Leeds Railway: Services for Leeds and West Yorkshire

The Airedale Line connects the city of Leeds with Morecambe and Carlisle: the line is mainly served by electric trains between Skipton and Carlisle, with diesel services running to Lancaster and Morecambe; the Airedale Line also includes the Settle to Carlisle line, a stunningly beautiful railway that rolls through the Yorkshire Dales.

The Calverdale Line runs to Blackpool North and Manchester Victoria, with local trains to Halifax, Brighouse and Huddersfield: the Rochdale Canal runs parallel to the railway line from Rochdale to Sowerby Bridge, and there are views of the South Pennines; this is a great line for outdoor enthusiasts, who can hop off en-route, as well as those wanting to visit the big city.

If a day out at Meadowhall shopping centre is required, the Hallam Line connects Leeds and Sheffield via Barnsley and Sheffield; a somewhat faster service is provided on the Wakefield Line.

The Harrogate Line is operated by Northern Rail and runs through the two-mile Bramhope Tunnel to Harrogate, then on to Knaresborough every half hour, with hourly trains to York.

Part of the TransPennine Express network is formed by the Huddersfield Line. It’s one of the busiest rail services on the West Yorkshire Metro Train network, with local trains operated by Northern Rail from
Leeds to Huddersfield and Manchester Victoria along the River Colne Valley.

The Wakefield Line runs frequent InterCity services between Leeds, Wakefield, Doncaster or Sheffield and a local stopping service; the section between Leeds and Doncaster forms part of the East Coast Main Line.

An electric train service is operated along the Wharfedale Line through the Aire valley, climbing a hill to the market town of Ilkley.

Connecting Leeds to its north and east, the York and Selby Lines run local services with extensions via Transpennine Express and Virgin Cross Country to Newcastle, Scarborough, Middlesbrough and Hull.

Contact Address:
Station Manager
Network Rail
Room 406 Administration Block
Leeds Station
Leeds
LS1 4DY

External Links:
Leeds City – Network Rail
Station Services
National Rail

Pre School Nurseries in Leeds and West Yorkshire

The years of an infant before they start school are very important: these are the times that a young child learns a great deal and starts to blossom, growing their personality.

Because of the importance of these years, it is important to find a great pre-school nursery where a child can learn and have fun before starting at a big school for big children!

Here are a few of the pre-school nurseries near Leeds:

Grove Nursery School

Grove Nursery School is found in the Headingley area of Leeds and is a great nursery that really looks after the very young in the area by preparing them for primary school.

Address:
Grove Nursery School
28 Grove Road
Headingley
Leeds
LS6 4EE

Tel: 0113 275 1471‎

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre

Bright Beginnings is a great childcare centre that caters specifically to the staff and students of the University of Leeds.

This care and attention to the children of those who work and study at the University of Leeds gives teachers and students alike the confidence that their child is well looked after.

Address:
Bright Beginners Childcare Centre
Mount Preston Street
Leeds
LS2 9NQ

Tel: 0113 343 1818‎

St. Agnes Day Nursery

St. Agnes Day Nursery prides itself on making learning fun and informative, while also being a safe environment for children to feel stimulated and happy in.

With a unique learning style, the St. Agnes Day Nursery may be the perfect day nursery for your child.

Address:
St. Agnes Day Nursery
25 Burton Crescent
Leeds
LS6 4DN

Tel: 0113 278 6722‎

Little Rascals

Little Rascals knows that children just want to have fun, and this means every effort is put into making learning fun.

Addresses:
Little Rascals
Station Road
Crossgates
Leeds
LS15 7JY

Tel: 0113 232 6757

Ninelands Lane
Garforth
Leeds
LS25 1NT

Tel: 0113 287 3388

Barwick Road
Crossgates
Leeds
LS15 8RQ

Tel: 0113 232 6858

Tadpoles at Kids

Based on the Leeds to Kirkstall Road, the Tadpoles at Kids pre-school nursery is a wonderful nursery that a child will enjoy visiting day after day.

With children’s care being important, Tadpoles at Kids ensure a safe playing environment.

Address:
Tadpoles at Kids
338 – 340 Kirkstall Road
Leeds
LS4 2DS

Tel: 0845 365 2929‎

There are many pre-school nurseries in Leeds based at all locations throughout the city, if none of the above are in your local area there is sure to be one closer to your home.

