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Anyone who has ever lived in Leeds already knows its brilliance. From unrivalled independent music venues to sprawling green spaces to quietly outstanding restaurants, this Yorkshire city has it all. But outside of God’s Own County, it’s not necessarily the first place people think of when planning a UK day trip or staycation. So, here are all the reasons why we think Leeds is one of the country’s most underrated city breaks.
For starters, it’s the home of Brudenell Social Club, which Time Out recently crowned the greatest live music venue in the entire UK. James Balmont of indie rock band Swim Deep called the old working men’s club the ‘beating heart’ of the city’s live scene and Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins said that it has ‘built and developed the community around the venue with a passion that is evident in every flyer, every phone call, and every soundcheck’.
That’s not the only Leeds venue that’s made a national name for itself. The Highland Laddie on the borders of the city centre was recently named the best boozer in Britain and is one of our own favourite gastropubs in the UK thanks to its olde world charm combined with ‘irresistible hipster chutzpah’. Then you have the Domino Club, a jazz bar hidden behind the facade of a barber shop, which is part of a prestigious list of the finest bars in the world.
Leeds’ food scene is something to behold, too. Bavette, with its perfectly prepared French fare, is Time Out’s favourite restaurant there (it recently earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its excellent value), closely followed by the uber-cool Empire Cafe, the wondrous Ox Club and the intimate Sushi Nakamura.
Once the eating, drinking and dancing has worn you out, take a restorative stroll around the 700-acre Roundhay Park (home to an adorable mob of meerkats) or down the picturesque canal from Monk Bridge Viaduct to Granary Wharf. And don’t end your trip without picking up a souvenir from the arts and crafts stalls at the Corn Exchange or setting your eyes on world-renowned artworks at the Henry Moore Institute. Check out all the many other great things to do in Leeds here.
📍Explore Time Out’s full guide to the most underrated city breaks in the UK.
ICYMI: Three of the most beautiful cities in the world are in the UK.
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