Leeds
has gone, and to some extent, is still going through, a period
of change. The city has a lot to offer tourists and has an
exciting future, with the development of the Leeds Arena,
a 13,000-capacity music venue. I hope that England will win
the bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, because Leeds will
be one of the host cities. Sure, I am bias because I am Leeds
born and bred, but these are genuine reasons to home city.
Place for culture vultures
Choose
from the Grand Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse or Carriageworks
for your fix on theatre productions. The City Varieties theatre
will re-open in 2011 after its £9m refurbishment. Rather
than watching a film at the purpose built cinemas, take a
trip to Hyde Park, originally built as a hotel in 1908 and
converted to a cinema in 1914. Leeds has a ton of museums,
art galleries, and of course the very impressive looking
Temple Works, which is the host of many independent and local
art events.
Fantastic local markets
Leeds Kirkgate is the largest covered market in Europe, selling products predominantly by local traders. You will find anything from spices, fresh fruit and vegetables, to fish, electrical goods and fashion accessories. Outside of the city centre, towns like Otley, Pudsey and Morley all have regular markets. On the last Saturday of the month between May and September, you will find the Pannier market on Granary Wharf, next to the waterfront.
Walks
and open space
For walking enthusiasts, the city has tons of places to spend hours taking in the Yorkshire scenery! You can walk along the Leeds & Liverpool canal for miles; have a wander around the Leeds owl trail. Temple Newsam, Yeadon Tarn and Harewood House are popular places to go for a walk, especially with families.
Great real ale pubs
The
Great British pub is struggling to survive due to the ridiculously
cheap alcohol sold at supermarkets, but in Leeds, we seem
to have seen an emergence of real ale pubs thanks to local
breweries. Midnight Bell, Brewery Tap, and the Hop are my
favourite pubs, but a must visit is the North Bar, with its
menu of beers from around the world. The city�s oldest pub
is Whitelocks, previously known as the Turks Head and has
been serving locals since 1715.
