Lifestyle Article - 15 Things to do in LEEDS this Weekend

 Victoria Quarter Briggate
 http://www.v-q.co.uk/
 Most shoppers make a beeline for the arcades on either side of pedestrianized Briggate. These nineteenth-century palaces of marble, mahogany, stained glass and mosaics have been magnificently restored, the most splendid of all being the light-flooded Victoria Quarter, with Harvey Nichols as its designer lodestone.

  

 City Art Gallery
 Opening time: Mon & Tues 10am–8pm, Wed noon–8pm, Thurs– Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm
 Price: Free
 Address: The Headrow
 www.leeds.gov.uk/artgallery
 The City Art Gallery is a major draw. Changing selections from the permanent collection of nineteenth- and twentieth-century art and sculpture are on show, with an understandable bias towards pieces by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, both former students at the Leeds School of Art.

  

 Temple Newsam
 Address: Temple Newsam Road, off Selby Road, Leeds LS15 0AE Tel: 0113 264 5535
 http://www.leeds.gov.uk/templenewsam/
 One of the great historic estates in England. Set within over 1500 acres of parkland, woodland and farmland landscaped by Capability Brown in the 18th century, it is a magnificent Tudor–Jacobean mansion. Famous as the birthplace of Lord Darnley and home to the Ingram family for over 300 years, the mansion houses rich collections of works of art. The garden is renowned for its Rhododendron and Azalea walk and features the National Plant Collections of Delphinium, Phlox and Aster novi–belgii. Europe's largest working Rare Breeds Farm, with over 400 animals, is set within the original estate Home Farm.

  

 Harewood House
 Opening time: Mid-March– Oct daily 11am–4.30pm, grounds & bird garden 10am–5pm
 Price: July, Aug & bank hol weekends £13.15, otherwise £11.30; grounds & bird garden only £10.90/£8.80
 Address: 7 miles north of Leeds (bus #36)

 http://www.harewood.org

 The stately home of Harewood is still the home of the Earl and Countess of Harewood. It was designed and decorated by one of the greatest architectural teams ever assembled. Conceived in 1759 by York architect John Carr, the building was finished by Robert Adam, the furniture made by Thomas Chippendale and the gardens laid out by Capability Brown. To cap it all, a sweeping terrace designed by Sir Charles Barry (architect of London's Houses of Parliament) overlooks the gardens. There's an enormous amount to see and do, with daily tours, talks and exhibitions included in the entrance fee, while outside in the magnificent grounds is an adventure playground and renowned Bird Garden. Here, four acres of aviaries cage over 150 species – the penguins get fed at 2pm.

  

 Royal Armouries
 Opening time: Daily 10am–5pm
 Price: Free
 Address: Clarence Dock
 http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/leeds

 The glass turret and gun-metal grey bulk of the Royal Armouries was purpose-built to house the arms and armour collection from the Tower of London. It's a hugely adventurous museum that requires a leap of faith – discard the notion that all you'll see are cases of weapons because you're in for a treat. Themed galleries cover concepts such as "War" and "Hunting", with displays – ranging from gun emplacements to Mughal Indian elephant armour – backed up by intelligent commentary, video exhibits and documentary evidence. Interpretations and demonstrations take place throughout the day, so you might learn small sword techniques from a Georgian sword master or sixteenth-century javelin skills in the outdoor Tiltyard.

  

 The Grand Theatre &Opera House Leeds
 Address: 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NZ. TEL: 0844 848 2700
 https://www.leedsgrandtheatre.com/Online/default.asp
 Theatre Tours
 For something a bit different why not book a backstage tour and discover the theatre's story - from a Grand opening in 1878 through more than 130 years of history to the present day. Visitors will have the chance to go behind the scenes to see where the magic happens, find out what it was like to be a Victorian theatre-goer and learn the secrets of this grade II* listed building.
 Tours last 1hr and cost £5 per adult and £3 for under 18s. Please note that as the Grand is a working building, access is not always available to all areas.

 
 The Good Old Days are Back at City Varieties
 Address: City Varieties Music Hall, Swan Street, Leeds LS1 6LW Tel:0113 243 0808
  

 https://www.cityvarieties.co.uk/Online/

 The City Varieties found itself playing host to BBC television’s longest-running variety show: ‘The Good Old Days’, a nostalgia-fest that was broadcast from the theatre from 1953 to 1983. Now the theatre is up and running again, high-profile acts are queuing up to perform and strong ticket sales will surely ensue. The Varieties’ forthcoming comedy roster is particularly impressive: the venue that once hosted the likes of Les Dawson and Morecambe & Wise now welcomes stars including Stephen K. Amos, Rob Brydon and Omid Djalili. The venue is also developing as a great venue for folk and alternative music acts: June Tabor, Mike Harding and the former Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn are all to appear.

