Infamous in his native Germany, DJ Sven Väth leads the debauched parties thrown at his groundbreaking club Cocoon. Cocoon in the Park sees the brand hold a one-day party at Temple Newsam, ideal for partygoers in pursuit of outdoor shenanigans.
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Jul 2013 (annual)
Opera fans gather every year on the beautiful Temple Newsam estate in Leeds for the free summertime Opera in the Park spectacular. There's a pop party in the park the following day.
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Jul 2013 (annual)
An impressive line-up of British pop stars gather each year for Leeds' Party in the Park in the grounds of Temple Newsam. The one-day festival regularly attracts 70,000 spectators and it's not just the line-up that leaves them smiling - tickets are free!
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Jul 2013 (annual)
Bramham Park stages an international four-day event, with some of the world's top horse riders taking part in a gruelling test of skill and stamina. Competitors leap ditches, negotiate water obstacles and perform in the dressage and showjumping fields.
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Jun 2013 (annual)
One of the UK's premier festivals, the Leeds Festival returns to Bramham Park, Wetherby with guitar-heavy rock spread across six stages. This year promises to be a sun-drenched sonic inferno with some of the world's biggest rock acts taking part.
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Aug 2013 (annual)
The younger twin sister of the Reading Festival, the Leeds Festival takes place at Branham Park every August Bank Holiday weekend. Entertaining crowds of thousands since the 1960s, past headliners here have included The Cure, Kasabian and the Foo Fighters.
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Aug 2013 (annual)
Thackray Museum, one of Europe's largest medical museums, explores the social impact of past and present medical advances using award-winning interactive displays. It's located next to an important teaching hospital, St James', on the edge of Leeds' Harehills district.
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Daily
It almost feels like stepping into a Bollywood movie every summer at the Roundhay Park when the Leeds Asian Festival takes place. Live Bhangra performances and the smell of spices fill the air as thousands crowd here to extol multiculturalism.
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Sep 2013 (annual)
Tropical World at Roundhay Park is one of the UK's most popular garden attractions, with a large collection of tropical plants. It also has home-from-home environments for fascinating birds, butterflies and exotic animals like meerkats.
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Daily
Falconry, displays of uniforms and real jousting by knights in armour are among the sights at The Royal Armouries on Leeds' riverside. Modern and purpose-built in 1996, the museum serves as both a family attraction and an important national archive.
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Daily
The Leeds International Jazz Conference brings together performers, educators and anyone with an interest in jazz education for two packed days at Leeds College of Music. The conference attracts delegates from across the world for its lectures, workshops and performances.
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Mar 2013 (annual)
The Wardrobe is a vibrant bar, restaurant and club on the eastern edge of the city centre, offering lunches and dinners upstairs and a dance bar downstairs with nightly live music ranging from hiphop and blues to jazz.
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Daily
In a city with many excellent Indian restaurants, Aagrah, in the eastern part of the city centre is rated one of the top names by the locals. Next-door neighbour of BBC Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire Playhouse, this spacious, elegant place attracts a discerning crowd to enjoy imaginative, skilfully prepared Kashmiri cooking.
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Daily
On Leeds centre's eastern edge, award-winning West Yorkshire Playhouse, which opened in 1990 has two auditoria, the Quarry and Courtyard Theatres. It hosts visiting productions as well as longer-running home-grown productions, amidst ballet, comedy and workshops.
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Daily
Middleton Railway in South Leeds, founded in 1758, was the world's first commercial railway and served coal mines two miles from the city. Fully restored, it offers a thrilling 25-minute journey in restored carriages pulled by authentic 19th-century locomotives.
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Weekends only
Kirkgate Market in the city centre is one of Europe's largest market-places with browsing locals and a vibrant atmosphere. Around 800 traders inside and outside the impressive Edwardian premises offer a wide variety of local produce and household merchandise.
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Daily; not Sun
The Reform is a small, unusual bar with rich, comfortable furnishings, a laid-back atmosphere and a big selection of beers in a trendy nightlife area of the city centre. Upbeat rock and dance music plays into the small hours.
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Daily
Leeds' HiFi Club is a favourite with lovers of soul, funk, jazz, indie and hip-hop. Relaxed and friendly, it prides itself on its drinks menu and stages regular DJ and live music nights, as well as a popular comedy club.
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Daily
Victoria Quarter, in Leeds' city centre, houses 75 stores selling everything from designer fashion to high-street styles in immaculately restored Victorian arcades with gilded mahogany shop fronts and elegant lighting all under a huge stained-glass roof.
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Daily
The Howard Assembly Room showcases a range of international works including films, classical music, spoken word, world music, folk, jazz and more in its original Grade II-listed Victorian building in the cool northern edge of Leeds city.
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Daily
Crash Records is one of Leeds' best-known independent music shops, having opened in 1985. As well as a large collection of the latest and in-demand vinyl and CDs, the city-centre store sells tickets to major gigs across the city.
