Leeds... Research

Opinions

• I like Leeds because it is better than Swindon, however its busy all the time and I’m paranoid about muggings.
• I don’t like Leeds at night because that’s when people get raped in bottle bins. However, in the daytime, its quite pleasant.
• Leeds is a great city if you want to party or shop, but its very badly designed in terms of roads and pedestrian access due to having so many crossings getting in the way and the ring road being a nightmare, and just the fact that even with a sat nav its the most confusing place EVER!! ...oh and full of northerners!!
• I like Leeds because there are lots of nice looking men. I dislike Leeds because it sounds like wee's and that is rude.
• Kids throw bricks at cars on the motorway leading to the town centre .
• Leeds is shit... that's all I have to say about it, oh, and the one way system is also shit.
• It looks nice and clean. The people are helpful.
• Bit studenty and northern.
• It’s easier and cheaper to get around than London, the majority or student housing is close so you’re never far from friends. Easy to get to other parts of the country by train or coach, vibrant city, and feel safer walking around there than here. Only thing I don’t like is all the stories of student houses getting robbed, but you hear that in every student area really!
• I like Leeds, it has a great atmosphere and seemed to have a very urban feel with lots of students! 
• Its just like London. Except the people talk funny
• There is a lack of road signs in Leeds.
• Christmas markets, mulled wine, German beer tents, bright lights, good memories.
• I really like Leeds its very homely for me as its just like Manchester only more condensed it has a lot to offer in terms of education nightlife and shopping the architecture is pretty nice too.
• Leeds is big and tasty.
• I like Leeds, but I’m too poor to do anything.
• Leeds has a really good music scene.
• Leeds is a great vibrant city, but is full of too many students.
• Leeds is a great place to live but there are some rough areas.

Facts

• The city centre has 2 miles of traffic-free shopping and over 1,000 shops
• Leeds was named ‘Best Place in Britain to Live’ by Henley Management Centre
• Leeds is one of the top student destinations in the UK and the University of Leeds is one of the UK's top ten research universities
• There are over 200,000 students here, 64,000 of whom are degree students at Leeds’ two internationally acclaimed universities
• Leeds is the second largest metropolitan district in the UK; extending 15 miles from east to west, and 13 miles from north to south.
• According to the data, the population of Leeds is 715,404 - making it the third biggest city in the UK after London and Birmingham.
• There are more females (369,570) than males (345,834) living in Leeds
• The foundations of Kirkstall Abbey were built in 1152.
• Leeds became a city by Royal Charter in 1893.
• Leeds is the financial capital of the North.
• Leeds is linked by road to London and Edinburgh via the M1 and A1 and to the east and west coast ports via the M62
• London Kings Cross can be reached by rail in just over two hours
• Leeds Metropolitan University is home to the largest business school of its kind, and is rated in the top 50 globally
• One of the driest places in the UK, Leeds rainfall is about 2" a month. Temperatures rarely drop below the 40s or rise above the 70s fahrenheit.
• The major industries at Leeds are the printing, publishing, engineering, chemicals, and IT electricity.
• The natives of Leeds are known as Loiners and the name "Leeds" came from "Loidis", a word of Celtic origin.
• Leeds is the third biggest city in the UK after London and Birmingham.
• Leeds has a very large student population, resulting in a large number of pubs, bars, nightclubs and restaurants, as well as a multitude of venues for live music
• The total number of full-time students in Leeds is approximately 60,000.

Statistics

• The city's media, communications & advertising sector is growing by about 10% a year.
• Out of a total workforce in West Yorkshire of 936,000, nearly half (that’s 442,000 people) work in Leeds.
• Around a third of GVA is generated by the financial & business services sectors.
• 80% of students in Leeds are mature students, at the age of 19+ (approx 12,000 under 19s, 48,000 over 19s)
• The ratio of male to female students is  40:60