NORTHERN ENGLAND_Lima APR-08.R5-2 2/19/20 3:57 PM Page 60
exploring northern england
Photo: Jonny Essex
Blackpool Tower
Winter Gardens Domed Ceiling
here is a lot of shopping here, lots of beauty, it’s very LGBT-friendly, but above all it’s a northern city filled with characters who will call you ‘love’ no matter who or where you are” says Liaqat Ali from Leeds Pride (www.leedspride.org) as we take a free water taxi down the canal. Ali is also a member of the community’s rugby team, The Leeds Hunters RUFC. We are on the way to the Royal Armouries Museum (Armouries Dr, Leeds. Tel: +44-113-220-1999. www.royalarmouries.co.uk), and the water taxi is an excellent way to get a glimpse of the gorgeous architecture that lines the River Aire. We go beneath the currently under-renovation Leeds Bridge that was built in the late 1800s and is painted in a majestic baby blue. The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds houses a major part of the national collection of arms and armor, and displays over 8,500 objects
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throughout its five themed galleries. The remarkable displays are reason enough to visit this exciting museum. You’ll marvel at the recreation of an Englishman riding a massive elephant and a full-on snow battle. I particularly love the more modern exhibit that showcases some fictional items, like the guns from James Bond films. Outside in the summer months, guests get to experience some of the armor in action with live jousting. Part of the charm of Leeds is that its city center is super-compact. One thing you’ll notice right away is that this city is built around shopping. Named the best shopping destination in the UK by the Rough Guide to Britain, Leeds City Centre has over 1,000 shops. But it’s the diversity of places to shop (both high-end and vintage) that makes it exciting. With businesses housed in beautiful arcades and listed buildings, you’ll find luxury brands at Victoria Quar-
Photo: DMC Photogallery
Photo: Doubleclix
Central Pier at Blackpool
