With over 1,000 shops in the city centre, Leeds is one of the largest retail centres in the country and is listed as one of the top shopping destinations in the UK.

Leeds has 4.3 million square feet of retail space within five miles of shopping streets, including five indoor shopping centres, one of the country’s largest pedestrianised shopping areas and a number of speciality shopping attractions such as the Corn Exchange, Victoria Quarter and The Light.

Investment
Recent investment and expansion has seen 20% growth in retail, with around 11,000 people now employed in city centre shops and associated services.

In the last ten years, £383 million has been invested in Leeds city centre to further enhance its excellent shopping and leisure facilities, with a further £813 million in progress or proposed. This remarkable scale of investment has included major store expansions by Marks and Spencer, HMV, Debenhams and House of Fraser and the renovation of the famous Leeds Market Hall building. Harvey Nichols and Virgin have both chosen Leeds as the location for their largest stores outside London.

Retail and leisure facilities have been further enhanced by the completion of The Light, a £100 million development on the Headrow. And the Leeds retail offer is about to get even better with the £150 million redevelopment of the Trinity Quarter starting next year, and plans are being drawn up for a £400 million redevelopment of the city's Eastgate and Harewood quarters.

Retail Rewards
In October 2000, Leeds Market was named as the best market in the North, and one of the best in Britain, by a panel of chefs, food experts and authors.

Retailers in Leeds are supported by the Leeds City Centre Management Initiative, an organisation that seeks to promote the success of retail in the city centre.