Living in Leeds, the vibrant hub of the north

It might not be seen as being a worldwide hub for vibrancy, but when considering the UK’s best cities, Leeds is abundantly popular. In a local index of the UK’s most vibrant cities, Leeds ranked in a lofty fifth, contending with the likes of London and Manchester for the top spot on the list. We know Leeds is a great place to live, but what exactly makes the city vibrant for its inhabitants? We take a closer look at what makes the city so popular.

Restaurants

As is the case in most city centres, Leeds offers a vast array of restaurants to suit any taste. From the all you can eat buffet, to the a-la-carte gourmet experience at one of D&D’s world renowned restaurants offering a panoramic view of the city atop Leeds Trinity, the city has plenty to offer. The introduction of many high end restaurants has, over recent years boosted the liveability of Leeds and makes the city a great destination for a Friday and Saturday night with your partner or friends.

Nightlife

City centre nightlife is rarely quiet, however the student population of Leeds, along with the more professional city worker who lives in Leeds with a disposable income, allows the nightlife to cater for many tastes. Whilst heading to bars, restaurants and clubs on a weeknight might see you surrounded with student youth, weekends provide a vibrant feel for all tastes. The impressive nightlife offered by Leeds will have only helped to raise the city into the top five.

Shopping

Yorkshire’s jewel in the crown when it comes to shopping, Leeds boasts an assortment of high street retailers, boutique stores and designer options, all within the city centre. With the £300m development of the all new Trinity Leeds, the development offers popular stores such as Apple, Hollister and Urban Outfitters, whilst the city’s Victoria Quarter provides those with expensive taste a range of high end designer and boutique style stores including Reiss, Ted Baker and Harvey Nichols.

Universities

The fact that from September to June, the majority of Leeds is enveloped by students attending the two city centre universities adds to the bustling nature of Leeds. Providing valuable input into the economy, students provide a demand for high street shops and chain restaurants. The popularity of the two universities also results in graduates staying within the area when searching for jobs, making Leeds one of the most in demand locations for work and a home within the UK.

Work

The large offering of work and office space in the city centre adds vibrancy to an already bustling city. The growth of creative companies within Leeds, along with plenty of impressive new office space means the city sees a large amount of commuter traffic. Upon finishing work at 5pm, many of the city workers head to an after work drink and meal to wind down, meaning that Leeds not only bustles through the day with the steady hum of business, but through into the early evening and night as well.