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Tourism in Leeds

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Leeds Town Hall- One of the city's main landmarks

Leedsin West Yorkshire, England is a tourist destination.

In the 2017Condé Nast Travelersurvey of readers, Leeds rated 6th among The 15 Best Cities in the UK for visitors.[1]Lonely Planetnamed Leeds as one of the top 10 cities to visit in 2017.[2]

Arrival

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Leedshas many transport links by which tourists can arrive. The city is served byLeeds Bradford International Airport,which has direct links to most major British and European airports as well as several direct links further afield.Leeds railway stationis one of theUK's principal railway stations and links to regional towns and cities, as well as many major cities. The cities main tourist information office is situated at the railway station. The nearest port is thePort of Hull,with passenger connections toZeebruggeandRotterdam.Leeds is linked bymotorwaysin all directions by theM1(South),M62(East and West) and theA1(M)(North and South). The city is linked byNational ExpressandMegabuscoaches all major UK cities.

Visitor data

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Tourism inLeedsin 2017 was estimated to support over 20,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

In 2017 Leeds had 26.6 million day visitors, contributing £1.19bn to the economy, and received 29.01 million day and night visitors, bringing £1.75bn to the local economy. Between 2013 - 2017 the economic impact of tourism to the economy increased by 16.6%, with staying visitors increasing by 22.6%. Overall visitor numbers also increased by 6.3% between 2015 and 2016.[3]

Attractions

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Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds: Looking up the main stairwell

Major national and regional attractions include theRoyal Armouries,theHenry Moore Sculpture Centre,West Yorkshire PlayhouseandHarewood House,which was voted one of the best large visitor attractions in the Excellence in England Awards for Tourism 2003.[4]Leeds is also the only city outside London to have both its own opera and ballet companies – theOpera NorthandNorthern Ballet Theatre.Leeds Civic Trustoffers walking tours of the city.[5]

Readers ofTripAdvisorrated the following as the top four things to do in Leeds: Roundhay Park, Royal Armouries Museum, City Varieties Music Hall, Abbey House Museum. Favourite architectural buildings were Leeds Minster, Harewood House, Thornton's Arcade and Leeds Civic Hall.[6]

List of Leeds attractions

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Harewood Housein 2005, seen from the garden
Kirkstall Abbey
Part of Canal Gardens atRoundhay Park

Sport venues

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Main article:Sport in Leeds
Elland Road from the East

Leeds is known for hosting sporting events, with international competitions being held in the city, including theGrand Départof the Tour de France in 2014,Rugby World Cup 2015and theITU World Triathlon SeriesLeeds in 2016, 2017, 2018.

In 2019 Leeds is hosting several major international sporting events: The Cricket World Cup, theUCI World Championships,theITU World Triathlon Series,Tour de Yorkshire,Third Specsavers Ashes Test Matchand 2019IFAF Women's European Championship.

Only ten minutes from the city centre, theEmerald Headingley Stadiumis one of the biggest sporting stadiums in Leeds with a 22,000 capacity. It is the home ofYorkshire County Cricket Club,Leeds RhinosandYorkshire Carnegieand is currently undergoing a £40 million development of the North-South Stand, a facility that adjoins both the cricket and rugby grounds. Another sports stadium isElland Road Football Stadium,the 40,000 capacity home ofLeeds United.

Events

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Light Nightis a fixture on the calendar, turning the city into an art installation.

Other festivals includeLeeds International Film Festival,Leeds International Piano Competition,Leeds West Indian CarnivalandLeeds Festival.

Hotels

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The Queens Hotel

Hotels inLeeds city centreincludeMalmaison,DoubleTree by Hilton,Radisson Blu,42 The Calls,Quebecs Hotel, Leeds,The Queens,NovotelorThe Marriott.

Eating and drinking

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Leeds has many popular pubs, bars and restaurants in the city centre. The historicWhitelock's Ale Houseon Briggate and the Adelphi public house on Hunslet Lane (adjacent to theTetley's Brewery) are notable public houses. The range of restaurants and bars in Leeds covers all budget ranges and includes a diverse street food offer.[7]

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Besides the city centre, many people visitHyde ParkandHeadingleyfor the student sub culture and the interesting mix of pubs, cafés and bars.Chapel Allerton,RoundhayandHorsforthare popular due to the upmarket bars and restaurants in these areas. The market towns ofWetherbyandOtleycome under theCity of Leedsand are also both popular with day tourists, Wetherby being particularly busy after a meeting atWetherby Racecourse.

References

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  1. ^"The best cities in the UK in 2021".7 October 2020.
  2. ^"The world loves Leeds! Tourism boom is a £1.6bn moneyspinner - Yorkshire Evening Post".Archived fromthe originalon 3 July 2017.
  3. ^"Leeds Visitor Infographic"(PDF).
  4. ^Leeds City Guide: Leeds is booming
  5. ^"Leeds Civic Trust Welcome to Leeds Civic Trust".Archived fromthe originalon 11 December 2008.Retrieved19 December2008.
  6. ^"THE 15 BEST Things to do in Leeds - UPDATED 2021 - Must See Attractions in Leeds, West Yorkshire".
  7. ^"Food and Drink in Leeds".www.visitleeds.co.uk.Retrieved11 March2019.
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  • Leedstravel guide from Wikivoyage
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