This new area on the river was only completed in 2008 and a stroll here makes an interesting contrast to the older buildings in the core. The area is home to the Royal Armouries Museum, which preserves and displays armor and weapons through history and around the world. Regular live jousts are a popular attraction at the museum.

The historic Kirkgate Market is the largest covered market in Europe and its 800 indoor and outdoor stalls attract more than 100,000 visitors every week. The covered sections of the market were built from 1850-75 and are a fine example of Victorian architecture. Marks and Spencer had their first shop here, the “Marks Penny Bazaar.”

Leeds’ Town Hall is widely recognised as one of the finest Victorian buildings in the world. Dating to 1853, it was built as a statement of Leeds’ growing importance as a manufacturing and trading center during the industrial revolution. The Town Hall has long since been abandoned for official functions (a replacement Civic Hall was built in the 1930s) and is now used as a concert hall, hosting the city orchestra as well as national and international acts. At 225 feet tall, its clock tower was the tallest building in Leeds for more than 100 years.

In the late 19th century, as a vast city improvement project the civic authorities demolished some of the city’s dirtiest lanes and yards and built covered shopping arcades housing fine goods shops for the growing bourgeoisie. Today, the County Arcade in the Victoria Quarter hosts some of the most exclusive designer shops in Britain. The shopping continues into Thornton and Queen’s Arcades.

The Dales area of hills and river valleys, rises from the Vale of York westwards to the hilltops of the Pennine watershed. Most valleys drain eastwards into the Ouse and then the Humber. The word dale comes from the Nordic/Germanic word for valley (dal, tal), found in valley names across Yorkshire and Northern England,

Green upland pastures are the characteristic scenery, separated by dry-stone walls and grazed by sheep and cattle. The dales themselves are 'U' and 'V' shaped valleys, enlarged and shaped by glaciers. Visiting sightseers drive or cycle around, hike nature trails to spot wildlife, or tour limestone caves. The geology of the area is perfect for supporting waterfalls. Two of the most popular include: Gaping Gill, a 98-meter (322 ft) deep pothole with Fell Beck stream flowing into it; and Cautley Spout, England's highest above ground cascade. For a list of 30 waterfalls in the Dales see the WalkingEnglishman.

The mountains of Whernside (736 m/ 2,415 ft), Ingleborough (723 m/ 2,372 ft) and Pen-y-ghent (694 m/ 2,277 ft) are collectively known as the Three Peaks. A circular walking challenge is designed to take most people 12 hours to complete, starting from the village of Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Others start from various points in the route, including Chapel-le-Dale. Trails are also popular with fell runners (The Three Peaks Race is held each last weekend in April), and cyclo-cross cyclists.

Other attractions include: the Dales Countryside Museum, a former Wensleydale Railway station with train and carriages on the track bed; and Bolton Castle, a quadrangular stone structure built between 1378 and 1399 by Richard le Scrope, Baron Scrope of Bolton and Chancellor of England. He later ran afoul of King Henry VIII who had the castle torched. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed at Bolton for six months after her defeat at the Battle of Langside in Scotland, wandering and hunting in surrounding lands. Movie/ television productions filmed here include: Ivanhoe, Elizabeth, Heartbeat and All Creatures Great and Small.

Leeds to Morecambe coach links include National Express and Megabus (4.5 hrs). National Rail operates Leeds-Morecambe (2-3 hrs) and Leeds-Settle (1 hr) lines. Dalesbus buses run between main towns and villages and surrounding areas throughout the year. For hotels, inns, guesthouses, farmhouses, pubs and campsites see accommodation.