The Victorian Secrets of Leeds architecture

The architecture of a city isn't necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when we think about particular holiday destinations in the UK. Stunning architecture, or acknowledgement of possessing such facilities, tends to be left to the more esteemed European cities, like Athens or Rome.

However, the fact remains that many of the UK's cities are built on some of the most exquisite sites you will ever see, with breathtaking buildings breaking up city skylines, glorious churches adorning quiet downtown streets and magnificent monuments that need to be seen to be believed.

One such unsuspecting city is the Yorkshire-located Leeds. Leeds is very much an up and coming British city that has seen some of the fastest growth in the country in the last few years. What many people don't think about when considering Leeds, however, is its fascinating past and the incredible architecture that can still be viewed all across the city today.

Most of Leeds' architectural style is dominated by the Victorian era: intricately designed buildings, often enjoying a Gothic twist, that beg to be explored aesthetically rather than simply passed by. However, in the city centre you'll also find plenty of cross-era buildings, ranging from the well-preserved Cistercian monastery ruin, Kirkstall Abbey, to a plethora of the latest in modern architectural design.

Taking a walk through Leeds is like travelling through the ages. Although Leeds has little remaining of its previous medieval structure, you can find examples at Adel's Church of St John the Baptist, a brilliantly preserved church dating back to 1150, where it was the main village church for a community that was only a tiny fraction of what the city possesses today.

From there, you'll find Leeds' development through Tudor times - though, again, not much evidence of this period, particularly as Leeds soon after began exploring its options as an industrial town, a decision that saw the city explode quickly into a commercial success, with businesses and industries appearing throughout the rapidly-expanding city and pulling a mass of wealth into the hands of its inhabitants.

Through the Victorian period and to the present day, you won't need to search as hard to find examples of architecture dating to previous periods and, of course, work from more recent times is abundant as Leeds strives to remain a modern city.

Despite this, however, there are plenty of architectural gems to discover from your stay in one of the many Leeds hotels - so if you're a fan of seeing a city's development through the ages through the shape of its buildings, why Leeds could be a worthwhile visit.