Leeds - History, Industry and economy, Development, Areas of the City, Tourism, Culture, People from Leeds

53°50N 1°35W, urban area pop (2001e) 715 400. City in West Yorkshire, N England, UK; on the R Aire, 315 km/196 mi NW of London; ford across the R Aire in Roman times; in the 18th-c became an important centre of cloth manufacture; birthplace of Lord Darnley (Temple Newsam); incorporated by Charles I in 1626; canals link to Liverpool, Goole; railway (important early freight and passenger centre); university (1904); Leeds Metropolitan University (1992, formerly Leeds Polytechnic); textiles, clothing, leather, chemicals, furniture, plastics, paper, electrical equipment; Civic Hall (1933), Town Hall (1858), art gallery, Churches of St John (1634) and St Peter (1841), Kirkstall Abbey (1147); Leeds Music Festival (every 3 years, Apr); International Pianoforte Competition (every 3 years, Sep); film festival; football league team, Leeds United (Peacocks).

Leeds is a major city on the River Aire and the urban core of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England.

History

The name "Leeds" came from "Leodis", which was a name recorded in Anglo-Saxon sources for a Celtic kingdom that survived in the area for a while after the Anglo-Saxon invasion.

Leeds has been known since being mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086. In 1893 Leeds had been granted city status.

By the 20th century this social and economic had started to change with the creation of academic institutions such the academic institutions that are known today as the University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Trinity & Leeds Development Corporation ran from 1988-95 and helped to focus attention on two decayed industrial areas (lower Kirkstall Valley and the riverside area to the south east of the city centre).

Today Leeds is known as one of eight core cities that act as a focus of their respective regions and Leeds is generally regarded as the dominant city of the ceremonial county of West Yorkshire.

Industry and economy

and List of companies based in Leeds

Leeds was recently voted Britain's Best City for Business by Omis Research.

Leeds has one of the largest Live and Work Credit Unions in the UK. Employing over 40 people with offices in the centre and surrounding areas it brings financial services to everyone in Leeds. Leeds City Credit Union is a membership owned co-operative that provides financial services to the less well off as well as those with what is normally considered sufficient means. From Leeds station (the 6th busiest in the UK- the busiest outside of London ) MetroTrains operated by Northern Rail operate to all parts of West Yorkshire and surrounding local and commuter locations and other operators including GNER, Virgin Cross Country, Midland Mainline and First Transpennine Express operate services to the rest of the country. Leeds remains the largest city in the European Union without a mass transit system.

Leeds was chosen as the focus of the A58, A61, A62, A63, A64 and A65 roads.

Leeds Bradford International Airport is located to the north-west of the city and has scheduled flights to destinations within Europe, Egypt and Turkey.

Development

In recent times Leeds has seen many new developments. Some large schemes that are proposed or under construction include:

Holbeck Urban Village regeneration Clarence Dock (Completion 2007) Quarry Hill Cultural Quarter Leeds Metropolitan University rebuilding & partial relocation Millennium Square Leeds Station modernization Leeds Arena St. James' University Hospital Oncology wing (Jimmy's) Harewood/Eastgate shopping quarters (commence Late 2006/Early 2007) Trinity Shopping Quarter (commence 2006) South Leeds Sports Centre Leeds Bradford International Airport expansion Whitehall Road Wellington Place Completion of Leeds Inner Ring Road and construction of East Leeds Relief Road

High rise schemes are making a much bigger mark on Leeds' skyline. 2 (advanced planning) The Gateway (construction) Mayfair (advanced planning) Brunswick Terrace Spiracle Tower Kite Tower Leeds University Wade Lane Apartments Green Bank including Providence Tower (GreenBank Website) (advanced planning) Clarence Dock (construction) Sweet Street (advanced planning) Marshall Street (planning) Monkbridge Forge (planning) West Central

Areas of the City

Aberford Adel Alwoodley Aireborough Armley Barwick & Kippax Beckett Park Beeston Belle Isle Bramley Burmantofts Burley City Chapel Allerton Chapeltown Colton Cookridge Cross Flatts Cross Gates East End Park Farsley Garforth Gipton Halton

Halton Moor Harehills Hawksworth Headingley Holbeck Holt Park Horsforth Hunslet Hyde Park Kirkstall Ireland Wood Lawnswood Little London Meanwood Middleton Moorside Moortown Moor Grange Morley Oakwood Otley and Wharfedale Potternewton Pudsey Rawdon

