Leeds, England - Guide

Leeds - General Information

One of the powerhouses of the industrial revolution, Leeds became celebrated for the production and trade of wool in the 19th century, before falling on hard times in the laste-20th century, then re-emerging in recent years as a centre for commerce and higher education. Located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, it has three Universities, great shops and (unsurprisingly, given all the students around!) a lively nightlife.

Leeds city centre

Leeds’ renaissance in recent years is reflected by the fact that it was the first British city to have full broadband and digital coverage and that over 33% of the UK's Internet traffic passes through it. It also has a larger number of people working in financial and business services than any other UK city outside of London. Though this may be cause for concern during the credit crunch, Leeds remains a vibrant place, forward-looking place. Its shopping district extends north of The Headrow (the main street) through the St. John’s, Merrion and The Light shopping centres. Most of the city's major shops are located north of Boar Lane and south of the Merrion Centre. A significant number of large chains are represented, such as Marks & Spencer (founded in 1894 on a small stall at the city's market), Zara, Borders, Harvey Nichols, Debenhams and House of Fraser.

Other attractions can be found east of the city centre, in the city’s cultural quarter. Principal among these is the Royal Armouries Museum, which was moved to Leeds from the Tower of London in 1996 and housed in a highly distinctive building created by architect Derek Walker.