants on a waterfront settin...Read moreg. Read less

  • 7. Transport in Leeds

    Leeds has its own international airport – Leeds Bradford International Airport. Leeds City Train station has good links all over the UK. By road the A1 and M1 link to the north and south, and the M62 to the east and west.

  • 8. Entertainment in Leeds

    Leeds has great venues for comedy, theatre, music and film. Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House is home to opera company Opera North and the City Varieties Music Hall in Swan Street is one of the oldest running music halls in Britain. As well as modern cinemas, Leeds has arthouse cinema Hyde Park Picture House – one of the oldest picture houses in the UK. The list of concert ...Read morevenues is extensive. Read less

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in Leeds

    Historical Harewood House in the Harewood district of Leeds has plenty of stories to tell. The stunning 18th century building and gardens attract many tourists. The Temple Newsam Tudor-Jacobean mansion is one of England’s most significant historic houses. As well as the building itself, the site offers important collections of paintings, furniture and ceramics and 900 acres o...Read moref stunning grounds. Read less

  • 10. Interesting Facts about Leeds

    People who come from Leeds are known as Loiners.

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  • Leeds General Infirmary’s delivery ward in TV special

    Leeds General Infirmary has been the setting for a documentary and the stars of the show are proud Yorkshire parents. The third series of the Bafta award winning One Born Every Minute was filled in autumn 2011 and will feature a wide range of emotions and scenarios as people welcome new life to the world. The Channel 4 documentary programme offers viewers a fly-on-the-wall look at a delivery ward. Team leader on the hospital’s delivery suite, Gail Wright, said: “I …

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  • Yorkshire waterways and rivers open up route to greener transport

    There could be a reemergence for Yorkshire’s waterways and rivers as freight companies look for different ways to combat growing road congestion and traffic pollution. The waterways network is already being used to carry bio-mass fuel to “green” power stations but the new development could see millions of tonnes of goods transported by water. The new plan will dramatically reduce the amount of pollution that the lorry journeys currently create. Dalkia, an energy services company, is already using the Aire …

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  • World-class college builders are praised

    Matthew Timby, a world champion roofer, has found himself in the top spot again, along with 86 other prize winners. Matthew was the winner of the young roofers section of the International Federation of Roofing Contractors World Championships and was joined by other high achievers in the building industry for the Leeds College of Building’s annual awards ceremony. He was given a medal at the event which was held at Leeds Town Hall along with other world-beating former students of …

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  • Leeds charity trekker to spread grandfather’s ashes at 19,000ft

    James Walker is preparing to scatter his grandfather’s ashes at a 19,000ft height. The charity trekker is going on his first charity expedition in order to raise money for people suffering with Alzheimer’s. The cause is close to his heart after his grandfather was diagnosed with the disease in 2009. The 33-year-old personal trainer will go to Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, where he could experience temperatures as low as -20 C. He said: “My grandad got excited about it as …

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