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Home > Property Info > Leeds PropertyProperty Leeds and West Yorkshire Leeds is one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. Situated in the county of West Yorkshire, the metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds has a population of over 700,000 and is a lively, cosmopolitan city, with good restaurants, night-life, and cultural facilities. Once reliant on the woollen and clothing industry, Leeds now has a diverse and vibrant economy and is today a major centre for financial, business and retail industries. A number of successful regeneration projects have helped to restore the image of the city over recent decades and the city contains many fine period buildings as well as exciting contemporary architecture. The combination of excellent city amenities and the beautiful scenery of the surrounding countryside and the nearby Yorkshire Dales make Leeds a very attractive place in which to live and work. An agricultural market town in the Middle Ages, Leeds grew rich on wool and trade in manufactured textiles and clothing. With the opening of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in 1816 and the railway in 1848, the city's industrial fortune rose sharply during the Victorian era. Like many industrial towns, Leeds has experienced difficult times over the past century, and many outlying towns dependent on mining and heavy industry suffered during the post-industrial era. But because of its relatively diverse economic base, Leeds did not experience the mass depression of some cities: as well as the clothing industry, the town was home to significant printing, engineering and manufacturing industries. It has also been successful in responding to new markets, and over recent decades the city has once again become a prosperous commercial centre. Engineering and tailoring are still very important to the region, and Leeds also has a large financial, business and media sector. The tourist industry has grown, and many retail businesses are located in the area. As a consequence of its good employment prospects and rising population, many new houses are being built in and around the city. Leeds has good transport links. The intersection of the M1 and M62 is just to the south of the city, and there is a ring road around the centre linking it to major trunk roads. This makes commuting from outlying villages a viable option, and many people working in Leeds may choose to buy a property in a quieter suburb of Leeds or a Yorkshire village. The area has a good rail network, with national rail links as well as MetroTrains operating in West Yorkshire. Leeds Bradford International Airport is situated to the north-west of city and offers scheduled flights to the UK and throughout Europe, while Manchester Airport is not far away. Leeds is well known for its culture and music. Among other events, it holds the Leeds International Piano Competition every three years and stages rock concerts at the Leeds Festival every year in Bramham Park. Opera North is based at the Grand Theatre, and the city has several good theatres and concert venues. It also has interesting museums and galleries, including the Royal Armouries, Leeds City Museum, the City Art Gallery and the Henry Moore Institute. The city has good restaurants and pubs, and a busy nightlife with many bars, nightclubs and venues for live bands. Leeds also takes pride in its excellent shopping facilities, and boasts a huge range of shops from high street names to specialist designer boutiques. Many of the city¹s fine Victorian buildings have been well restored over recent years. The most notable of these include the Corn Exchange, built in 1865 by Cuthbert Brodick, and now a successful development of shops and restaurants. The Leeds Town Hall, also by Brodick, the Victorian Quarter, and the Kirkgate Market are among many other historic buildings in the city and are well worth a visit. There has also been impressive investment in, and regeneration of, the waterfront area of Leeds. No longer an industrial waterway, the area around the River Aire and the canal is now home to a number of smart residential and business developments. Granary Wharf and Brewery Wharf are examples of such developments, being successful retail centres, and Leeds Waterfront is now an acclaimed centre for business, housing and leisure. For those looking for an apartment to buy in Leeds, this is an attractive, lively area within easy reach of the city centre, where plenty of one or two bedroom riverside apartments can be found for sale. Similarly, at Calverley Bridge, two bedroom executive apartments are for sale in a peaceful location by the canal, yet close to the north Leeds ring road. Many other new developments have been built in and around Leeds in recent years, and some very stylish apartments are for sale. High quality one bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with contemporary interiors are on the market, suitable for professionals looking for executive-style living. Less costly new builds are also available to buy, with new homes for sale in a variety of styles throughout the city. With much Victorian housing stock, there are also many period properties to buy in Leeds. Some large properties in Leeds may be in need of renovation and therefore more affordable; others have been refurbished to high standards and can be very attractive. There are some particularly desirable districts in North Leeds, where a number of substantial period properties are for sale. Chapel Allerton, for example, contains streets of elegant stone properties, some of which are listed buildings. It also has a number of exclusive apartment conversions for sale. For estate agents in Leeds visit Leeds estate agents for your house sale search. Headingley, home to the test cricket ground, is another sought-after location in which to buy a house in Leeds, containing purpose-built apartment developments as well as large Victorian period houses and luxury flat conversions. This is a popular area for families, with good schools and local amenities. Moortown and Moor Allerton are also to the north of the city, close to the ring road. To the south are the suburbs of Rothwell and Morley, and further south still lies Wakefield. To the east, popular locations to buy a house in Leeds include Halton, Whitkirk and Cross Gates - in all these areas, a range of one or two bedroom apartments, semi-detached houses and detached homes are for sale. Estate agents in Leeds can provide full details of all properties for sale. The city is home to two universities - the University of Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan and therefore has a large student population and a buoyant student letting market. Flats to rent range from conversions in period properties to flats in purpose built apartment blocks. Many letting agents in Leeds have details of student accommodation to rent, but also let executive apartments, townhouses, and other homes suitable for families or professionals. To the north of Leeds, the towns of Guiseley and Otley are popular residential areas, while Harrogate, with its fine spa buildings, and the neighbouring market town of Knaresborough also have many houses for sale. Bradford, to the west of Leeds, has much fine Victorian architecture and a handsome cathedral. The town has good leisure and cultural attractions of its own yet is also within easy distance of the amenities of Leeds. Property to buy in Bradford is generally cheaper than Leeds and can offer good value for money. Many houses of former cloth merchants have now been converted into flats or offices, and offer attractive accommodation. The smaller villages of West Yorkshire are also very attractive places to live for those who may prefer a more rural location, and picturesque cottages as well as more modern houses can be found for sale throughout the county. For property in South Yorkshire please visit South Yorkshire property where you will find estate agent listings and further property buying information. For other areas in Yorkshire with house buying information, please also visit North Yorkshire property or East Yorkshire estate agents respectively. Detailed information for York can be found at York properties for sale with local analysis of the recent property market situation.
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