Leeds sits at the crossroads of England's main north-south and east-west motorways and railways. It's Britain's greenest city, has a major arts scene, and is often packed with people attending sporting events.

Where to stay
If you want to stay central, there's an excellent selection of cheap hotels in Leeds. New Briggate Street is the backbone of the shopping centre and also has good value hotels for families and individuals. Headingley is the hotel capital of Leeds, particularly within the mid-priced bracket, while at the higher end, The Village Hotel, Leeds offers high-end facilities at a very competitive price.

What to do
Arts, sport and parks - Leeds has something for everyone. The Royal Armouries Museum and the Thackray Museum of Medicine are both internationally renowned and there are important historic houses. Leeds is also home to the Northern Ballet Company and Opera North. It's a great sporting city and often hosts international events. As for parks, Temple Newsam covers 1000 acres, making it Europe's largest urban park, while Roundhay is 750 acres and has two lovely lakes.