Leeds or Chester for a short break?

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Which would you recommend for 2 adults who enjoy shopping, museums, theatre and nice restaurants and cafe. We don’t drink so we aren’t bothered about pubs and clubs.

TIA

Chester - because then you could stay here:

Gladstone’s Library

and luxuriate in the library and cafe and building, and potter around North Wales. As well as doing the rather fun Cathedral tour. Shopping average; I hear there are good places to eat.

Leeds probably has better shopping, and a good art gallery. And it does have Opera North.

Thanks BetsyRegards. I love libraries and bookstores and that looks incredible.

Chester definitely!

Chester is far nicer than Leeds.

But what about York - far nicer than Leeds and Chester!

Chester definitely

I say that as a Yorkshire lass

If you want Yorkshire it's York not Leeds you want

Neither. York would be perfect

Thanks all. I appreciate the responses.

I’ve been to York half a dozen times so I was considering Leeds for a change and because of its proximity to Harrogate which is a bonus.

Chester is nicer to wander around in, and has more of an obviously historical feel. Leeds would be better for theatres usually, and shopping.

Is there a particular period of history or type of stuff you're interested in?

Chester - the main shopping centre is lovely, or nearby Cheshire oaks for a large outlet centre.

Not especially. I do particularly enjoy natural history museums and the history of a particularly city but I just love museums generally regardless of the subject matter.

I do agree that York is a great choice and I’d definitely return but having been several times in recent years I want to try somewhere a little different.

Have you considered Oxford then? Nice city to wander around and some museums that may suit you.

Chester definitely.

Come to Leeds and you can visit this library: https://www.theleedslibrary.org.uk

Can’t sleep on site, though, @JennyChawleigh! 😃

True 😟

Leeds has the Royal Armouries if you like museums, plus the city museum has a good natural history section. There's also the art gallery and public library (ie not the private library linked above) with lovely tiled cafe and historical architecture. Great choice of restaurants.

Plus a short hop to Bradford for the National Media Museum and Salts Mill (world heritage site) with the Peace Museum, David Hockney galleries and lovely bookshop are also worth a visit. Bradford is also this year's city of culture, but I think the events get going later in the year.

Just south of Leeds is the Hepworth Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

I just find Leeds a depressing place to be despite some architectural gems. Chester is lovely to wander around in but Leeds probably gives you more of what you're looking for.

I stayed in Harrogate and got the train down to Leeds which worked better for me. Leeds has a great train station with scenic train routes although that's not what you're asking.

Thanks all. I appreciate the responses.

What’s so depressing about Leeds if I may ask?

I had a lovely Leeds based holiday. Armouries, art gallery, ruined Abbey, a few town museums.

Plus trip to Hepworth Wakefield, Temple Newsam and Harewood House.

It also has a proper foodie scene and we were spoilt for choice for restaurants.

Leeds isn't as pretty as York or Chester and there's currently quite a lot of roadworks and construction going on.

But there's plenty of interest in the city centre and surrounding area.

Chester's great too though and there's the outlet centre and North Wales nearby. I don't know Chester etc as well but you could have a week's holiday in Leeds and the surrounding area let alone a weekend - I don't think Harrogate and Knaresborough has been mentioned yet.

@Bjorkdidit Leeds isn't as pretty as York or Chester and there's currently quite a lot of roadworks and construction going on

I stayed in Leeds several years ago and there was loads of roadworks and construction work going on back then! Hopefully the work outside the train station has finally finished.

I did mention Harrogate - an easy commute to Leeds.

Thanks all. If we do go to Leeds I might consider staying in Harrogate.

We had a special weekend away for Leeds to go to Royal Armouries. Stayed in Harrogate (nice). Hubby very much into military history, but Armouries very very disappointing.

Aaah...love the namecheck for Gladstone's Library. I work round the corner from there and my DD used to work in their restaurant. Hawarden is a peaceful village with a lovely park to walk in on the estate owned by the Gladstone family.

Easy to get into Chester by road or bus.

Chester and York are both definitely more historical and pretty compared to Leeds.