Leeds tours and excursions
Leeds tours
Stadium tours
Guided Tours of Leeds United Football Stadium are available throughout the year. Places of interest include the media areas, director's box, international board, dressing rooms and pitch side. Tours are conducted at 3pm on Fridays and 2pm on Sundays and last around 90 minutes.
Tel: 0871 334 1992.Website: http://www.leedsunited.com
M&S Heritage Trail
This rather quirky tour of Leeds starts from the M&S Stall at Kirkgate Market where the company started 129 year ago, before you trace the trace the history of one of Britain's most iconic high street department stores through the city, from its birthplace to the state-of-the-art Michael Marks Building housing the Marks in Time Exhibition. Tours last 90 minutes.
Tel: (0208) 718 2800.Walking tours
Leeds's relatively compact centre makes it perfect for exploring on foot. Free maps can be picked up from the tourist office and it's a quick and easy city to get acquainted with and find your way around. But to get a real sense of Leeds's history with all its quirky eccentricities and unusual anecdotes, the services of a local guide are invaluable. Michael Barber (tel: (0113) 271 3421) and Ken Goor (tel: (0113) 252 6807) are both registered tour guides who have plenty of local knowledge and can put together tailor-made tours of the city. The Tourist Information Centre can help with organising a tour guide.
Website: http://www.leedsliveitloveit.comLeeds excursions
Harewood House
This stunning 18th century Georgian house lies only 11km (7 miles) from Leeds and features art galleries, a renowned bird garden featuring penguins, owls and flamingos, and over 100 acres of gorgeous gardens as well as the Yorkshire Planetarium. Built on the back of the West Indian sugar trade by the Lascelles family, highlights of a visit include fabulously ornate fireplaces, Chippendale furniture, family portraits and tea rooms.
Tel: (0113) 218 1010.Website: http://www.harewood.org/house
Leventhorpe Vineyard
Wine lovers should head out to Leventhorpe Vineyard, Bullerthorpe Lane, Woodlesford, the country's most northerly commercial vineyard. Established in 1985 and spread over five acres, it produced red and white wines and is open daily
Tel: (0113) 288 9088.Website: http://http://www.englishwineproducers.co.uk/vineyards/north/yorkshire/leventhorpe-vineyards
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park in West Bretton, Wakefield is home to modern and contemporary art set within 2 sq km (500 acres) of wonderful 18th-century parkland.
Tel: (01924) 832 631.Website: http://www.ysp.co.uk