Richmond Hill Rothwell Roundhay Seacroft Shadwell village Sheepscar Stanningley Swillington Swinnow Temple Newsam Tinshill Weetwood West Park Wetherby Whinmoor Whitkirk Woodhouse Wortley Wykebeck Yeadon

Prior to the 1974 reorganisation of government, the City of Leeds was defined as including the former parishes of Armley, Beeston, Bramley, Chapel Allerton, Farnley, Headingley/Burley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Leeds, Osmondthorpe, Potter Newton, Seacroft, Temple Newsam, Wortley.

Tourism

Recently Leeds has received accolades in the field of tourism; Leeds Bradford International Airport has flights connecting to Europe, and the rest of the world via London Heathrow Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Culture

Sport

The city has a strong sporting heritage, with Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Football Club and Leeds Tykes Rugby Union Football Club playing at Headingley Stadium, and Leeds United Association Football Club playing at Elland Road. Unlike many other large cities such as Manchester and Sheffield, Leeds only has one association football team.

Leeds United were formed in 1919 on the bankruptcy of a previous club, Leeds City.

Leeds Rhinos were crowned Super League champions on 16 October 2004 after defeating arch rivals Bradford Bulls 16-8 at Old Trafford.

Leeds Tykes won their first ever trophy in 2005 with battling performance to defeat favourites Bath Rugby in the Powergen Cup final.

Leeds City AC is amongst the biggest and most successful athletics clubs in the North of England and has had the most successful men's harriers section in the country in the 21st century.

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, 22,000 capacity Carnegie Headingley Stadium, world famous for both cricket and rugby league, Leeds International Pool (50m), South Leeds Stadium used for athletics, bowls, football and tennis. Other facilities include the Leeds Wall (climbing), Yeadon Tarn sailing centre, and Garforth Jets Badminton Club.

Media

Leeds has bases for some media activities for the UK. Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd, owned by Johnston Press plc, is based in the city, and produces a daily morning broadsheet, the Yorkshire Post, and an evening paper, the Yorkshire Evening Post, as well as other publications such as Leeds Express and the weekly freesheets of the Leeds Weekly News, Wharfe Valley Times and Pudsey Times.

There are also a number of regular dedicated lifestyle magazines based in Leeds, most notably including 'The Leeds Guide' and 'Absolute Leeds', which both include regular nightlife listings and pages on Food & Both magazines reflect the diversity of cultural life in Leeds and Yorkshire, with areas such as Art, Literature, Cinema, Comedy, Dance, Gay Scene, Classical Music, Opera, Jazz and Theatre all regularly represented. BBC Television and Yorkshire Television both have studios and broadcasting centres in Leeds, but there is concern over the future of regional independent television with the consolidation of Independent Television franchises in the UK. BBC Radio Leeds, Radio Aire, Magic 828, Galaxy 105, Real Radio and Yorkshire Radio all broadcast from the city. Leeds is the UK's third largest media city, behind London and Manchester.

A recent development in industry (particularly the boosting of the British film industry), Yorkshire will host the International Indian Film Academy Awards in 2007, where Leeds and Sheffield will play core parts in this, being the two keys cities during the ceremony.

In the late 1990s dot-com boom, Leeds became one of the key hubs in the emerging new media sector - companies such as Freeserve, Energis, Sportal, TEAMtalk and Ananova emerged to dominate the UK internet industry, with Freeserve and Ananova going on to become part of Wanadoo and Orange within France Télécom. Now, over 33% of the UK's internet traffic goes through Leeds, making it the UK's largest internet city outside London.

Museums and the arts

Leeds has a small 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. 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 Leeds International Film Festival is the largest film festival in England outside London and shows films from around the world.

Some of the first moving pictures in the world were taken in the city, by Louis Le Prince, of Leeds Bridge in 1888, and the first set of traffic lights in Yorkshire were installed on Park Row. Other significant stateley homes that are located in proximity to Leeds include Bramham Park, Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall. Other parks in the Leeds area include Golden Acre Park which lies between Adel and Bramhope, Hall Park in Horsforth, Woodhouse Moor in Hyde Park, Potternewton Park between Chapeltown and Harehills, East End Park in the location of the same name, Temple Newsam situated south of Halton Moor, Halton, Whitkirk and Colton, Cross Flatts Park in Beeston and Middleton Park in Middleton.