 
 Quebecs.
 Address Quebecs, 9 Quebec Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2HA.

 Tel: 0113 244 8989 http://www.quebecshotel.co.uk/
 Is centrally placed and close to the train station and local amenities, so it’s an ideal place to begin a wider exploration of Leeds and its surrounding cities. The interior of the hotel is stunning with fabulous stained glass windows over an impressive staircase. The room was outstanding, definitely one of the best we’ve ever stayed in. The shower was fantastic! Food and drink was good and reasonably priced for a hotel, especially one of such quality. All the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Overall it had a wonderful atmosphere and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone

  

 Malmaison Leeds,
 Address 1 Swinegate, Leeds, LS1 4AG. Tel: 0113 398 1000
 http://www.malmaison.com/locations/leeds/about-the-leeds-mal.aspx

 If you're after a great bar, daring brasserie and a slinky room for the night. Perched in the bar of this gloriously converted former bus company office, you contemplate what to do in this 24-hour hotbed of shopping, bars and clubs.

  

 Nash’s Fish & Chips
 Address: 17 Merrion Street, Leeds City Centre, LS2 8JE. Tel: 0113 285 5960
 http://www.nashsfishandchips.com/
 At Nash’s they believe fish and chips should be simple. No pretensions - just get the best possible ingredients, cook them with care, and serve them with grace. When you walk into their beautifully decorated main dining room, with seating for 90, a grand parquet floor, traditional banquette seating and original tables, you’ll be wowed. Sit down to a classic plate of fish and chips with a big pot of tea and some bread and butter to the side, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve gone back in time.

  

 The Leeds Kitchen by James Martin
 Address: Alea Casino, 4 The Boulevard, Clarence Dock, Leeds, LS10 1PZ. Tel: 0113 341 3203 http://www.theleedskitchen.co.uk/home/
 The food at the Leeds Kitchen is good. It's robust, well thought out and well executed. The location is weird. The Alea Casino is a hard-edged, shiny-floored echoey space, which feels like a train station without the platforms. In the ground-floor restaurant music booms. There are blow-ups of vintage French café posters of the sort you'd find in a Café Rouge, and a floor-to-ceiling photo of Mr Martin in chef's whites, which isn't a huge aid to the digestion. No one would call it calming. But there is some of that about the food, which is the sort of stuff anybody who has watched too much Saturday Kitchen would recognize: modern, big on flavour, uncontrived, comforting.

  

 Town Hall Tavern
 Address: Town Hall Tavern, 17 Westgate, Leeds LS1 2RA. Telephone: 0113 244 0765
 www.townhalltavernleeds.co.uk/about.html
 The Town Hall Tavern offers an extensive range of contemporary cocktails, quality fine wines, traditional Timothy Taylor real cask ales Ordering starters from the pick and mix crispy hens egg delicious, black pudding and chicken samosa amazing, smoked salmon fish cake sublime and our favourite oat coated chicken mouth-watering.
 Mains didn't disappoint either, 3 out of the 4 opted for the flat iron steak served with onion rings, tomato, mushroom and chips I had the sticky red wine sauce which was the perfect partner to the dish. All steaks arrived cooked as requested. The gammon steak ordered was also well received. Dessert was ordered again using the pick and mix option of chocolate brownie (first class), strawberry custard tart (delectable) and brownie ice cream.

  

 Fourth Floor Bar, Harvey Nichols
 Harvey Nichols 107 Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6BG. Tel 0113 204 8000
 http://www.harveynichols.com/restaurants/fourth-floor-leeds/fourth-floor-leeds-bar
 The opening of Harvey Nick's in Leeds in 1996 paved the way for the city's rebranding as the UK's shopping hotspot of the north. And the renowned Fourth Floor Café & Bar has, like its London and Edinburgh contemporaries, become a favourite place for lunch, dinner and, of course, cocktails,
  

 North
 24 New Briggate, Leeds, LS1 6NU. Tel 0113 242 4540
 http://northbar.com/a/find-us/
 Don't be put off by its sometimes murky exterior, there are few cooler spots in Britain than North, a warm and stylish nook stacked with top-shelf liquor and over 120 fine British, German, American and Belgian beers plus regional curiosities from all over the world. With art on the walls, light dishes on the menu, table service and super-friendly staff, it has everything to make you feel at home among your friends in the North. DJ’s play a very eclectic mix on Friday and Saturday so there’s something for everyone.
  

 Mojo
 18 Merrion Street, Leeds, LS1 6PQ. Tel: 0845 611 8643
 www.mojobar.co.uk/home
 Bartenders who really know their stuff. Always a bonus when searching for that perfect watering hole. There's Rock n' Roll music all night - so soon your hand will be reaching for that comb you happen to carry in your back pocket and that upper lip will be twitching. Gotta look the part so order the signature drink: Rum n' Ginger