Shopping in Leeds

Most of the retail activity in Leeds, northern England, is contained within central Leeds. The city centre has attracted many upmarket retailers in recent years, including Harvey Nichols, leading to Leeds being dubbed 'Knightsbridge of the North'.[1]

City centre

Briggate
Commercial Street, home to most of the cities phone stores

The Shopping Quarter of Leeds city centre is the area which traditionally extended south from The Headrow to Boar Lane, but now extends north of The Headrow through the St. Johns, Merrion and The Light shopping centres. Most of the city's major shops are located north of Boar Lane and south of the Merrion Centre. Like any major city, the shopping district is home to both major international chains, including Marks & Spencer (founded in 1894 on a small stall at the city's market), and independent shops. The Corn Exchange has traditionally championed many of these shops and since a refurbishment in 2007–08, re-opened as a boutique shopping destination. The entire lower-ground level is now occupied by a new restaurant, the Piazza by Anthony, which has been followed by a growing number of independent fashion boutiques and creative enterprises, including Hidden Wardrobe and Outrage Jewellers.

Most streets in the Shopping Quarter are connected to Briggate. It is one of many of the main shopping streets and is also home to several national and international food chains.

Briggate is one of Leeds' main shopping streets, the other being The Headrow. In the 1960s The Merrion Centre was constructed to provide the city centre with modern shopping facilities away from the increasingly busy roads.

Leeds city centre has many shopping centres including:

The city also boasts many Victorian shopping arcades, particularly around Briggate. The Victoria Quarter is made up of shopping arcades.

Pedestrianisation

Much of the shopping areas of Leeds city centre have been pedestrianised. Briggate, Lands Lane, Albion Place, Bond Street, Commercial Street, King Edwards and Kirkgate (from Briggate to Vicar Lane) have all been pedestrianised.

Markets

Leeds Kirkgate Market
Main article: Leeds Kirkgate Market

There are two markets in Leeds city centre. The main one is Leeds City Market, named Kirkgate Market locally, on Vicar Lane which is made up of several halls built at different times over the last century. It is Europe's largest covered market. There is also a smaller outdoor trading area at Kirkgate Market. The original markets where Michael Marks started his Penny Bazaar, which became Marks and Spencer were located near to City Square.

There are regular Sunday Farmers Markets on Briggate and an annual Christmas Market in Millennium Square.

Leeds Corn Exchange

Main article: Leeds Corn Exchange

The Leeds Corn Exchange is located on Vicar Lane close to Leeds Kirkgate Markets. Following a £1.5m refurbishment in 2008, Leeds Corn Exchange is now home to a range of creative, innovative and independent retailers. Already home to Piazza by Anthony, The Hidden Wardrobe, Dawn Stretton and Outrage Jewellery, in early 2010 Leeds Corn Exchange welcomed Primo's, Russo Italia, Mki and Mummy & Little Me.

Clarence Dock

Clarence Dock is a new riverside development on the outskirts of central Leeds that opened in 2008. Clarence Dock attracted many up-market shops including G-Star, All Saints and more. It also has restaurants, bars and riverside apartments.

White Rose Centre

The White Rose Centre
Main article: White Rose Centre

The White Rose Centre is a large out of town shopping centre situated in between Beeston and Morley. It opened in 1997 and boasts 4800 free parking spaces as well as 107 shops. The White Rose Centre is anchored by Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's, Debenhams, British Home Stores and Primark. The centre has a large central food court. The White Rose Centre has its own bus station, but despite it being located adjacent to a railway line, it has no station, the nearest being Cottingley railway station.

Supermarkets

Leeds has many supermarkets. The UK's second largest supermarket, Asda was founded in Leeds and has its headquarters in the city. Below is a list of the city's supermarkets. A supermarket is considered worthy of noting on this list if its square footage qualifies it for reduced Sunday opening under the law in England and Wales.

Beeston

Bramley

Chapel Allerton

Morrisons in the Merrion Centre

City centre

Colton

Cross Gates

Garforth

Gipton

Guiseley

Headingley

Asda at Holt Park.

Holt Park

Horsforth

Morrisons in Horsforth, Leeds

Hunslet

Killingbeck

Kippax

Kirkstall

Middleton

Meanwood

Moor Allerton

Moortown

Morley

Oakwood/Roundhay

Otley

Pudsey

Rothwell

Tesco at The Seacroft Green Shopping Centre

Seacroft

Swillington

White Rose Centre

Wortley

Morrisons at Wetherby, West Yorkshire was redeveloped as part of the redevelopment of the Horsefair Centre, Morrions occupy the anchor store in the centre.
Interior of The Horsefair Centre in Wetherby looking towards Morrisons

Wetherby

Yeadon

References

  1. ↑ Veronica Garbutt. "Leeds Travel Information and Travel Guide – England". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, March 15, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.