48 hours in Leeds

Leeds is the perfect city for a short break this summer and, while I know it sounds like a cliché, the city does have something to offer everyone. What I love about the city centre is that everything you need is so close together, and, if you are the adventurous type, you are only twenty minutes from the Yorkshire Dales.

Getting around

Leeds is one of the few cities that offer a free bus service. The free Leeds city bus operates from outside the train station and takes you through the city centre, to the universities and then back into the city centre to the main bus station. However, for journeys outside the centre I would recommend that you use the local bus or train network.

Recommended restaurants

My favourite restaurant is La Tasca, a Spanish restaurant on Greek Street. The £10 all-you-can-eat menu is a bargain, and the food is delicious. Near the Corn Exchange you will find an Italian restaurant called Zizzi that serves up tasty meatballs and spaghetti.

Another favourite of mine is the Waterfront restaurant. It has beautiful views of the canal, and the rib-eye steak is mouth-watering. You cannot leave Leeds, though, without having a roast dinner at Whitelocks, the oldest pub in Leeds.

Recommended bars and pubs

To sample beers from around the world then a visit to North Bar is highly recommended; it has a great atmosphere, but it is pricey. For a cheaper, drink head to Beckett’s Bank, or spend the evening in the converted canal boat called the Dry Dock, a favourite with students.

For traditional pubs, head down the side streets on Briggate and find the Angel, Whitelocks and the Ship, or, if you’re into trendy bars, walk towards the Oracle bar on the waterfront. If you are visiting the theatre then the Lounge is a nice bar to chill out in.

For the kids

Take the kids out for an educational day out with a trip to the Leeds City Museum, where they will learn about the history of Leeds and life on Earth, or the Royal Armouries – again, very educational. They are both museums I can recommend. Oh, and entrance is free, too.

Leeds has loads of open spaces; I recommend a picnic at Roundhay Park, taking the kids to Kirkstall Abbey, or strolling around Lotherton Hall. You could spend the afternoon mountain biking through Otley Chevin, or walk up Ilkley Moor to the White Wells bath house.

Shopping in Leeds

You could easily spend a weekend just shopping. Everything is within walking distance: the Victoria Quarter with its designer shops, and the Light and Headrow shopping centres. See if you can find the Victorian arcades, or head down to the waterfront and Granary Wharf.

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