Leeds or Chester for a short break?

[NoShelfControl]

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

Work outside the station finished?!!! Ha ha ha ha 😁. And it doesn't look like it will be finished anytime soon.

What about staying somewhere like Hebden Bridge, Ilkley or Knaresborough and going into Leeds? If you like museums and theatre Leeds is good.

What type of museums do you like? Do you like galleries?

Leeds and Chester are totally different, it's hard to compare.

Ok, I feel I have to defend Leeds. I really don't get all the negativity about Leeds. I live here but I'm not from here. I'm a southerner so I can be objective. I love Leeds. It's a vibrant city and has loads going for it. It's fantastic for shopping. Several big shopping centres and beautiful Victorian arcades. There are some excellent restaurants. Any cuisine you can imagine. There are several theatres, music events every night. There's opera, ballet. Good museums such as the Royal Armouries, City Museum, Thackeray Medical Museum.
All my friends from down south thought I was mad for moving here. Even though they had never been here they had a negative impression of Leeds. Once they visited me they all say the same thing "Oh I didn't expect Leeds to be so nice! It's quite posh, isn't it?".
You could definitely have a really nice weekend here, shopping, wining, dining and going to the theatre.

Both lovely - Chester obviously has amazing history, but weirdly the museums are not that great (but you can pop to Liverpool where they are!) - the Grosvenor museum always looks like it needs a good dust, in my opinion. Shopping is better in Leeds although Chester is improving all the time and could definitely occupy you for a day or two. Both have fabulous theatres so maybe see what's on in the week you want to go? Lovely restaurants in both. Tricky!

Chester definitely....but I would say that as I live there

Chester isn't great for shopping or Museums. Although there's a lot of historical interest you can just see.
The Storyhouse is pretty good for theatre or there's the open air theatre in summer.
Lots of great restaurants.

Leeds is probably better for museums and shopping. There's lots of places to eat too.

Leeds recommendations:

Kirkstall Abbey
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/pQwXsQ/kirkstall-abbey/home

Abbey House Museum
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/pQaofO/abbey-house-museum/home

Near each other on the outskirts, easy access by bus.

On the way back, industrial museum next to the river. I was fortunate to be there during a guided tour of the spinning and weaving equipment, which was very interesting.

Edited to add: Armley Mills
https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/pQKYcJ/leeds-industrial-museum/home

You live nearby @DrMadelineMaxwell? What unspeakably good fortune!

I discovered Gladstone’s Library right at the start of this century, at a time when I really needed a retreat - and the place was still called St Deiniol’s Library. After my first visit I kept returning (and at one point had a bursary that enabled me to stay for three months. Which was heavenly).

Really loved the people I met there - scholars and vicars and professors on sabbatical. Writers and travellers and groups staying for Latin or Greek courses. Americans visiting North Wales for the first time - and others who tried to go every year. The conversations at breakfast and supper were occasionally epic. For a while it felt more like home than my actual home …

It has changed a bit since then though.

@DrMadelineMaxwell @BetsyRegards I live 10 minutes from it, too! Nice to meet a neighbour :) DD2 has a reader's card and goes there to study in peace. One of my friends (who lives further away but still only half an hour) books herself in when her family gets on her nerves 😂

I'm from Liverpool and I absolutely love Leeds. Mind you the City Museum was pants! I think my home museums have me spoilt though. I like wandering about finding mad urban routes (over bridges, round the Asda HQ, up through locks and a victorian imprisoned stream to the canal, then back through a city weir anybody?) and finding old pubs in tiny alleyways off the main drag and staring at the expensive jewellery shops and eating bloody lovely food...always somewhere quirky and tasty to eat, any time of day. The market. The corn exchange. The chazzers. The posh arcades. I even like the roadworks. Brings everyone together as The Thing To Moan About.

