Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire and is the cultural, financial and commercial heart of the West Yorkshire Urban Area.

The diverse array of landmarks, which include rural open spaces and impressive buildings, reflects both its industrial past and its many current roles. The multicultural nature of the city is evidenced in the range of religious buildings and cultural festivals present.

The city is a major centre of higher education, being the seat of the internationally acclaimed University of Leeds as well as Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Trinity University College. The student population has stimulated growth of the nightlife in the city and there are ample facilities for sporting and cultural activities, including classical and popular music festivals, and a varied collection of museums.

Activities of interest in Leeds

There are many sites of historical value in and around Leeds. 12th century Kirkstall Abbey is one of Britain's best preserved Abbeys and across the road, visit Abbey House Museum where you can experience the sights and sounds of Victorian life. Temple Newsam is a magnificent Tudor-Jacobean country residence set within grand and beautiful parkland with one of the largest working rare breeds farms in Europe.

With nine museums and galleries, ranging from Leeds Art Gallery to Thwaite Mills working watermill museum, there is a wide range of interesting places to visit. Leeds Industrial Museum tells the story of the city's manufacturing past. There are also numerous parks and green spaces.

With a great many shops; including Harvey Nichols, restaurants, bars and clubs, there is much to see and do for any visitor to Leeds.

Getting to Leeds

By Car: Leeds is 196 miles north of London via the M1 and M621 motorways. Approximately 3.5 hours drive.

By Coach: Coaches run regularly from Victoria Coach Station in London with a journey time of approximately 4.5 hours. www.nationalexpress.com.

By Rail: Trains to Leeds depart from London Kings Cross with a journey time of 2 hrs 20 minutes. For further information on travelling by rail in the UK visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

By Air: Leeds Bradford International Airport is approximately 7 miles away from the city centre, and is well served by taxis. The cost is approximately £15 (22 Euros) from the airport to the city and campus. www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk.

Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Leeds can trace its recorded history to fifth century when the Kingdom of Elmet was covered by the forest of "Loidis", the origin of the name Leeds. In the 17th and 18th centuries Leeds became a major centre for the production and trading of wool.

Then, during the Industrial Revolution, Leeds developed into a major industrial centre; wool was still the dominant industry but flax, engineering, iron foundries, printing and other industries were important. From being a compact market town in the valley of the River Aire in the 16th century Leeds expanded and absorbed the surrounding villages to become a populous urban centre by the mid-20th century.

Leeds: the university

The University of Leeds is a major teaching and research university in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire. With over 33,000 full-time students, the university is the second largest single site university in the United Kingdom. Dating back to the establishment of the Leeds School of Medicine in 1831 and consolidated as a university in 1904, it is one of the six original civic 'red brick' universities.

Famous Alumni:

Former Secretary of State, Jack Straw, political cartoonist Steve Bell, Deputy Director General of the BBC Mark Byford, BBC News journalist Nicholas Witchell, television presenter Jenni Falconer and Sky Sports News presenter Georgie Thompson.

Singers Corinne Bailey Rae and Little Boots, musicians Mark Knopfler OBE of the band Dire Straits and Simon Rix, bassist of Leeds based band the Kaiser Chiefs. Film director Shona Auerbach and impersonator Alistair McGowan are also alumni of the university.

Former students in the field of science and technology include NASA astronaut Piers Sellers and Nobel prize winner and President of the Royal Society, George Porter.