Shopping
Almost every profile of Leeds’ lifestyle benefits begins with a mention of the city’s branch of Harvey Nichols, but there’s a lot more to Leeds than one single, if prestigious, shop.
While the London store’s decision to open its first regional branch in Leeds was certainly symbolic, it is far from the only show in town. So far has the city’s shopping scene developed that the most recent edition of the Lonely Planet guidebook describes Leeds as the ‘Knightsbridge of the North’ and a recent survey by property and retail consultancy, Experian, ranked Leeds as England’s leading shopping venue after London.
Victoria Quarter
Within the city centre, the more exclusive brand names are to be found in the Victoria Quarter’s 19th century arcades, which boast more than 70 fashion, beauty and lifestyle retailers such as Diesel, All Saints and Space NK and internationally known names Jo Malone, Vivienne Westwood, Ted Baker, Gieves & Hawkes and, of course, Harvey Nichols.
The arcades are also home to Neal’s Yard Remedies; shoes and accessories mecca, &eve; contemporary womens’ fashion retailer, Whistles; well-known UK footwear brand, Jane Shilton; and new flagship stores from Karen Millen, Jigsaw and Reiss.
The Victoria Quarter describes itself as being ‘the epicentre of Leeds’ renaissance’ and, while this claim may be slightly extravagant, there is little doubt that its mixture of architecture, famous names and high quality independent retailers is a significant factor in the city’s status as one of the country’s premier retail locations.
The Light
However, the Victoria Quarter now has a rival in the upmarket shopping stakes in The Light, a new complex which combines shopping with leisure in the form of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, a cinema, health club and hotel. In addition to designer shops such as Bank, Proibito and Tiger Of Sweden, surf wear emporium O’Neill and Benetton and Rockport, The Light also hosts the Esporta Health & Fitness Club and a branch of the Radisson SAS Hotel.
Corn Exchange / Kirkgate Market
A slightly alternative shopping experience is provided at the Corn Exchange to the south of the city centre. This fine Victorian building houses an eclectic collection of (very) independent fashion retailers, craft shops and purveyors of Bonsai trees. Bargains are to be had at Leeds’ outdoor Kirkgate Market, one of the largest in Europe with over 800 stalls, which also hosts a farmers’ market on Sundays.
White Rose Centre / Meadowhall
For those with more mainstream tastes and budgets, chain stores abound in the relatively compact, and mostly pedestrianised, shopping area of the city centre. These are clustered together in the White Rose Centre, Leeds’ ‘out of town’ shopping centre on the south-western edge of the city. Meanwhile, one of the UK’s first and largest out-of-town shopping complexes, Sheffield’s Meadowhall, is just a half-hour drive down the M1 from Leeds.
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