Shopping

Leeds has become known as the Knightsbridge of the North. The diverse range of shopping, from individual one-off boutiques to large department stores, including Harvey Nichols, has greatly expanded the Leeds retail base. Other shopping attractions include the Corn Exchange, Leeds Kirkgate Market , Granary Wharfe, Leeds Shopping Plaza, Headrow Shopping Centre, The Light, The St Johns Centre, The Merrion Centre Leeds, Crown Point, Birstall Retail Park and the White Rose Centre.

Music

and List of bands originating in Leeds Artists

Though not as prolific as its neighbour Manchester across the Pennines, or indeed Sheffield to its south, Leeds has still produced many notable acts. Leeds also produced one of the most famous one-hit-wonders ever, Chumbawamba

Dance music and the clubbing scene

House music had a big impact on Leeds when it arrived in the late 1980's.

Along with Sheffield and Bradford, Leeds was a centre for the Yorkshire Bleeps and Bass scene in 1989-1990, with influential local bands such as LFO, Nightmares on Wax, Ital Rockers, Unit 93 and Juno on Sheffield's Warp Records and Leeds' Bassic Records.

The earlier underground house scene developed into the Leeds club scene of the 1990's, when for a while Leeds held the title of Britain's clubbing capital.

DIY scene

Leeds is very well-known for its current DIY underground music scene, encompassing the genres of hardcore, post-hardcore, post-punk, and noise rock among others.

Festivals

Leeds initially played host to the northern leg of the V festival between 1996 and 1998 before the event moved to Weston Park, Staffordshire.

In 2000, Leeds played host to the first and as of 2006 the only ever BBC Radio 1 Love Parade at Roundhay Park.

Since 1999 the Leeds Festival, a northern leg of the well established Reading Festival, has taken place on August bank holiday weekend. The event was initially held at Temple Newsam (the venue for the Leeds V Festival) before protests from residents forced a move to Bramham Park.

Leeds is also home to the International Pianoforte Competition which is regarded highly.

West Yorkshire Playhouse and the neighbouring Venue at Leeds College of Music play host to the biennial FuseLeeds festival showcasing an eclectic mix of more left-field music.

Venues

Leeds plays host to many venues, currently including Leeds University refectory (where The Who recorded their 1970 live album Live at Leeds), Leeds Metropolitan University , The Cockpit, Brudenell Social Club , The Faversham , The Hi-Fi club , The Wardrobe, The Irish Centre, Joseph's Well , The New Roscoe , The Vine and The Mixing Tin among others.

Occasional gigs are held in Millennium Square in the city centre (including the Kaiser Chiefs and Fall Out Boy in 2006), Roundhay Park (which was home to Love Parade in 2000 and has hosted gigs by the likes of Robbie Williams, U2, Michael Jackson and The Rolling Stones), Harewood House has hosted gigs by the likes of James Blunt and The Who, Leeds Town Hall (hosted the Kaiser Chiefs and many classical music events) and Leeds Parish Church.

Recently attempts have been made to build an arena in the city (currently larger touring acts tend to play either Manchester or Sheffield owing to the relatively small capacity of the refectory, Leeds's biggest permanent venue).

Nightlife

Leeds has a very large student population and boasts a large number of bars and nightclubs, as well as venues for live bands such as the Cockpit, The New Roscoe, Joseph's Well and The Wardrobe which combine to generate a vibrant nightlife.

Leeds has gained a reputation as one of the UK's favourite clubbing destinations. Often described as the UK's 'clubbing capital', Leeds is best known as the home of pioneering club nights Back to Basics and Speedqueen.

Complete listings and reviews of bars, pubs and nightclubs in Leeds can be found online at Leeds City Guide, an extensive online venue and lifestyle guide. Live music events are also listed on Leeds Gig Guide, Cops and Robbers and 'Leeds, Live it, Love it'.

Leeds is home to a number of 'super-clubs' including Creation, Evolution and Oceana.

Leeds is also home to some Bohemian bars that are not aimed at the 'usual' weekend crowd - especially the bars in and around Briggate and North Street (North bar, Sandanista, Mojo, The Reliance(Reli), Reform, etc), Baby Jupiter on York Place and Milo on Call Lane.

