hkskyline's 2026 in LEEDS, England

[hkskyline]

I originally had set my sights on York, but because hotels were quite astronomically expensive, I looked elsewhere and found a good deal around Leeds, so why not spend a day there exploring as well?

The city centre was very walkable and pleasant other than the fairly visible homeless presence. Nevertheless, I felt safe to enjoy the architecture on a sunny day.

Many towns across England have corn exchanges, but Leeds' is a bit unique being an oval-shaped structure. Built in the early 1860s based on a design by Cuthbert Brodrick, who also designed the Town Hall, it operated until 1985 and was repurposed into a retailing destination with many independent traders.



















Kirkgate Market is famous as the birthplace of Marks & Spencer, and even today there is a stall in its branding although it sells other wares now. Michael Marks opened the Penny Bazaar stall in 1884 and went on to partner with Tom Spencer a decade later.























Wool had put Leeds on the map in the 17th century. By the 1850s, Leeds was home to 100,000 people and growing quickly as trade flourished. The canal connected with Liverpool and the railways cemented the town's importance. Grand civic buildings opened.

I roamed around the streets randomly to look for interesting architecture and was not disappointed.

















More photos on my website : https://globalphotos.org/leeds.htm