Leeds and Manchester are two cities that grew substantially during the Industrial Revolution and became major cities in the United Kingdom. Today, the two cities have blended their historic structures with contemporary architecture through extensive citywide revitalization projects. This is the ultimate guide to help you decide between Leeds or Manchester.
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Leeds or Manchester Overview
Leeds
Leeds is another one of Britain’s largest cities, with nearly 800,000 residents. It was another city in England that boomed during the Industrial Revolution. It was a factory city during the 18th and 19th centuries but has since turned into one of England’s most important legal and financial cities.
With many abandoned warehouses and factories, Leeds has taken on a new form in recent years. Leeds began modernizing these massive older buildings and turned them into modern places of business and leisure. Today, Leeds is known as a fantastic place to go shopping, exploring multiple universities, and it has excellent nightlife. As mentioned before, one of the best parts of Leeds is its blend of historic and contemporary architecture.
Manchester
Manchester is a city of over 550,000 people with a much larger metro area. During the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, Manchester boomed as a hub for manufacturing which resulted in the city becoming known as the world’s first industrialized city. Because of the city’s massive wealth from the industrial revolution, Manchester has many grand buildings from the 19th century. (They also wanted to be better than London)
During the last few decades, Manchester has transformed from an industry-prioritized city into a place of modern tastes because of its youthful and progressive residents. Manchester is also known for its music scene, museums, galleries, and its lively nightlife. It is also home to two of the most famous football clubs in the world, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Things to See
Leeds
Leeds Kirkgate Market is the largest covered market in all of Europe, attracting 100,000 people per week.
Leeds City Square is an area surrounded by some of Leeds’s most important buildings.
Leeds Corn Exchange was built in 1863 and still acts in trading but not corn trading.
Leeds Minister is a large, Gothic Revival, church dedicated to St. Peter.
Leeds Dock is an area of contemporary and repurposed buildings, used for residential and social spaces.
Manchester
Manchester Town Hall is a building of Victorian, Neo-gothic architecture where the city council meets.
Piccadilly Gardens is one of the main public areas in Manchester.
The Quays is an area around the old dockyards that was modernized for residential and leisure uses.
The Manchester Cathedral is an impressive church in the heart of Manchester.
The Imperial War Museum is a museum devoted to telling about modern wars and acts of violence.
Food
Leeds
The English city of Leeds is located in West Yorkshire, and what better way to celebrate this than by eating a signature Yorkshire pudding? While the term pudding often evokes images of desserts in America, it has quite a different meaning in the United Kingdom. English puddings are typically savory, and the Yorkshire pudding is no exception.
Traditionally, Yorkshire pudding is a side for roast beef or gravy. On its own, it can be served with parsley or white sauce. If you’re going to visit Leeds, Yorkshire pudding is a staple, provided a more substantial food is served alongside it!
Manchester
One of Manchester’s most famous dishes is Lancashire hotpot, a delicious dinner entre that brings home the hearty flavors of England. This dish originated during the Industrial Era when families didn’t have time to cook dinners that were especially involved. Lancashire hotpot was a simple way to cook a hot meal that didn’t require a whole lot of time or dedication.
Lamb or mutton is cooked with onion and broth, then topped off with thinly sliced potatoes. The pot is then cooked on low for a long time until the potato topping becomes nice and crispy. Fish and Chips are, of course, also popular in Manchester.
Getting Around
Leeds
The center of Leeds is packed full of beautiful buildings and architecture which makes it an incredible place to walk around. From to City Square to Trinity Leeds (massive shopping center) to the Corn Exchange and Kirkgate Market, you will have plenty to see while walking around the city center.
If you want to see attractions outside of the city center like Elland Road or Temple Newsam, you will want to use public transportation. Public transportation in Leeds consists of buses and trains that can get you pretty much wherever you need to go. Here is more information on public transportation in Leeds.
Manchester
The areas around the city center and The Quays are excellent places to explore on foot. In order to get from the center of the city to The Quays, you will want to take some form of public transportation, unless you want to spend a large part of your day walking there.
Public transportation in Manchester consists of buses, trams, and trains. In recent years, the metro has been extended so don’t be afraid to utilize it when you’re here. The Metrolink 24 hour pass is an excellent deal to invest in. Taxis, Karhoo, and Uber are also very viable options for getting around the city. You also might want to consider renting a bike and riding along the city’s waterways.
Nightlife
Leeds
The center of Leeds has bars, pubs, and nightclubs scattered all over. The area around Trinity Leeds has the highest concentration of nightlife in the city. If you want to find a pub and chat with your friends, you will have no problem finding a place to get a drink. If you want to dance the night away, there are also some pretty fun nightclubs here. Some of the best nightclubs in the city are HiFi and Wire. A good place to listen to live rock bands is at Key Club.
Manchester
Manchester has an excellent nightlife scene, almost to the caliber of the nightlife found in London. The city center is where you can find the highest concentration of bars and pubs. The area around the intersection of High Street and Thomas Street is one of the best parts of the city to explore for a great night out.
There are some incredible incredible nightclubs in Manchester but if you want to find a club that will stay open until the sun rises, you aren’t going to find it. (The White Hotel stays open the latest) Just like any city, be sure to do a little research if you plan on going clubbing.
Day Trips
Leeds
York is a walled city known for its historic architecture.
Huddersfield is a city just to the southwest of Leeds, known for its castle tower overlooking the city.
Castleford is small city to the southeast of Leeds, known for its picturesque riverfront.
Manchester
Liverpool is less than an hour away from Manchester. It would be perfect if you are a fan of the Beetles.
Leeds is less than an hour by train to Manchester.
Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the most scenic places in the United Kingdom.
If you have more time you are looking to fill, Glasgow and Edinburgh are easy to access to the north and Birmingham is to the south. All three are very worth visiting if you have the time.
Overall
Being two cities that grew substantially during the Industrial Revolution, Leeds and Manchester both have grand historic buildings that were constructed in the 1800s. Both cities now have an intriguing blend of contemporary architecture mixed with these historic buildings.
Both cities are worth visiting and have plenty of sights to see but if you had to choose, Manchester just because it has more to see and do. If you want more of a small city vibe, Leeds would be the better choice for you. The two cities are only 45 minutes apart from each other so it wouldn’t be a problem to hop from one to the other for a quick day trip.
