Doing business
Leeds is, outside London, the most important legal centre in the UK, as well as being a major centre for finance, manufacturing and publishing. These achievements are in keeping with the West Yorkshire city’s commercial heritage – Leeds was a boom town built on wool, textiles and engineering. Expect a city with its business head on ready to work and a warm northern attitude once the deal’s been done.

Cool hotel
Quebecs (0113 244 8989; www.theetoncollection.com; doubles from £170) is an elaborate conversion of what was the Leeds and County Liberal Club and arguably the city’s smartest pad. If you’re on a tighter budget Roomzzz Central (0113 233 0400; www.roomzzz.com) has good-looking studio apartments from £79. Another branch is opening this year.

Hip restaurant
There’s no shortage of great places to eat, but brilliant French restaurant No 3 York Place (0113-245 9922; www.no3yorkplace.co.uk) gets the vote from clued-up locals. Its designer surroundings are just the place for a business lunch or dinner.

Happening bar
Leeds' large student population and hedonistic vibe ensures the city centre is party central most nights of the week. The riverside terrace at Oracle bar (0113 246 9912; www.oraclebar.com) is the place to head on sunny days, while the cool interior is great year-round. Your hosts may be able to get you into the exclusive members-only bar upstairs.

Getting there
Leeds has excellent transport links. Despite the recent loss of the bmi Heathrow link, Leeds Bradford offers good connections to a host of regional UK destinations as well as most major European cities. Jet2.com is the major airline using the airport. Leeds is a shade over two hours by train from London, with services operated by National Express East Coast (www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com). Trains also radiate out from Leeds to all major UK cities.

Getting downtown
Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBA) is 11 miles northwest of the city. Buses (£2) run half-hourly and take 40 minutes. A taxi will cost around £20. Leeds railway station is slap-bang on City Square in the heart of the business district.

The Details
Leeds’ transformation from post-industrial decline to modern, outward-looking sophistication is one of the great successes of Britain’s urban landscape, and a visit here can be a breath of fresh air. The Yorkshire climate will often ensure it literally is one, too. Winters are chilly but the city has an east-coast climate. You may get lucky and have dry, sunny days. See: www.leedsliveitloveit.com

Must-see sights
Leeds makes a big deal of its shopping and you could lose yourself for a day or more in the city’s upmarket Victorian arcades and Harvey Nichols store. For a half day or more though, hop on a train to Skipton or Ilkley and explore some of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales scenery.

THE CARBON COST
A return flight from Edinburgh to Leeds will cover 558km and emit 0.1 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The Carbon Neutral Company from £0.85.

INSIDER'S TIP
“The city centre abounds with restaurants, bars, pubs and cafés set up by hard-working innovators whose efforts ensure that diners have plenty of choice. Best known of these is Anthony’s Restaurant, a previous winner of Best Restaurant In The Country in The Observer Food Awards. Prices are high, but standards are impeccable”

Compiled by Tom Hall on behalf of Lonely Planet. www.lonelyplanet.com

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