If you are not sure about the pre-school nurseries in Leeds then why not speak to the council and find out more about your child’s potential day nursery.

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External Links:
Grove Nursery School
Bright Beginners Childcare Centre
Little Rascals Barwick Road
Little Rascals Ninelands Lane
Little Rascals Station Road
Tadpoles at Kids

Leeds is a big city with a big heart, and this clearly shows through the development programs it has for its youth.
The city of Leeds has plenty of youth clubs for ensuring the youth of today have somewhere to keep them off the streets and to encourage them to become active members of the community.

Chapeltown Young People’s Club

Chapeltown Young People’s Club is works with people aged between 13 and 25 in the city of Leeds by providing them with a range of community projects, Leisure & Recreation, Media, Adventure playgrounds, Volunteering and Mentoring, Travel and Cultural Exchanges. The club also supplies IT training opportunities and internet access.

This is a great club open to the young of Leeds, especially those in the LS6, 7 and 8 postcode areas.

The Henry Moore Institute

The Institute also curates the British sculpture and archive collections of Leeds Museums and Galleries.

Henry Spencer Moore was an English sculptor and artist known worldwide for his abstract monumental bronze sculptures of the human form. Born in Castleford and the son of a mining engineer, he was responsible for introducing a form of modernism to the UK. Although he became extremely wealthy through his work he devoted most of his money towards the Henry Moore Foundation, established in 1977 – now the UK’s most important artists’ foundation which supports education and the promotion of the contemporary arts. The Foundation has a special interest in Leeds, the city where Moore began his training as a sculptor at the Leeds School of Art (now Leeds College of Art).

The Institute manages the Leeds City Art Gallery’s outstanding collection of British sculpture. Concentrating predominantly on British sculpture from the second half of the 19th century onwards, the work of successive directors including Phillip Hendy (1934-45) and Robert Rowe (1958-83) has led to Leeds’ reputation throughout the world as a major centre for the appreciation and understanding of modern and contemporary sculpture.

The first floor includes archive, slide library and sculpture reference library and an important aspect of the Institute is the opportunity it offers for research. An open house atmosphere is encouraged whereby people with a common interest in sculpture can meet and debate and generate ideas.

Enquiries are welcomed from academics and students with ideas for exhibitions and events. An evening talk series takes place three times a year as an accompaniment to current gallery exhibitions.

The library on the first floor contains 20,000 books, specialist journals, catalogues and pamphlets devoted to contemporary British sculpture dating from 1875 and there are rare books and journals from the 19th and 20th centuries with coverage of international sculpture, installation and conceptual art. There are also video, slides, sculptor’s files, auction catalogues and film works. On line resources include the notes of the controversial artist Helen Chadwick, available as eight three dimensional virtual notebooks.

The Institute also houses and maintains the Leeds Museum and Galleries archive of sculptor’s papers covering 18th century to the present day. Located with the library, the archive represents a diverse range of papers relating to British sculptural practice with contributions of photos and drawings from influential names including Henry Hugh Armstead, Quentin Bell, Eric Gill, Laurence Bradshaw and Barbara Hepworth. In order to view the archives it’s necessary to make a prior appointment by letter, telephone or email.

Facilities:
Assistance Dogs Welcome, Gift Shop, Induction Loops, WC, Wheelchair Access

Address:
Henry Moore Institute
74 The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 3AH

Leeds Car Shows 2010: Leeds Classic Car Shows and Rally Meetings

Seven Art Space Leeds

Take a group of dedicated, like-minded individuals who are committed to finding a way to promote arts and community spirit in the locality, allow them to simmer in a mixing pot of ideas for ten years and you end up with a venue like Seven: a vibrant and lively arts space delivering quality entertainment and culture to a diverse population.

Lucky Number 7

The venue first opened its doors to the public in July 2007. Designed by OSA Architects Ltd, it provides a 100 seat studio with compact but versatile space for a variety of uses. State-of-the-art multimedia equipment and a semi-sprung floor means the space can be utilised for film screenings as well as for dancing and theatrical productions.

The name Seven reflects the founders’ concept, which was to bring the arts to the population of the Leeds 7 area: a geographical corridor full of different nationalities and cultures, with the determination to make the events accessible to all through a good location, well thought-out design and multi-cultural artistic programmes.

