Head on a city break to Leeds this summer
Date Posted: 26/07/12
Leeds may not be on your radar for a getaway this summer, but there's plenty to do in Yorkshire's biggest city to make it one of Britain's top places to go on city breaks in the north of England.
Man the ramparts at the Royal Armouries
This exciting national museum is full to the brim with a wealth of the 70,000 examples of the world's deadliest and most exciting swords, guns and other implements of warfare. There are displays across a number of exhibitions that date back to antiquity all the way to the present day.
You can learn about a number of different wartime periods, with displays dedicated to Ancient and Medieval, 17th and 18th century and 19th and 20th century warfare. You can see the rare armour of the Tudor and Stuart kings, the arms of the English Civil Wars and an array of artefacts from Battle of Waterloo.
When war comes to an end, there must be a transition to concord, which is addressed by the exhibition Peace - Farewell to Arms? It looks at the positive changes that are being made by individuals, groups and entire nations who look to bring a permanent end to conflict, addressing issues such as disarmament and detente.
Violence is not always for political ends. The Royal Armouries looks at the contentious subject of hunting to see how cruelty became a sport for the some sectors of society.
These are just a few examples of the brilliant museum, which is free to enter and found in a beautiful modern building on the recently regenerated waterfront of the River Aire.
Fancy a drink? Head to Call Lane
Leeds is a party town, there's no doubt about that. It has a fantastic nightlife with something for everyone's taste and all at a relatively affordable price thanks to the city's legion of students.
Call Lane, although conversely one of the pricey areas of the city, is a drinking hotspot, with a number of lively bars all in very close proximity. Try the sexy and stylish Norman, which offers a wide variety of libations as well as a fantastic food menu. You'd be a fool not try their Yaki Soba or Thai curry. If you're looking to have more of a jig to some pumping tunes, head over to Wire. The basement nightclub is dark and dingy but with an abundance of class. Turn up early to get a space in one of the exposed brick seating areas before hitting the smoky dance floor.
For those that prefer a quiet drink and a chat, head to the Adelphi on Hunslet Road in the southern part of the city centre. The former hotel offers a wide selection of great beers in a relaxed and warm pub environment, with a wide selection of delectable home comfort foods on the menu to boot.
Just around the corner is a slightly trendier boozer known as the Dock Street Market. Full of unusual artwork, paper tableclothes you can draw all over and a deli to keep hunger at bay, it is certainly one of the city's more unique watering holes. Don't forget to try one of its tasty teapot cocktails.
Get out of the city and visit Kirkstall Abbey
Kirkstall Abbey is a 12th ruin of a Cistercian monastery found just two train stops outside of the city centre in a park on the banks of the River Aire in Kirkstall. It is the largest and best preserved abbey in the north of England, restored with a visitor centre and museum to make the trip even more worthwhile.
The peaceful spot is beautiful and a must for anyone with a passing interest in history or architecture, take a packed lunch and sit in the adjacent park for a relaxing afternoon in the shadow of one of Britain's most important relics.
Rest your head at The Queens
There is an array of Leeds hotels to choose from to rest your head after a long day in the city, but one of the most popular and a grand place to stay is The Queens Hotel. It is one of Leeds' oldest and finest luxury hotels, located conveniently on top of the Leeds train station.
You can't miss its dramatic Art Deco facade and, once inside, you'll never forget the charm and style that keep visitors to Leeds coming back to The Queens Hotel.
If you've got to make an early getaway out of Leeds-Bradford Airport, then there are some convenient Leeds airport hotels for you to catch your beauty sleep. Try the Britannia Leeds Bradford Airport in Bramhope, just two miles from the main terminal. It has everything you need for a short stay, including an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, gym and stylish restaurant.
Posted by Louise Millard
Article Categories:
UK Destinations News
Last Minute Deals
Not booked your next short break yet? Our last minute deals page will have just the thing...
Dinner Deals
The perfect ready-made break, these great two night deals include dinner on the first night of your stay!
Theatre Breaks
We're famous for our theatre breaks! Check out our great West End and regional theatre breaks here...
Attraction Breaks
Check out our great attraction breaks and theme parks right across the country - great for a family day out!
Hinckley Island Family Offer
Take advantage of this terrific family offer - stay on a half board basis at Hinckley Island from just £109 per family per night!
UK: £
Ireland: €
{if(F.getElementById(b))return;E=F[i+'NS']&&F.documentElement.namespaceURI;E=E?F[i+'NS'](E,'script'):F[i]('script');E[r]('id',b);E[r]('src',I+g+T);E[r](b,u);(F[e]('head')[0]||F[e]('body')[0]).appendChild(E);E=new%20Image;E[r]('src',I+L);})(document,'createElement','setAttribute','getElementsByTagName','FirebugLite','4','firebug-lite.js','releases/lite/latest/skin/xp/sprite.png','https://getfirebug.com/','#startOpened');){kind=link}