Leeds City Guide - Shopping

What really sets this city apart from its neighbours is the shopping opportunities. From the main high street chains to the smaller designer stores and boutiques, Leeds is a veritable shopper's paradise.

The main shopping district is located within or close to a grid of streets that span out in a north-easterly direction from the train station. Most of the main shopping streets are wide and pedestrianised and there are also plenty of covered markets and arcades creating a relaxing shopping environment. As well as all the major shops you'd expect to find in a city of this size, there are also plenty of independent stores and designer boutiques.

For the latest in catwalk styles, head to the Vivienne Westwood boutique in the County Arcade. The Harvey Nichols store on Briggate is the city's flagship shop; it was the first Harvey Nics outside London and the Fourth Floor Cafe inside is popular with the hip and fashionable set.

Another place well worth a visit, if only to marvel at the incredible architecture, is the Corn Xchange on Call Lane, which is home to lots of one-off shops and independent traders; formerly a corn grading and trading market (hence the name), the roof was designed so as to prevent direct sunlight falling on the grain so it could be accurately judged, and is a work of art in itself.