A big city in a big county – that’s lively Leeds.

York may be Yorkshire's real “capital” with its colourful and varied history, but it is Leeds which dominates in the modern world of business and finance.

Voted Britain’s Best City for Business 2003 it is also regarded as the fastest growing city in the UK and the largest financial centre outside of London.

This vast and bustling city has seen major economic growth with industries including retail, call centres, offices and media contributing to a high rate of economic growth since the early 1990s.

Over 33 per cent of the UK’s internet traffic goes through Leeds, making it one of the most important regional internet centres in the UK.

The city's success is reflected in its buildings with 16 skyscrapers under construction or proposed.
For entertainment, night clubs and sporting facilities Leeds excels.
Millennium Square is home to The Ice Cube - Europe’s largest open air ice skating rink and at Christmas Leeds has one of the largest displays of lights in Europe, with illuminations covering over 13 miles (21 km) of street.

Other major events include:

*The Leeds International Pianoforte Competition which takes place every three years and is next due in 2009.
*Party in the Park and Opera in the Park are major free events held each summer at Temple Newsham.
*The Leeds Mela is held each summer in Roundhay Park.
*The Leeds International Film Festival takes place each autumn and there is also an annual Leeds Young People's Film Festival.
*A half marathon takes place every May, starting in the Town centre and running in a loop around the North of the city.
*The Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival takes place every August bank holiday at Bramham Park
Leeds has a wealth of sports facilities including the 40,000 capacity Elland Road football stadium, a host stadium during the 1996 European Football Championship; the Headingley Carnegie Stadiums, world famous for both cricket and rugby league; John Charles Centre for Sport with an Olympic sized pool in its Aquatics Centre and a stadium used for rugby league (Hunslet RLFC), athletics, bowls, football and tennis. Other facilities include the Leeds Wall (climbing)and Yeadon Tarn sailing centre. Nearby, in Castleford, is Xscape (real snow indoor ski and snowboard slope with ice climbing wall).

A major attraction is the Royal Armouries Museum, which is to be found at Leeds and other museumsin the area focus on the city’s industrial past.

Other attractions include the Grand Theatre (where Opera North is based), the City Varieties Music Hall (which has hosted performances by Charlie Chaplin and Harry Houdini plus being the venue of TV's "The Good Old Days") and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.

Leeds has a wide variety of shops and department stores, one of the largest in the UK and has become known as the Knightsbridge of the North.

Shopping ranges from individual one-off boutiques to large department stores. The Victoria Quarter, several existing arcades connected by roofing the entirety of Queen Victoria Street with stained glass, is the jewel in Leeds’ shopping crown and is located off Briggate, the city’s main shopping street.

Market, Granary Wharf, Leeds Shopping Plaza, Headrow Shopping Centre, The Light, The St John's Centre, The Merrion Centre Leeds, Crown Point, Birstall Retail Park and the White Rose Centre. In addition, there are two proposed shopping centres, namely the Harewood/Eastgate Quarter and Trinity Quarter.

With a growing student population, Leeds boasts a large number of pubs, bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Additionally, there are also a number of smaller venues which cater for underground and DIY gigs, such as Sela Bar, Brudenell Social Club and the Leeds West Indian Centre.
Leeds has gained a reputation as one of the UK’s favourite clubbing destinations and is often described as the UK’s clubbing ‘capital’, being a popular Stag and Hen Weekend destination.


Getting there
Take M180 towards Doncaster before joining M18
At junction 37 change onto M62 in direction of Leeds, M62, The North.
Travel on M62 for 23.7 miles to M1 junction. Follow M1 signs The North, Leeds (centre).
At junction 43 change from M1 onto M 621 to Leeds (centre).
Total distance from Scunthorpe is 54 miles. Travelling time - about 1 hour.