Best things to do in Leeds

Arms and armories have played an important role in the history of the UK, and Royal Armouries Museum serves to preserve and document this. Located in a modern, imposing building, the museum contains collections dedicated to ancient and medieval warfare, as well as warfare from the 17th to the 20th centuries, hunting, oriental weaponry, tournament warfare, and self-defense.

At National Railway Museum, learn about the history of trains and their effect on British society. This engaging museum, which won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001, houses 100 locomotives and almost 200 items of rolling stock that either ran on British rails or that British manufacturers produced. Wander through the massive halls and board all types of trains, from the opulent Royal Train to a futuristic Japanese bullet train. Observe engineers working at their craft in the workshop and take a ride on the miniature railway outside. Guides are available to give children a fun education on Britain's rail history.

York Minster is one of northern Europe's oldest, largest, and most magnificent cathedrals. Join a free tour that points out the building's renowned stained-glass windows, architectural details, and artifacts of its millennium-long existence. Wander through interactive galleries telling the cathedral's story. If you're in shape, climb 275 steps to the top of the 70 m (230 ft) tower. You'll pass medieval pinnacles and gothic gargoyles on your way, and earn sweeping panoramic views of the city and Yorkshire countryside as a reward for your effort. The cathedral also welcomes you to attend one of its regular services.

England's largest theme park, Alton Towers Resort rarely disappoints visitors of any age. If you want your adrenaline to flow, hop on the Smiler, the world's first 14-loop roller coaster. Let go of gravity and fly under footpaths and past trees and rocks on Air. Get wet on Congo River rapids and ride the runaway mine train. Let the special effects of the 4-D cinema dazzle you, and view over 300 species of fish, including sharks and rays, at Sharkbait Reef. Bring your bathing suit if you plan to visit the waterpark here. There are cartoon-themed attractions for little ones, and you can book a room at one of the on-site hotels if you wish to spend the night.

Wetherby Ings are water meadows, by the River Wharfe now used as parkland in Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England. The ings on the north and south bank are used as parkland and for sports grounds for the town's football and rugby league teams. The area is liable to flooding during heavy rain and the river has broken its banks frequently.

One of the largest city parks in all of Europe, Roundhay Park is a collection of woodland, lakes, and landscaped grounds. Bring a picnic in the good weather months, or hike through the woodland and enjoy the local plant and animal life. Inside the Canal Gardens are a group of greenhouses, each protecting plants from different climates. Enter Tropical World inside the Coronation House to discover one of the largest collections of tropical flora in the United Kingdom. Inside, butterflies and aquariums fill the rooms with color. On your way to the "Tropical World" entrance, you'll pass through a rose garden that was once a vegetable garden for the mansion. Be sure to check out Monet's Garden, where you may recognize the garden path at Giverny from his 1902 painting of the same name.

A handmade, handpicked total gift shopping experience, providing high quality handmade gifts for all for each and any occasion.

We are proud to reside in The Grand Arcade, Leeds which is the Home of Independents.

http://leeds-list.com/style/independent-leeds-our-handmade-collective/

Customers often ask us if we provide a mail order service. Our simple answer is no, we do not have an online store for customers to purchase from as the majority of products we have in-store are very limited in quantity or are unique items. We also feel that it detracts from the whole experience of visiting Our Handmade Collective and wandering around in our little Aladdin's Cave of handmade treasures!



However, we do appreciate that not everyone can get to visit us in person so we do always say that if you have spotted something you like on one of our many photos, please send us a quick message and we'll do our best to help!



Please do bear in mind however that we are a small shop with only one person working most of the time, we are open 7 days a week - and we do get very busy, particularly Thursday through Sunday. This means that we're just not able to get out of the shop to the Post Office. Courier services do not work on weekends so any orders to be placed to be mailed out will more than likely be issued between Mondays and Wednesdays!

Thanks for your understanding - we try to help as much as we can and we look forward to meeting you!

Claire & Natalie

Experience York's ancient history by walking along the incredibly well-preserved York City Walls. The walls date back to Roman rule over 2,000 years ago. Walk their entire 3.2 km (2 mi) length if you can. Less than one-third of the 108 walled towns throughout Britain have even a single gateway remaining. These walls, though, retain four main and two minor gatehouses, all of which are still ornate and intact. Take the self-guided audio tour to hear about how the walls developed through the Roman era, the Dark Ages, and the Viking and medieval periods. Be careful in sections with steep drops and no protective barrier. Your ticket for the walls includes free admission to the Richard III Museum, where your tour starts and finishes.

Experience life in Victorian and Edwardian England at York Castle Museum. Housed in prison buildings within the York Castle complex, the museum features recreated scenes from the 17th to 19th centuries. Walk through Kirkgate, a Victorian street with buildings that feature period architecture, and visit rooms furnished in Victorian styles. See the Raindale Mill, a reconstruction of an 18th-century flour mill. The Cells exhibit educates visitors about prison life at the castle. The museum also hosts numerous temporary exhibits. Your admission ticket is personalized and good for free reentry up to 12 months after your initial visit.