| Article | Words | Excerpt | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinema | 208 | Leeds holds 2 annual film festivals: the increasingly prestigious... | Leave a comment |
| Museums | 192 | The Royal Armouries National Museum of Arms and Armouries... | Leave a comment |
| Public Parks | 206 | Whilst hardly tropical, Leeds has an unusually mild and... | Leave a comment |
| Theatre & Comedy | 135 | Grand Theatre for major shows (often straight from the... | Leave a comment |
Museums and the arts
Leeds has a large number of Museums, being the home of the Royal Armouries Museum (opened in 1996 when the collection was transferred from the Tower of London), the Leeds City Museum which is dedicated to the History of Yorkshire, the Thackray’s Medical Museum and the Leeds City Art Gallery. Leeds also boasts the Grand Theatre (where Opera North is based), the City Varieties music hall (which has hosted performances by Charlie Chaplin and Harry Houdini) and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.The Leeds Festival takes place every year in Bramham Park, having moved from Temple Newsam after pressure from some local residents. It features some of the biggest names in rock and indie music. The city is home to the Leeds International Piano Competition, held every three years since 1963, which has launched the careers of many major concert pianists. There is also the Leeds International Concert Season, the largest local authority music programme of any UK city outside London. The city also has an internationally recognised film festival; the Leeds International Film Festival is the largest film festival in England outside London and shows films from around the world. It incorporates the highly successful Leeds Children & Young People’s Film Festival, which is organised and put together entirely by people under 18 years old.The first moving pictures in the world were taken in the city, by Louis Le Prince, of Leeds Bridge in 1888, and the world’s first traffic light was also installed on Park Row.
Stately homes and parks
- Temple Newsam House, Harewood House and the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, which date from the 12th century, are on the outskirts of the city.
- To the north lies Roundhay Park with its well regarded Tropical World hothouse.
Theatre & Comedy
- Grand Theatre for major shows
- West Yorkshire Playhouse is more adventerous and often performs world premiers and encourages local talent – worth a visit. Lucky travellers may arrive in time for one of the themed, almost festival-style programmes.
- Leeds City Varieties is World famous and has even had Charlie Chaplin tread the boards. Home to a mix of shows.
- The Carriage Works is home to amatuer dramatics in the city
- Jongleurs is a National Chain of comedy club based in the city
Museums
- The Royal Armouries National Museum of Arms and Armouries (Free entry too).
- The Thackray Medical Museum Museum of the year 1998
- Temple Newsam House Collection of fine and decorative arts in Tudor-Jacobean mansion with parkland and working farm
- Lotherton Hall set in parkland with Bird Garden
- Armley Mills Industrial Museum Once the world’s largest woolen mill, see the industrial past of Leeds
- Thwaite Mills working water mill and museum
- Kirkstall Abbey One of the UK’s best preserved abbeys.
- Abbey House Museum Walk round a Leeds street in 1880!
- Leeds Art Gallery is on The Headrow, by the Town Hall. It has a small but interesting range of exhibits, and is a great place to kill half an hour, and it’s free!
Parks & Countryside
- Roundhay Park Huge picturesque park with 2 lakes, cafe, flower gardens and walks. Right next to Tropical World, be sure to visit both in one day.
- Golden Acre Park Gardens and cafe set around huge lake
- Lotherton Hall Deer park, birdgarden, historic hall and cafe
- Temple Newsam Park Country mansion, parkland and rare breeds visitor farm (excellent for kids)
- Otley Chevin
- Meanwood Valley Trail
- The Trans Pennine Trail
NightlifeLeeds was voted Best UK City for Clubbing
Cinema
Leeds holds 2 annual film festivals: Leeds Film Festival and Leeds Young People’s Film Festival
City Centre
- The Vue in The Light Brand new 13-screen multiplex with huge screens
Headingley
- Cottage Road Cinema in the centre of Headingley. Plenty to do afterwards as well.
- Hyde Park Picture House is another excellent independent cinema in the midst of the hot-bed of student habitation in the town. The cinema shows a mix of modern mainstream and art-cinema films as well as a formidable selection of classics. Lucky cinephiles may even experience the latter in conjunction with an introductory speech prepared for local film students. It retains many of its original features including gas lighting.
Out of Town
- The Vue at Kirkstall just out of the City Centre, free parking, restaurants, pubs a club and a gym
- Showcase Multiplex with restaurants, shops and free parking.
- Odeon Leeds Bradford brand new multiplex
- Xscape Castleford 14 screen multiplex under the indoor snowdome, with bars, reatil clearance outlets and retaurants
Live Music
Leeds is home to many live performances from big-name stars, mostly at outdoor concerts. If you are unable to get tickets direct from the sites below, try Ticket Master.
- Leeds Festival – 3 days of live bands and stars from around the world play to 80,000 people every summer bank holiday weekend. Northern twin of the famous Reading festival. You can camp over, or attend just one day. 2006 includes Pearl Jam, Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs.
- Millennium Square in the City Centre regularly has gigs with a 7,000 capacity. Including in 2006 Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol & Hard-Fi.
- The Cockpit nightclub and the Leeds Met Uni are great for live bands indoors.
- Leeds is planning to build an indoor concert arena upto 14,000 seats.
- Roundhay Park is host to occasional huge one off concerts including Robbie Williams 90,000 capacity concerts in 2006. Previous artists include Madonna, U2, The Rolling Stones and ‘The King Of Pop’ Micheal Jackson.
- Harewood House holds concerts throughout the summer, including – in 2006 – The Who, and Westlife.
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