Religious Communities

Christianity

The majority of people in Leeds consider themselves to be Christian of which most belong to the Church of England. Leeds also has a large Roman Catholic community and is the Episcopal of the Diocese of Leeds.

Judaism

Leeds has a large Jewish community, especially around the Alwoodley area.

Hinduism

The small Hindu community in Leeds have a Hindu temple at Hyde Park. Herein major Hindu religious festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi,Durga Puja,Dusshera and Diwali are celebrated with gaiety.The temple is has all the major Hindu Deities and is also dedicated to the Lord Mahavir of the Jains

Buddhism

Various Buddhist sects are also represented in Leeds.

People from Leeds

An inhabitant of Leeds is locally known as a Loiner, a word derived from the 'Loins' (or lanes) around Briggate in the city centre, although the term is rarely used or understood.

Many famous people have been born in Leeds including novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, former Spice Girl Mel B and comedian Vic Reeves.

Artists based in Leeds

Axis is an online database listing practising artists within the UK.

Kerry Harker Emma Bolland Tony Quinn (Photographer) - Photographer based in Leeds specialising in images of the changing face of the City. Derek Horton (writer) Peter David Hamilton - (visual artist) James Wakefield (photographer)

Education

Leeds has a very large number of primary schools, secondary schools and further and higher education establishments with Education Leeds having responsibility for statutory education for young people in the City.

Leeds has two universities, the University of Leeds, with around 31,500 full-time students (and a further 52,000 on short courses), and Leeds Metropolitan University with around 26,000 (according to UCAS; It also has several higher education colleges: Leeds College of Art and Design (formerly Jacob Kramer College), Trinity & All Saints' College accredited by the University of Leeds, and Leeds College of Music, which is the largest music college in the UK.

The cities two main independent schools are Leeds Grammar School and Leeds Girls' High School. Leeds Grammar School is situated on the outskirts of the city at Alwoodley Gates and dating back to 1552, is the principal independent school for boys. Leeds Girls' High School is an independent, selective school for girls, located in Headingley and consistently ranked highly in education tables.

The city is home to several further education colleges, such as Park Lane College Leeds (the largest FE College in Leeds with over 38,500 students), Leeds College of Technology and Thomas Danby College.

The city is home to many high schools such as Royds School, Rodillian High School, Allerton High School which was started in 1901, Roundhay School Technology College and Morley High School was founded as a grammar school in 1907, but became a mixed comprehensive in 1975. Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College is a very large college for A-level students close to Leeds City centre.

OFSTED reports are available for all schools and further education colleges in Leeds.

Under the Governments targets for better schools for children, Education Leeds has been given several £billion to help towards the cost of refurbishing or rebuilding primary and secondary schools in Leeds. (eds.) (2004) Twenty-first century Leeds: geographies of a regional city, Leeds University Press, Leeds; (2005), Leeds, Pevsner Architectural Guides, Yale University Press, London

Cultural

The annual Leeds festival Leeds Music Scene - Information about Leeds bands and musicians Leeds Film Festival Leeds Music Festival West Yorkshire Playhouse The School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds

Transport

Leeds Bradford International Airport Information about public transport in the region The Trans Pennine Trail

Sport

Leeds Rhinos (Rugby League) and Leeds Tykes (Rugby Union) Leeds United Football Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Miscellaneous

Leeds travel guide from Wikitravel Leeds City Council Leeds City (Metropolitan) Council. 'Leeds, Live it, Love it' Official city website, for Visitors, Business, Students and Residents. Leeds on the BBC Leeds City Guide - Information about Bars, Pubs, Clubs, Hotels and Restaurants Leeds Statistics - geographical information and statistics across the district Leeds Chamber of Commerce (Leeds Chamber) Leeds Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI Leeds) Leeds Initiative - the Local Strategic Partnership bringing together public, private, voluntary and community sectors Leeds Construction Link Leeds Construction News and Resources Go back in time with Leodis, find out what Leeds used to look like Virtual Tour of the City of Leeds, the result of over 25,000 images photographed over 9 years VR Leeds Gateway Church Leeds Hyde Park Picture House Leeds By Example LoveMyTown - City of Leeds civic pride facts Leeds at Google Maps Leeds Skyscapers Leeds Buildings, Projects & Leeds United web-site Leeds Rhino's web-site

Coordinates: 53°47′59″N, 1°32′57″W