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Things to do in Leeds

By: Leisha Greenfield

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Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, with a population of just under half
a million people.

The city has been dubbed 'the Knightsbridge of the north' for its array
of 1000 shops and 5 shopping centres. There are fine dining
restaurants, super clubs, masses of live music venues and numerous
upmarket cocktail bars, generating a busy, modern city atmosphere.

Leeds's cultural venues and spaces are also incredibly impressive and
still being improved, with a large civic museum of social history
planned for 2008.

Amongst other regeneration plans are the development of the tallest
building outside of London, renovation of some of the city's historical
landmarks and creation of a new shopping area in the city centre. This
is evidence, if more were needed, that Leeds certainly deserves its
title as the fastest growing city in the UK.

History

Leeds was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086, and was already a
busy merchant town at the start of the Industrial Revolution. Leeds's
population was 150,000 by the middle of the nineteenth-century and the
coal industry became the city's most important employer.

The Royal Armouries Museum contains a collection of arms and armour,
formerly held in the Tower of London. The Thackray Medical Museum is
the largest medical museum in the country and explores the social
impact of medical developments through the ages. The Leeds City Museum
will open in 2008, covering four floors and exploring social history.

Leeds has more listed buildings than York, and 58 scheduled ancient
monuments. Important historical buildings in the city include the
eighth century Ledsham Church, and the twelfth century Kirkstall Abbey.

Art Galleries

Leeds Art Gallery is home to, what The Times described as, "the best
collection of twentieth century art outside London". The permanent
collections include prints, watercolours, Pre-Raphaelite paintings and
modern sculpture. The gallery will be closed until May 2007 for
refurbishment and extensions.

The Leeds University Gallery displays works from the seventeenth
century up to the present day, including paintings, drawings, prints,
sculpture, ceramics and photographs.

Artco is a private gallery, showcasing contemporary paintings by local,
national and international artists, with new exhibitions every three
weeks. Original art is also for sale, and there are interest-free loans
available.

Theatres

The West Yorkshire Playhouse has won numerous awards, and – comprising
The Quarry Theatre and The Courtyard Theatre – is officially the
largest theatre outside of London and Stratford. The theatre hosts
around 1000 events and performances every year, including sixteen
productions by its in-house theatre company.

The Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House seats 1550 people, and has been open
since 1878. Large-scale touring productions, stand-up comedians and
live music are hosted in the Victorian Gothic auditorium.

The City Varieties Music Hall has a capacity of 531, and hosts
small-scale productions, stand-up comedy and live music.

Restaurants

The Box Tree Restaurant holds a Michelin star, three AA rosettes and
was awarded 'County of Restaurant of the Year' by Good Food Guide. The
restaurant serves contemporary-influenced, traditional French dishes
and an extensive selection of wine.

Fuji Hiro is a popular Chinese and Japanese restaurant that has
received glowing reviews from publications such as The Observer. The
food is high quality, and the atmosphere relaxed.

Anthony's specialises in experimental and contemporary European
cuisine, prepared by an award-winning chef, using 'molecular
gastronomy'. The restaurant was also awarded 'Best New Restaurant' at
the 2004 Remy Awards.

Bryan's is a recently refurbished seafood restaurant a few miles out of
the city centre.

Pubs/Bars

Leeds is packed with pubs to suit all tastes and budgets. Prohibition is
a cocktail bar, with a variety of 145 on offer, and a 2am-license on
Fridays and Saturdays. Another bar popular with young professionals is
Normans Bar, with 100 different spirits and cocktails, unisex toilets
and stylish-kitsch décor; the bar has received glowing reviews
in Europe and Japan.

The New Penny is a gay bar close by, with live music and resident DJs,
and a 4am license on Fridays and Saturdays.

Joseph's Well is another pub and live music venue, specialising in
indie, rock, punk, metal and other alternative music, and has played
hosts to bands such as Kaiser Chiefs and The Killers. Food is served
during the day, and there is a 2am license on Fridays and Saturdays.

Leeds CAMRA named the 200-year old pub, The Scarborough, 'Pub of the
Year' in 2006.

Nightclubs

My House is one of 150 clubs in Leeds, and comprises three floors and a
garden area. The club presents house music over two floors, with a
chillout space upstairs.

The Space has two rooms, and presents funky house, hard house,
drum'n'bass and garage.

Club Mission is the city's most popular gay club, offering cheesy
dance, Euro mixes, pop and indie. The club holds 1500 people and boasts
state of the art lighting and sound systems, and a VIP lounge, with
table service, on the top floor.

The Brudenell Social Club is a club and live music venue, hosting rock
and alternative bands. Previous acts include Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser
Chiefs, along with numerous local bands.

The Cockpit is also popular with rock bands, and presents live music
and rock, metal and indie club nights.

The city university's The Refectory and Stylus and Pulse are a club and
a bar, both of which regularly host live bands and club nights. The
Refectory has a capacity of 2000, and Stylus and Pulse 1200.

Shopping

White Rose Shopping Centre houses more than 100 stores, including the
major high street retailers, numerous cafes, restaurants and bars, and
offers 5000 free parking spaces. The Leeds Shopping Plaza is located in
the city centre, and also home to leading high street stores. The Light
is a designer fashion shopping centre, and The Merrion Centre comprises
budget stores and supermarkets.

The Victoria Quarter, in the city centre, is pedestrianised and
covered, and home to more than seventy stores, including Hugo Boss,
Harvey Nichols and Louis Vuitton. The Shopping Quarter is the place to
find department stores, and Briggate the high street stores and
supermarkets. The Corn Exchange contains a variety of shops, including
Ark and Eva, and hosts art and music events.

Leeds Kirkgate Market is the second largest covered market in Europe.

Sports

The John Charles Centre for Sport comprises a gym and facilities for
tennis, hockey, football, rugby, indoor bowling, athletics, badminton
and table tennis. There are also three cafés located around the
building. The Leeds International Pool is home to a 50-metre pool,
diving pit, learner pool, aerobics studio and gymnasium.

Xscape was awarded 'Best Tourism Experience' by the UK Tourist Board in
2005, and comprises a real snow slope, the tallest indoor ice climbing
walls in Europe, two rock climbing walls, an aerial assault course, an
indoor skateboard park, Laserzone, dodgems and ten-pin bowling
facilities. There is also a multi-screen cinema, a gym, twenty bars and
restaurants and ten shops.

There are four golf courses in Leeds that welcome non-members.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Author: Leisha Greenfield
Having spent 10 years working as a visitor guide at various top London tourist attractions, Leisha Greenfield has now writes articles on UK tourism. www.ukcityguide.info.

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