Young and Alive in Leeds

William J Sanders

Leicestershire, GB

Comment

This place is special to me because it’s the city where I arrived as an outsider, and left as a local. The map depicts “My Leeds” — the landmarks which helped me navigate the city when I first arrived as a university fresher, and the bars where I spent many incredible nights into early mornings. Known as “the London of the North”, Leeds grew out of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, and its rich, diverse history is reflected in the vibrant and eclectic city we see today. From elegant victorian shopping arcades and architectural splendour, to boozy bar-crawls and toe-tapping music venues, Leeds has plenty to offer the wide-eyed country boy when first moving away from home. No matter how many times I return to this city, there’s always a quirky new bar or restaurant to add to the extensive list of interesting places on offer, and although I may not currently live there, I always consider it to be home. Included in the map are not only the places, but the people who made this city an obvious, unquestioned choice for my favourite place — a place “where there’s music, and there’s people, and they’re young and alive” (The Smiths, 1986).