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Leeds is Coming Into Its Own as a Shopping, Cultural Haven

By | Published on July 26, 2012
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While London is jam-packed for the Olympics, those who want to get their shop on in an Olympian way should head to Leeds.

Yorkshire’s top destination for pubbing, clubbing, dining and shopping, Leeds has cast off its industrial cocoon and emerged a shiny, new cultural haven. You’ll find cool music venues, arts spaces, delis and eateries all over, especially in the hip and studenty Headingley, but we’re here to get serious about shopping.

Leeds ain’t been dubbed the Knightsbridge of the North for nothing. This city is home to more designer boutiques than even a seasoned WAG could handle.

The first city outside of London to be deemed worthy of a Harvey Nichols store, since the uber-department store moved in, the arcades of the city’s gorgeous Victorian Quarter have been transformed into a home away from home for the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Mulberry.

With five indoor shopping centres and 4.3 million square feet of retail space packed into five miles of shopping streets, you might want to swap those heels for flats as we take you on this shop-til-you-drop tour of the city.

Victoria Quarter

If you’re serious about shopping, and aren’t afraid to flash that credit card, the Victoria Quarter is the destination for you.

With a mix of designer fashion, beauty and lifestyle stores contained within the jawdropping architecture of the quarter’s ornate arcades, you’ll find over seventy stores in all.

Alongside the aforementioned Harvey Nic’s, Vivienne Westwood and Mulberry, there’s Karen Millen, Jo Malone, Reiss, Whistles, Diesel, Space NK, Paul Smith, Kurt Geiger, Kiehls, Louis Vuitton, French Connection and more.

The Corn Exchange

Leeds’ self-proclaimed Home of Boutique Shopping, The Corn Exchange is a unique Grade I listed building, and it’s fitting that the shops that it houses are unique too.

Home to endless delicious cafes, as well as exhibition space and music…

Read more: EuroTravelr

 

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