Leeds is one of the UK’s most vibrant cities, with the Greater City of Leeds having a population of approximately 770,000 people. During the daytime, the city centre is a buzzing hive of activity, accommodating 2 universities and excellent shopping facilities, including the Corn Exchange, Victoria Quarter and the Kirkgate Market. According to Rough Guide To Britain 2006, Leeds was the UK’s best shopping destination.
However, it is at night that Leeds really comes to life. As Leeds is one if the largest cities in England, you can expect to find a fantastic array of entertainments at your disposal. Leeds is believed to have one of the best clubbing scenes outside of London, with a superb range of nightclubs and bars to suit all tastes. As a consequence the city attracts clubbers from all over the UK and has become a popular weekend getaway for stag and hen parties. One of the benefits to Leeds, is the fact that most of the clubs and bars are contained within a compact area of the city centre, which makes for easy travelling from one venue to the next.
A firm favourite amongst UK clubbers is the famous Back To Basics club which has been established for over 10 years and is still going strong. Another popular clubbing destination is Creation, which has 3 different areas of music all under the same roof, including RnB, commercial dance and cheesy chart music. Within the Northern Quarter of the city, you will find some of the more trendy independent clubs and bars such as Mojo and the North Bar.
If you are looking for fine dining, then Leeds has 83 registered restaurants, including Anthony’s, which is located within the city centre in Trevelyan Square, off Boar Lane. Anthony’s was opened in 2004 and was voted the UK’s best restaurant in 2005 by Observer Food Monthly and currently holds a Michelin Bib Gourmande. Alternatively, you could try Brasserie Forty 4, which is the second restaurant in Leeds to hold the Michelin Bib Gourmande. Brasserie Forty 4 can also be found in the city centre, located in a converted grain house at 42 The Calls.
If it is a cultural weekend break that you want, then why not pay a visit to the Royal Armouries or the Thackray Museum? The Thackray Museum was opened in 1997 and is housed in a former workhouse, which is now a grade 2 listed building. The museum hosts a range of health and medical topics, covering the last 200 years. Since opening the Thackray Museum has been named UK Museum of the Year, England’s Visitor Attraction of the Year, maintained the Sandford Award for Heritage Education and been short-listed for European Museum of the Year.
Whatever you have in mind, whether it is a weekend getaway or an overnight stay, Leeds seems to be able to deliver on all fronts. So why not visit Leeds and see for yourself why it has become one of the UK’s most popular tourist destination hotspots?