Hotels in Leeds this is your Accommodation guide. |
||
 |
 |
 |
Welcome to Book Hotels in Leeds
Leeds Town Hall was built in 1858, on a site in Park Lane. It was a statement of civic pride, a reminder of the importance of Leeds as a centre of trade and commerce, and an indication of the wealth of at least some of its citizens. The building has become famous as an example of a kind of Victorian architecture that reflects the wealth, power and confidence of the age in which it was created.
There was much controversy over both the style of the building, and over the building works themselves. As the work progressed however, the idea of building a 'municipal palace' took over, and no expense was spared in creating a magnificent Town Hall. It is no wonder that the final cost far exceeded the original estimate for the work. Queen Victoria herself agreed to perform the opening ceremony, perhaps the most important celebration in the history of the city.
This is the story of the events that led up to that day, and of the many different ways that the Town Hall has been used since then; as council offices, as a courthouse, for concerts, royal celebrations, and events of all kinds. On the day it was opened it was at the centre of the life of the city of Leeds; it has remained so ever since.
Recently Leeds has received accolades in the field of tourism; including being voted by Conde Nast Traveller magazine Readers' Awards as the "UK's favourite city" and "Visitor city of the year" by The Good Britain Guide. Leeds has excellent transport links with the rest of Yorkshire and the UK.
Leeds Bradford International Airport has flights connecting to Europe, and the rest of the world via London Heathrow Airport, Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Leeds City railway station is very modern and has regular trains to the rest of Yorkshire and the UK. Leeds also has excellent road links via the A1, M1, M62 and M621 motorways. Leeds also has a large modern bus station served by National Express and local bus services. It is also possible to travel to Rotterdam and Zeebrugge by ferry from Hull, only an hour away.
An inhabitant of Leeds is locally known as a Loiner, a word of uncertain origin, possibly from Loidis, an early name for Leeds mentioned around 700AD by Bede. The term is rarely used or understood. The mock-classical adjectives Leodensian and Leodiensian are sometimes used by some local sports clubs, and the word Leodensian also features in the lyrics of "I Predict a Riot" by Kaiser Chiefs, although in that context it was referring to John Smeaton, a famous 18th century resident of the city as a founder of Leeds Grammar School, as a Leeds Grammar School leaver is called an Old Leodensian.
Famous people born in and around the Leeds area include; actor Peter O'Toole, BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, singer Corinne Bailey Rae, former Spice Girl Mel B, comedian Julian Barratt from the duo Mighty Boosh, comedian Vic Reeves, model Nell McAndrew, former DJ and TV presenter Sir Jimmy Savile and Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman. Playwright Alan Bennett was also born in Leeds.
