Information about Leeds
Leeds was first inhabited around 2,000 years ago, when the Romans founded Cambodunum, a small fort that, during the 7th century and the reign of King Edwin, was greatly developed.
During the medieval years, Leeds was established as a main European centre for wool production and trade, with the Industrial Revolution contributing even more to this general development. Industry, art, engineering and economy followed shortly after that.
The mark of the Victorian era is still evident throughout Leeds; Victorian buildings and historic locations make up Leeds’s skyline, while at the same time, the modern part of Leeds ranks among the top modern cities internationally.
Combining the old and the new, tradition and modern achievements, natural and man-made beauty, Leeds is a travel paradise. Visit Leeds and you’ll have the whole picture of a greatly advanced English city with a precious Victorian history.
Airport
The international airport of Leeds (Leeds Bradford International Airport) is located 55 kilometres away from the city centre and can be reached by railway and bus.
Getting around Leeds
You can get around Leeds by bus and train. Daily pass costs 2.70£ and minimum taxi fare costs 2.60£.
Leeds Guide
Your first stop in Leeds would be the Kirkstall Abbey, a fine example of Medieval Cistercian abbey whose ruins stand at the banks of River Aire, in Kirkstall Park. It dates back to 1152, yet it is preserved in a fairly good condition.
You can wander around the abbey and take a glance at the lifestyle of the missionaries that used to live there, before you visit the Abbey House Museum, to see with your own eyes a couple of fabulous recreations of Victorians houses and stores.
Continue to the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds’s largest museum, with collections that guide you through the long, 3,000-year-long history of war and defence in Leeds. Collections include cutting-edge audio-visual exhibitions, live representations and interactive documentaries.
Next stop: Leeds’s two most important art galleries:
- The Leeds Art Gallery, boasting the second most significant 20th-century art collection, following the gallery of London. Founded in 1888, the Art Gallery stretches across three floors and has extensive collections of sculptures, paintings, prints and designs.
- The Henry Moore Institute, one of Europe’s most notable sculpture galleries. Named after Henry Moore, the British sculptor of the 20th century, the museum has three wings and focuses on all the different aspects of sculpture.
If you wish to experience history in a different, special way, you should definitely visit the Middleton Railway. This is the world’s oldest railway, continuously functioning since 1758!
Before you leave Leeds, don’t forget to visit the Roundhay Park, one of the largest parks in Europe, perfect for a pleasant morning or afternoon.
The official language of Leeds is English.
- FOOD
- DRINKS
- COFFE
- ARTS
- OUTDOORS
- SIGHTS
