The city of Leeds is one of the UK’s most dazzling and modern cities.
Outside of London it is one of the most populated cities, home to just under 1,000,000 people within its metropolitan borough.
The history of Leeds dates back to the 5th Century, whilst it was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 when its population was recorded at around 200 people. Although it is hard to imagine today, by the standards of 1086 this made Leeds a very large village indeed!
The expansion of the village can be traced back to 1207, when the first borough charter was commissioned by Maurice ‘Paynel’ De Grant who laid the foundations for the city as it is found today. The village grew slowly, however, until the Industrial Revolution where Leeds underwent boom periods of industry and growth.
By the mid-nineteenth century, Leeds had a population of around 150,000 people and was eventually granted City Status in 1893, around the same time as other Yorkshire cities including Bradford and Wakefield. Today, Leeds is a thriving city boasting 2 top universities, landmark-shopping districts as well as a booming business and media centre. In recognition of its growing economy, the Bridgewater Place skyscraper was built in 2005 on the edge of the city centre – not only was it the tallest building in Leeds and visible from 25 miles away, but it was also the tallest building in Yorkshire (however, since its completion, other buildings have topped Bridgewater’s height, a sign of the increasing demand for business and opportunity within Leeds city centre).
Of course, like any city, Leeds isn’t just about business; it also has thriving tourism and entertainment industries, as well as providing an exciting and glamorous night out.
One of Leeds’ biggest attractions is The Royal Armouries Museum. Opened in 1996 (at a cost of £42.5 million), the museum showcases the National Collection of Arms and Armour with galleries and exhibits including Oriental displays, ancient and medieval warfare, and the Peace – A Farewell to Arms display, which explores a world without war.
If museums are not your thing, however, you may be interested to know that the centre of Leeds – dubbed the Knightsbridge of the North – is home to just over 1,000 retail stores in a number of shopping plazas and centres which feature numerous well known brands including Harvey Nichols, Vivienne Westwood, Diesel and Paul Smith.
Musically, Leeds has a long and diverse history, with numerous British bands originating from the city including Kaiser Chiefs, Soft Cell, Scritti Politti, Utah Saints, The Wedding Present, Pulled Apart By Horses and the Sunshine Underground. Unsurprisingly, Leeds has a thriving live music scene with some of the best venues in the country, including The Cockpit, which can be found near the train station and has been host to some of the world’s top bands including Amy Winehouse, Coldplay, The White Stripes and The Killers.
And of course, Leeds hosts one of the largest UK music festivals every summer, and this year’s Leeds Festival will feature the Foo Fighters, The Cure and Kasabian, 24-26 August 2012.
Leeds offers a wide variety of holiday accommodation for visitors looking to stay in this thriving and bustling city, including Leeds hotels, Leeds B&Bs and the luxurious Residence 6 hotel apartments in the city centre.