The centre is an independent Community Interest Group and a not-for-profit organisation. Run by a board of directors, the building and initial set up was supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund and funds from the Leeds City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Additional revenue is raised by letting the space during the week days from 9.00am to 5.00pm with some dates available for weekend hire when the venue can be utilised by arts companies, promoters, business people, community organisations and members of the public.

Seven offers the chance to hold any event, be it a rehearsal, party, dance or conference in surroundings that combine cool with cultural.

Places of Worship in Leeds

Leeds is a big city in the north of England and is seen as one of the most multicultural cities of the north, bringing many cultures and religions together.

As you walk around the city of Leeds you are sure to see many places of worship for a wide variety of religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and more.

Here are just a few places of worship in Leeds – whatever your religion, Leeds will have a place of worship for you to visit.

Church of St Peter

The Church of St. Peter is also the Leeds Parish Church and is a wonderful piece of historical and religious architecture that sits proudly in the heart of Leeds city centre.

For those that wish to pray there are regular prayers, these are usually on a Sunday where between one and three religious prayer sessions can be found.

The church has a café and gift shop that is open from 10.00am to 4.00pm on weekdays, and 10.00am to 2.00pm on Saturdays.

Address:
Leeds Parish Church (St Peter at Leeds)
St Peter’s House
Kirkgate
Leeds
LS2 7DJ‎

Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue

Built in 1969, the Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue is one of – if not the – biggest Orthodox synagogues in the whole of northern England.

The service times do differ slightly from week to week but there is always a morning Shacharit and evening Mincha/Maariv on a daily basis. These services are usually around 7.30am and 7.30pm respectively.

The synagogue has a gift and book shop for those that wish to have a wonderful gift for a family or friend.

Address:
Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue
399 Street Lane
Leeds
LS17 6HQ

Tel: 0113 2692181

South Parade Baptist Church

South Parade Baptist Church is a wonderful, small but close knit Baptist church. Set in a new building, this church sees many Christians drawn from many different backgrounds to worship God.

Sunday service times:

Headingley, Adel Congregation, Cragg Hill – 10.30am
Four – 3.00pm
Sunday Evening Network (SENT) – 6.30pm

Sermons usually last around ninety minutes and refreshments are available afterwards.

Address:
South Parade Baptist Church
Kirkstall Lane
Headingley
Leeds
LS6 3LF

Tel: 0113 2754989

Leeds Makkah Masjid

Leeds Makkah Masjid is a majestic mosque located just outside the centre of the city, catering to the large Islamic community in Leeds.

The Mosque was built in the 1970s through the support of the Leeds community and the Muslim Council of Leeds.

The Mosque is at the forefront of teaching about Islam to anyone who wishes to learn, and hosts Islam question and answer sessions, study circles, courses and lectures.

As with all Islamic prayers the times do differ from day to day, month to month: the Leeds Makkah Masjid Mosque caters to all twelve prayers from Fajr to Jumah.

Address:
Makkah Mosque
36 Thornville Road
Leeds
LS6 1JY

Leeds Antiques Fairs 2010: Antique and Vintage Fairs

The Middleton Colliery Railway is one of the oldest in the world and was the first commercially successful steam locomotive, paving the way for the world’s first passenger railway - the Stockton and Darlington Railway of 1825. It is situated about two miles south of Leeds City Centre alongside the M621 Motorway at Junction 5.

The railway ran for three miles between the city of Leeds and Middleton Colliery to the south. It was originally constructed in 1758 as a privately financed venture when it was used by horse drawn trucks called corves, and was a cheap method of carrying coal from Middleton Pits to Casson Close. It became the first railway to be granted powers by an act of Parliament.

In 1812 the manager of the colliery John Blenkinsop relaid the track with a toothed rail to give added traction to enable it to bear heavier loads: he employed an engineer, Matthew Murray of Stockton on Tees to build a steam locomotive for the colliery with a pinion that would mesh with the rail; Murray’s engine was called Salamanca and was the first ever to use two cylinders. It remained in use for 20 years with three more locomotives built at a later date. The railway was converted to a 4ft 8” standard gauge in 1881.

