As part of our continuing and popular spotlight series, this month we will take a look at the largest city in West Yorkshire, Leeds. Sitting on the river Aire, Leeds has a rich history dating back to 731 A.D. as a region and from 1086 Domesday book as a settlement.
Leeds History
First referred to as Loidis in 731 as a regional name, Leeds became a settlement which was mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086 as Ledes and had around 200 inhabitants at that time. It is thought that one permutation of the name was Ladenses meaning people of the fast flowing river in reference to the river Aire which flows through Leeds. Whatever the true origin of the name, a native of Leeds is, even to this day referred to as a Loiner, which is thought to stem from the original Loidis name for the region. Starting life as land owned by a favourite of William the conqueror, Ilbert de Lacy, Leeds has grown over the centuries. In 1207 Leeds was given its first charter, but it wasn’t until the Tudor period that Leeds really started to transition and in the early 17th Century Leeds gained the right to self-governance in municipal affairs as well as its first charter of incorporation from Charles I in 1623.
In the civil war Leeds was aligned with the monarchy but was taken by the parliamentarians in 1643. In 1646 Charles I was taken to Leeds as a prisoner where he spent one night in Red Hall. After the restoration Leeds started to grow as a merchant town and by the 1770’s Leeds was responsible for 30% of the entire country’s woollen exports and by 1893 Leeds had been granted city status. By the 20th Century and certainly post war a lot of the primary industries that helped shape Leeds had declined but the growth of other industries such as retail, office and media has led to Leeds becoming one of the eleven core cities in England and Wales and also turned Leeds into the dominant city in West Yorkshire.
Transport Links
Leeds is very well connected to several large motorways, the M621, M1 and the A1M as well as the M62 giving Leeds good road links to London, Sheffield and Manchester, which takes about an hour by car.
Leeds has one of the busiest train stations outside of London and is a major hub for rail services which connect places as far afield as Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Leeds has its own international airport located around 8 miles outside of Leeds centre which directly serves 8 UK destinations and 70 international destinations such as Naples, Corfu, Barcelona and Geneva to name a few.
Things to do in Leeds
As you’d expect for a city the size of Leeds, there is plenty to do.
For those who love history, take a trip to the Leeds Royal Armouries Museum, which is the home to the UK’s national collection of Arms and Armour. With suits of armour worn by Henry VIII and Charles I and even armour worn by elephants in battle, this museum is steeped in history. There are also guided tours, expert talks, chariot races and temporary exhibits related to specific points in history. As a final feather in their cap, they also run an annual jousting tournament, surely not to be missed.
For the night owls amongst you and for those with a penchant for the supernatural, why not join in on one of the Ghost nights that are held at Armley Mills? The Mills were once part of Leeds’ thriving wool industry but is now more famous for its paranormal activities. Spend the night hunting for ghosts, now that’s a story for the grandkids!
If you are a lover of chocolate then a chocolate making workshop with the Chocolate Collective is just what the Dr ordered. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to make deluxe chocolate truffles?
Those who love both culture and animals will be in for a treat at Harewood House. Not only is this 18th Century manor house home to some amazing art collections and beautiful grounds, you can also go alpaca walking, feed the penguins, learn to weave willow or learn more about gardening on one of the many masterclasses that are run throughout the year.
Shopping
Whether you like designer names or small unique boutiques, Leeds has retail therapy to suit.
Starting with Trinity, which is Leeds’ largest shopping centre with over 120 shops, bars and restaurants. You can mooch around shops such as Superdry and the Sunglasses Hut or even indulge in some jewellery at Pandora and if you need refuelling you can seek sustenance from one of the many eateries available in the centre.
For something a little more historical the Victoria shopping centre, made up of two separate areas: Victoria Quarter and Victoria Gate, is the place for you. Housed in the beautiful glass ceilinged shopping centre you will find brands such as Louis Vitton, Loake shoes, Mullberry and Rolex to name but a few.
If you want something a little less mainstream then Leeds has several independent areas such as the Corn Exchange or the Kirkgate Market, which is one of the largest indoor markets in Europe.
Eating and Drinking
Renowned as the foodie capital of the North, Leeds has a lot of offer on the culinary front.
For that fine dining experience Home is not to be missed. Offering 8 or 10 course tasting menus whilst enjoying the view over the river. The tables are situated around the kitchen, making it a rather unique dining experience.
If you love street food, pop over to Trinity kitchen which rotates six new street food vans every 8 weeks alongside the seven permanent kitchens such as the Vietnamese Pho or the more American Absurd bird.
Cocktail lovers need to pop over the Jake’s bar. They make their own Liqueurs and distillates in their very own copper still. Featured in the top 50 cocktail bars, Jake’s really is a special place to go.
Craft beer lovers will be well catered for at the Northern Monk. Inspired by the regional history of monastic brewing they brew their own craft beers and you can see how it is all done with a brewery tour.
Leeds Property
Property in Leeds starts at around £125,000 for a 1 bedroomed property to £276,000 for a 3 bedroom family home to just over £550,000 for a 5 bedroom property.
If you are renting and not buying, you can expect to pay around £750 pcm for a 1 bedroomed property, £1,190 for a three bedroomed family home and up to £1,685 for 5 bedrooms.
If our spotlight on Leeds has made you curious about a possible move to the area, please see our current property listings for Leeds. If you would like to speak with one of our local property experts, please follow this link to find contact details for our Leeds office where our professional and dedicated team of property experts will be happy to help.
