Leeds is a metropolitan borough located in West Yorkshire has and the second largest English population of 717,000, with 75 different nationalities living there. During the Industrial Revolution, Leeds became a major industrial centre; where wool, flax, engineering, iron foundries, printing and other industries were developing the cities economy continuously. Leeds has a juxtaposition of buildings that represent both its industrial and cultural past. It has also evolved into a learning hub within its three Universities, University of Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Trinity University College.
With a student population of over 200,000, Leeds is internationally recognised as one of the UK’s largest and best university cities. Full of culture, Leeds boasts three art-house cinemas, the internationally acclaimed Yorkshire Playhouse, live music venues fantastic nightlife and some of the UK’s best shopping outside of London.
Leeds city centre has five miles of shopping streets and over 1000 retail stores covering 3.5 million sq ft of retail floor space. 40,000 people come to work in this retail Mecca every day on one of the country’s largest pedestrianised zones. There are many indoor shopping centres’ including Leeds Shopping Plaza, St.John's Centre, Headrow Centre, The Victoria Quarter, The Light, Corn Exchange and the Merrion Centre.
Leeds is also the only English city outside London with its own repertory theatre, opera house, ballet companies and the most listed buildings in England, such as the Victoria Quarter, Leeds Corn Exchange and Harewood House, home of the Queen’s cousin. The great collection of British Art can be found at Leeds City Art Gallery including works by Henry Moore.
Headingley and Elland Road are two famous stadiums in Leeds. The Rhinos in Rugby League and Leeds Carnegie in Rugby Union keep sport alive in this sporting heritage city. The rugby teams share Headingley Stadium with Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Leeds United Football club, formed in 1919, were promoted in 2010 and begin their new season as part of the Football League Championship. The club is based in Elland Road, which holds 40,000 capacity.
Leeds is surrounded locally by the Yorkshire Dales, with the Yorkshire Dales National Park located 20 miles from Leeds. Yorkshire is the largest county in the UK. Green and open spaces are very important to Leeds. Roundhay and Temple Newsam Park are maintained by Leeds Council along with open spaces such as Leeds City Square, Park Square and Millennium Square. Victory Gardens is a war memorial and just one of 42 others in the suburbs, and surrounding towns of Leeds.