Leeds Tourist Information and City Breaks

Leeds Bradford International Airport

Leeds Bradford Airport couldn't be better situated as a gateway for international visitors into Yorkshire. The airport sits midway between two of Yorkshire's largest cities, (7 miles from Bradford and 11 miles from Leeds) and within easy reach of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the North Yorkshire Moors and West Yorkshire literary hotspots such as the Bronte Sisters' historic home - the Bronte Parsonage at Haworth in West Yorkshire.

In 2005 2.6 million passengers passed through Leeds Bradford Airport, and by 2016 forecasts are at 5.1 million. Core catchment areas include business services to and from Leeds, Yorkshire's largest city, but also increasingly tourist visitors into the area.

In 2003 around 900,000 international visitors came through Yorkshire's gateway airport visiting the Yorkshire and Humber Region with visitor numbers consistently on the increase. The policy of a no frills service, with a choice of budget flights available from a wide choice of internal UK and European holiday destinations, and a limited service between the US and Pakistan has boosted Leeds Bradford Airport's growth. Destination flight choice from Leeds Bradford Airport is particularly good to other UK and Ireland destinations and to Mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and Majorca and the Balearics.

Leeds Bradford International Airport, Leeds LS19 7TU. General Enquiries and Flight Information Tel. 00 44 (0) 113 250 9696.

• Airports in Yorkshire

Leeds Museums

Leeds is firmly on the map as a UK city offering some of the best museums. The spectacular museum choice is already outstanding including the definitive museum on arms and armour at the Royal Armouries Leeds and Leeds Industrial Museum set within Armley Mills, once the largest woollen mill in Britain.

The Thackray Medical Museum is another top Leeds museum with an acclaimed medical collection and superb interactive displays bringing to life the history of Leeds' public health and the gruesome streets of Victorian Leeds for children. More Leeds museums exploring particularly Leeds' industrial heritage include the restored and fully working Twaite Mills Watermill and the superb social history galleries at Abbey House Museum.

Things are set to get even better on the Leeds museum front - the keenly awaited opening of the new Leeds City Museum is promised for August 2008, set within the Grade II listed old Leeds Civic Institute off Millennium Square. Leeds is about to enter the ranks of top cultural European city break.

• Leeds Museums

Leeds Art Galleries

Yorkshire cities and large towns offer some of the finest art galleries in the UK outside of London. Leeds serves as Yorkshire's art scene hub alongside other top art galleries at York, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Hull, David Hockney at Salts Mills near Bradford and Dean Clough Contemporary Arts Centre in Halifax.

Leeds Art Gallery lays claim to what's widely considered the finest collection of 19th and 20th century British art outside of London, whilst the neighbouring Henry Moore Institute's galleries are a hub for sculpture.

Smaller emerging contemporary art studios and art retail outlets are further boosting the Leeds arts scene on both the national and international arts stage.

• Leeds Gallery

Leeds Theatres, Festivals, Film & Concert Season

For theatre, opera, live music, film and festivals Leeds ranks among the best of the UK cities. Offering a host of venues including theatres, independent and mainstream cinema and concert hall space, Leeds is a hub for theatre breaks, film festival jaunts and classical and jazz music days during the annual Leeds Concert season. Leeds is a city with great theatres.

The ornate Victorian Grand Theatre has seen recent renovations and now plays host to big musicals often from the West End and Broadway. Move to the West Yorkshire Playhouse for dynamic hard hitting drama, as well as dance, comedy and regular modern interpretations of works by Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and Sondheim. Likewise the Carriageworks Theatre on Millennium Square plays host to regular performances of Shakespeare and the best of drama.

The city hosts a number of festivals annually including one of the country's most popular music festivals with rock roots - the Leeds Music Festival annually over the August bank holiday at Bramham Park. Leeds International Film festival bursts into life every November with numerous film screenings, talks and workshops particularly at the Leeds Arts Cinema centre - the Hyde Park Picture House and at the Carriageworks on Millennium Square.

The North's premier National Ballet are based here in Leeds, and you'll find them performing regularly at the historic Grand Theatre Leeds and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. Alongside ballet the Phoenix Dance Theatre offer cutting edge contemporary dance performances usually at the Playhouse. The best of northern opera is based here in Leeds too. Opera North perform regularly at the Leeds Grand Theatre, constantly pushing the boundaries of opera and attracting new audiences.

• Leeds Theatres
• Cinema Leeds

Leeds Shopping Victoria Quarter

With its largely pedestrianised city centre and choice of indoor and outdoor shopping spaces, Leeds is a centre for shopaholics in the North. At the heart of the Leeds Shopping Experience is the historic Victoria Quarter, a mix of covered ornate Victorian arcades offering over 70 chic shops including big designer names like Vivienne Westwood and now the new Louis Vuitton boutique.

Leeds is such a good UK shopping centre they've designated a whole Leeds Shopping week to the city (end May into June). During Leeds Shopping Week the various shopping quarters burst into life with fashion shows, special discounts, exclusive collections evenings and more. Checkout the Visit Leeds guide for forthcoming Leeds Shopping Week details.

Choose from modern shopping and leisure spaces like The Light to stunningly converted listed Victorian buildings like the Leeds Corn Exchange offering a host of fine restaurants and cookware outlets.

Checkout the choice of Leeds vintage clothing at Blue Rinse and Vintage and find every possible high street name you can think of along pedestrianised Briggate and at Leeds shopping centre meccas like the White Rose and St Johns. Europe's largest indoor market - Kirkgate is here in Leeds open 6 days a week with a different theme each day and big name stores like Harvey Nichols further boost Leeds' reputation as shopping mecca. Shopping weekend breaks don't come much better than Leeds!

• Leeds Shopping Centres

Leeds Restaurants, Bars, Pubs & Clubs

Leeds' nightlife scene is one of the best in the North. Boosted by its universities, Leeds often sees some of the best of new bands in its many live music venues (checkout the Leeds Music Scene & Music Festivals webguide right for details). This electric Northern city boasts a huge choice of bars, pubs and clubs to suit all taste from vast dance club meccas to intimate live music venues and chic chillin' bars. Checkout the bar scene around the Call Lane area of Leeds!

Leeds' reputation as 'gastro city' in the North is growing. Every possible dining experience is catered for from the best Thai in the North to the best fish and chips. New fine restaurants are constantly appearing in booming areas like Granary Wharf, and fine food lovers will want to checkout the now fully restored stunning Leeds Corn Exchange which is set to be Leeds' centre for fine dining restaurants and select cookware outlets. Take your pick from Spanish, French, Indian, Italian, Vegetarian and more all in Leeds. Plenty of Leeds venues mix food and live music with most of the Leeds bars offering food menus.

• Restaurants Leeds
• Italian Restaurants Leeds