Chester is just too teeny tiny posh try hard for my liking. It's ok for the races or a pub crawl in the summer I suppose. Unless you really like the Romans, then you're set

Great shops but central museums not so good. If anything Liverpool is better than both for shopping, museums and history.
Can’t see the attraction of Harrogate, yes it’s a bit posh with expensive shops, there’s some nice civic architecture plus Betty’s and Harlow C gardens/ pinewoods, closeish to the dales, but it’s not that amazing if you’re from down south.

Presumably, @NoShelfControl, you’ll eventually be able to visit both cities? (Is Leeds a city, I forget?)

Leeds certainly has everything I’ve wanted or needed when I’ve visited. Took a child to the opera, and then the next day to a place I don’t remember the name of - sort of theme park with animals (?) a short drive out of town. That was a big hit. As were the market, the art gallery and the Henry Moore institute.

I’d prefer Chester in Summer - nicer for taking a boat along the river. And for taking photos at the top of the Cathedral tower!

https://chestercathedral.com/visit/tours

(I’ve occasionally taken members of my family to stay there @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense - either for a peaceful break or for some determined study.)

Chester is lovely. Make sure you walk the city walls while you’re there.

Chester is lovely for restaurants and their theatre is okay - but it's poor for museums/art galleries As pp said Grosvenor museum is a bit of a let down (not nearly as good as Shrewsbury museum (a really good small city museum).

I live down the hill from the library, and am ashamed to say, I've never been inside

it's beautiful! You should

I am from Leeds and live in Harrogate so I vote for both!! I have been to Chester a few times and I didnt see what the fuss was about. To be honest I think most large towns and cities are suffering from the same problem..empty shops, or shops being taken over for selling vapes etc. as well as homelessness and general scruffiness.

Leeds has 4 theatres in the centre, Harrogate has 1 and 2 other venues that do live shows. The Owl trail is fun..Owls being the symbol of Leeds.

Go to the wharf near the station and see the spooky tunnels all lit up. Nice bars and restaurants near there too ( you dont have to drink!)

Harrogate has the wonderful Valley Gardens, RHS Harlow Carr, Turkish Baths and the spectacular Chinese ( Royal Baths Chines restaurant)

Oh, @IOweMySanityToBasilParsley - you have to treat yourself to a couple of nights’ stay there soon! Obvs you can do a daytime tour, but in my experience it really comes alive at night once the day visitors have gone and only the residents are there. Gathered round the fire with whisky and wine and newspapers and chat. (The library itself used to be open until about 10.pm for residents but I think that may have changed, sadly.)

You’ll have the benefit of the beautifully refurbished guest rooms. (Naturally I preferred the old poky rooms and lumpy beds … )

The whole place is much busier and noisier now - much more a glossy B&B with a library attached, rather than a library with modest accommodation. It used to be an absolutely miraculous place to stay if you wanted a few days or weeks of peace and quiet in lovely surroundings with a few bookish strangers.

(But I’m exactly the same; never set foot inside the Abbey I lived down the road from for years.)

I'm definitely going to this year 😊

Leeds is fab. I’d probably stay in Harrogate or Ilkley and get the train in to Leeds for a few days. The Thackeray Medical museum
is fascinating. Shop/restaurants
are good. We also loved Junk yard golf with the kids.

Then I’d do some walks in the Yorkshire countryside. There’s also a
cute little cinema in Ilkley if you stay there.

I'm going to, my friend says they do a lovely afternoon tea there too

Why not stay in Harrogate and visit Leeds for the day?

@Pattygonia - Shrewsbury is still resolutely a town rather than a city 😁 but is in my (somewhat biased view) better for a long weekend than Chester - have spent lots of time in Chester too, it's fine for a day but I don't think it has that much to entertain. I went to uni in Leeds, not the prettiest of cities but lots to do - would definitely have my vote over Chester.

@Nonamenoblame
I've always enjoyed the museums in and around Leeds. Admittedly am talking from the perspective of visiting as a family rather than a couple.

The animal place I mentioned earlier in Leeds was

Tropical World

Almost certainly not the type of thing you’re looking for, @NoShelfControl - but very good fun with a child.