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Daily; not Sun
The traditionally ornate but newly restored Victorian grandeur of the Leeds Grand Theatre & Opera House is among the North's premier venues. The city-centre home to Opera North, it also features ballet and drama, among plenty of lighter shows.
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Daily
The Cockpit, in the city centre, attracts leading indie and alternative bands as well as unsigned local newcomers. Friendly, relaxed, affordable, with no dress code, it's open till late playing everything from contemporary electro to retro rock, hiphop and emo.
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Daily
Brasserie Blanc, in the city's riverside area, is a branch of a high-quality chain with menus by leading chef Raymond Blanc. He offers simple, authentic French food with a leaning to British tastes, such as steak and chips, or Toulouse sausage with mashed potato, as well as Mediterranean favourites like gazpacho or ravioli.
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Daily
In Leeds city centre, Anthony's Restaurant offers simple, uncluttered elegance. Winner of numerous awards and acclaimed by leading food critics, it is at the forefront of highly creative "molecular gastronomy", with dishes combining unlikely flavours such as quail, goats' cheese and mango ravioli, or veal with Earl Grey mousse and pear puree.
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Daily; not Mon or Sun
The Leeds International Concert Season runs throughout the year, but peaks between September and December each year at Leeds Town Hall. Expect exceptional performances from the Leeds Philharmonic Society and other prestigious international orchestras, led by world-renowned conductors.
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Aug - Dec 2013 (annual)
The Henry Moore Institute is a partnership between the Henry Moore Foundation and the Leeds City Council, set up primarily as a centre for sculpture. Its collections, exhibitions and research draws on the work of writers, artists, curators and historians.
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Daily
Every Sunday during the summer, 22 of Leeds' parks are filled with the sounds of brass, jazz and concert bands. From Canal Gardens and Roundhay Park to Golden Acre and Middleton parks, there's no shortage of entertainment.
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May - Sep 2013; Sun only (annual)
The Leeds Jewish International Performing Arts Festival presents a 5-day celebration of Jewish arts and culture. A range of performances of Jewish-related drama, music, comedy and dance take place at venues throughout Leeds.
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Jun - Jul 2013 (annual)
Leeds' annual Light Night sees the cosmopolitan city make a legitimate claim at being a 24-hour cultural hot spot. Fifty venues around the city are open throughout the night to host a collection of weird and wonderful events and one-off spectacles.
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Oct 2013 (annual)
The Leeds International Film Festival presents screenings at venues throughout the city. The programme includes premières, retrospectives, new film-makers and old masters, as well as a children's festival, awards and a cult "fringe" section.
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Nov 2013 (annual)
Spectacular fireworks and bonfires in parks across Leeds brighten the city skyline this and every November to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. At Roundhay Park a huge bonfire is lit at around 7.30pm, followed by fireworks at 8pm.
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Nov 2013 (annual)
Nipple rash, blisters, cramp... it's all part of the fun at the Leeds Half Marathon. The route takes participants through Leeds City centre, with a finish in Millennium Square, where runners are greeted by the Lord Mayor.
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May 2013 (annual)
Leeds Lights has been providing the city with festive illumination since 1983, and the display spans over nine miles. Free entertainment at the switch-on event consists of chart topping acts, guest celebrities and appearances by children's favourite TV characters.
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Nov 2013 (annual)
Community arts are celebrated for three weeks up North in the I Love West Leeds Festival. Featuring activities like tea dances, art exhibitions and local writers' cafes, its highlight is the Big Free Festival Day, held at Farnley Hall Park.
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Jul 2013 (annual)
It's a celebration of youth at the I Love South Leeds Festival. Every summer, kids participate in a range of free activities around the area, especially the Junior Superstars Competition (a pop music talent search), and the South Leeds Olympics.
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Jun - Aug 2013 (annual)
The family-friendly Leeds City Museum occupies the landmark Leeds Institute building in the city centre. Its four storeys of educational and entertaining exhibitions and galleries range from 'Ancient Worlds' to 'Living Planet' to 'The Leeds Story'.
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Daily; not Mon
Leeds City Art Gallery houses acclaimed prints, watercolours, paintings, sculptures, photography and contemporary art. The collection includes works by famous regional artists such as Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, as well as nationally acclaimed artists like Antony Gormley and Francis Bacon.
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Daily
The Northern Art Prize is an annual competition open to professional artists of all ages and working in any medium, living in the north of England. Come and see works by the shortlisted artists at the Leeds City Art Gallery exhibition.
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May - Aug 2013 (annual)
The City Gallery houses an internationally acclaimed collection of works on paper featuring work by Turner, Cotman, Cozens and Girtin. When not on show, these can be seen by appointment in the Print Room. The gallery also continues to collect contemporary art and through its close association with the Henry Moore Foundation can boast a modern sculpture collection second only to that of the Tate.
Available :
Daily
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