In 1960 Middleton Colliery Railway received heritage status, run by volunteers from the Middleton Railway Trust Ltd and funded by the Heritage lottery; a passenger service came into operation in 1969 and is operated at weekends and public holidays, running along the one mile track between Moor Road Hunslet and Park Halt on the edge of Middleton Park.

The Station houses an Engine House with a selection of locomotives built in the Hunslet area by the famous Leeds manufacturer John Fowler, and includes the Sir Berkeley Manning built in 1890 that was featured in the BBC adaptation of The Railway Children, as well as the Mirvale, designed in 1882.

Leeds Railway Station: Leeds City

Leeds Railway Station - also known as Leeds City – is the busiest mainline station in the UK after London and Glasgow, with around 101,000 passengers and over 900 trains passing through each day on journeys to most major UK destinations.

Located on New Station Street at the foot of Park Row and behind the famous Queens Hotel, the station sits on a hill leading down to the Leeds Canal Basin and is built over The Dark Arches: a labyrinth of vaulted Victorian arches and tunnels that now hold Granary Wharf shopping centre; sometimes described as Leeds’ best kept secret, the Granary Wharf centre attracts specialist retailers from all over the world and holds an interesting mix of cafés, bars and restaurants.

Leeds Railway Station: A Short History

The city of Leeds was originally served by three stations in close proximity to each other: New Station, Wellington Station and Leeds Central. The first line was introduced in 1834 by the Leeds and Selby Railway with a terminus to the east of the city. When North Midland Railway constructed a line from Derby via Rotherham to Hunslet Lane, the station extended to Wellington Street and became known as Wellington Station. Leeds Central, also located on Wellington Street, opened in 1854 as a dual project by the Manchester and Leeds Railway and the London and North Western Railway, and in 1869 New Station was built adjacent to Wellington Station, partially on a bridge over the River Aire being jointly owned by the LNWR and the North Eastern Railway.

After the Railways Act of 1921 – when all railways were formed into four companies – New Station and Wellington Street Station merged to form Leeds City Station in 1938. The construction of the north concourse and the Queens Hotel also took place at this time. Later buildings did not appear until 1962 when the architect John Poulson, who was later to achieve notoriety around his bribery and corruption of senior politicians, designed the administrative building: British Railways House, now City House.

In 1967 Central station was diverted into the City Station and became the single main railway station serving Leeds. At this time on any typical day, the station saw the arrival and departure of 500 trains, and 2.75 million passenger journeys were made each year. At this rate, the station quickly outgrew its capacity in the 1990s and the ambitious Leeds 1st building project was undertaken to expand the platforms from 12 to 17, re-roof the concourse and construct a new footbridge.

Work is still being carried out on the south side of the building to provide a new entrance for easier access from the expanding south side of the city, which is due to be opened in 2012.

Leeds Railway Station has 17 platforms which make it the largest in England outside of London.

Five train operators run services from the station: Northern Trains, Transpennine Express, East Coast, Arriva Cross Country and East Midland Trains; providing connections to London, Bristol, Plymouth and the South West, Nottingham, Birmingham and the Midlands, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Hull, Selby and Doncaster, York, Edinburgh and the North East, and Manchester, Liverpool and the North West.

One of only 18 stations in Britain to be managed by Network Rail, it is also the terminus for the Settle to Carlisle line – recently voted the second most beautiful railway in the world!

After the recent £245m modernisation when the metal canopy was replaced with a new glass roof, the station is a light and cheerful point of arrival or departure and contains major retail facilities including Burger King, MacDonalds, Starbucks, Wetherspoons, Boots, Upper Crust, Marks & Spencer Simply Food and two branches of WHSmith from which to buy that all important book for reading on the journey!

Parking is managed by APCOCA and taxis are on the south concourse entrance on New Station Street.

Toilet facilities are available on the south concourse and platforms 8, 12 and 15 with baby changing facilities on platform 12 and the south concourse; the latter has accessible toilets, also found on platforms 8 and 12.

Although Leeds was one of the last stations to use manned ticket barriers, Northern Rail removed them in 2008 and there are now automated ticket gates to speed up the flow of passengers.

Address:
Network Rail
Room 406 Administration Block
Leeds Station
Leeds
LS1 4DY

External Links:
Leeds City – Network Rail
Station Services