In recent years the city of Leeds has become a true Yorkshire success story in so many ways. It has managed this amazing transformation – from a large northern industrial city into a vibrant and exciting urban community.
Yes, it has long been the capital of the Yorkshire and Humberside region. And yes, it has managed to create one of the UK’s fastest growing urban economies from a declining industrial base.
But what has marked the rise of Leeds more than any of those is the fact it has become a great city to live in and to visit.
That is certainly not what the image of Leeds was a generation ago. It has taken a few years for some of us to realise that now the city is full of great things to see and do.
This great quality of life in Leeds is attracting more and more businesses, tourists and students. The old industrial hub in Yorkshire is now an award-winning centre that is leading the way for much of the UK.
Some of the recent awards for Leeds include:
- Conde Nast Traveller readers voted Leeds the title of ‘The UK’s Favourite City’.
- Britain’s Best City for Business (Overseas Market Introduction Service of the Department of International Trade).
- Number One City for Clubbing (Mixmag Music Dance Awards).
- Visitor City of the Year (The Good Britain Guide).
- Best Place in Britain to Live (Urban Behaviours Survey by Henley Management College).
- Best UK University Destination (The Independent newspaper).
Anyone who has seen the teeming shopping centres and the wide range of parks, museums and galleries wouldn’t be surprised by many of these awards. The shops are such good quality that Lonely Planet described Leeds as ‘the Knightsbridge of the North’.
The city offers its visitors everything from seeing live jousting at the sensational Royal Armouries museum to gazing at famous masterpieces in the glorious Leeds Art Gallery, one of the UK’s top art houses.
But is it an acclaimed centre for nightlife? This is perhaps the biggest surprise of all.
To outsiders it seems Leeds has gone from being a provincial cultural backwater. The nightlife would have been thought of as old men in cloth caps drinking fizzy beer.
In contrast Leeds is now thought of as one of THE cities in the UK for after-dark action.
That means that whether you want to hit a cool cocktail bar or head off for a glamorous session of casino gaming including online with Rainbow Riches Casino where people are spoilt for choice and can play online slots. The Traveller magazine for example specifically picks out Leeds for its restaurants, bars and nightlife.
It’s all set within an attractive architectural context. There are more listed buildings in Leeds than any other English city outside London.
And this has helped generate some enviable high culture. Leeds is now the only city outside London with its own repertory theatre, ballet company and opera house.
So brace yourself for some of the finest theatre, a huge live music scene and clubs that are famous across the world.
Why has this happened? It seems to be a combination of the soaring number of students in the city, the growth in visitors and a new-found cultural confidence among the citizens themselves.
There are now more than quarter of a million students at universities and colleges in Leeds. In addition there are increasing numbers of outsiders who now visit the city because of its lively reputation.
At the same time the city has developed a reputation as being safe and friendly when the lights go down. And the nightlife is not just high quality and plentiful, it’s affordable and easy to access too.
There’s fun to be found across the city and best of all high-end venues right in the city centre.
From quality casinos like Victoria Gate in Eastgate to Michelin-starred restaurants like The Man Behind The Curtain in Vicar Lane, this is a city with high quality venues reachable on foot or by public transport.
In fact Leeds has more than 180 bars and pubs, 90 restaurants and more than 29 nightclubs – and that’s just in the easily walkable city centre.
Leeds has also been voted the UK’s most female friendly city.
Leeds sits at the heart of an area of more than five million people. That’s why it has facilities and highlights compatible with London rather than a normal provincial centre.
If you fancy buzzing nightlife – it’s all there in Leeds. And there’s more – the drink in a boutique bar or fine restaurant meal can just be start of a great night out.
Major culture is available in Leeds too. You could continue to a night at Opera North, Northern Ballet or Phoenix Dance Theatre.
Look out for the Leeds International Concert Season too – this globally famous event is the largest concert season of its kind in the UK. There are more than 200 events between September and May each year.
At a different end of the cultural spectrum there are an amazing array of live music venues to see the big names or discover new underground acts before they hit it big.
And the club scene is huge – attracting people from a wide area every night of the week. From clubs with floor after floor on non-stop music to intimate jazz bars, there’s a favourite hangout for everyone somewhere in Leeds.
Wondering what to do tonight? The easy answer is head to Yorkshire’s thriving nightlife capital: Leeds.
