Train travel times, music line-ups, screening venues and history information for the major annual events and festivals in Yorkshire's biggest city.
Leeds is the biggest city in Yorkshire, and an increasingly attractive destination in which to book into a hotel and have a city break. It has plenty of events and festivals going on throughout the year, but the biggest ones to get tickets for are the Carling Weekend Music Festival and the International Film Festival.
Tickets for the Carling Weekend music festival usually sell out pretty quickly – way before the three day party in Bramham Park takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The event was formerly called the Leeds Festival, but over recent years it has be joined with the Reading Festival in Reading, Berkshire, under the brand of the Carling Weekend.
Whilst being so obviously sponsored has led to accusations of selling out, it can’t be denied that the promoters manage to attract the very best bands and artists to perform on the main stage. In 2007, for example, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails and Fall Out Boy will perform on the Friday, Razorlight, Kings of Leon and Interpol will be the stars on the Saturday, while Red Hot Chili Peppers, Arcade Fire and Bloc Party head an extraordinary Sunday line-up.
Carling Weekend tickets are expensive, but far cheaper than paying to a few of these great bands individually.
Whilst not quite up there with Cannes or Robert Redford’s Sundance, the Leeds International Film Festival is growing in stature every year. The 2007 festival will mark its 21st anniversary, and to celebrate, a series of classic and contemporary films will be shown in venues across the city, with awards given to those deemed the freshest and most original by the judges. Venues include the Carriageworks, the Vue at the Light and the Hyde Park Picture House. The event takes place in early November every year.
Leeds is a big hub on Britain’s rail network. Cities within easy, direct reach include Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, Nottingham and London. Here are the approximate train travel times from each city - be aware that the times vary from service to service, however.
Manchester to Leeds train travel time: Approx one hour
Sheffield to Leeds train travel time: 40m to 1h20m
Newcastle to Leeds train travel time: Approx 1h30m
Nottingham to Leeds train travel time: Approx two hours
Liverpool to Leeds train travel time: Approx 1h45m
London to Leeds train travel time: Approx 2h20m