Ten key facts about Leeds

• Leeds has received a string of accolades including Britain's Best City for Business (OMIS Research).

• £2.5 billion has been invested in commercial property development in Leeds over the last 10 years and a further
  £4.9 billion of projects are under construction or in the pipeline.

• Leeds is the major employment centre in the region. Around 442,400 people work in the Leeds and the city is expected to provide 45% of employment growth in the region over the next 10 years.

• Leeds is one of the UK's largest centres for financial and business services with over 30 national and international banks based in the city.

• The University of Leeds attracts more student applications than any other university in the country, making Leeds the number one student destination in the UK.

• Dubbed the Knightsbridge of the North, Leeds city centre has over 1,000 shops and is the region’s prime shopping destination.

• Leeds is linked by rail to London Kings Cross, with a journey time of only two hours, and to major European business and holiday destinations via Leeds Bradford International Airport.

• Major national and regional attractions located in Leeds include the Royal Armouries, Henry Moore Institute, Harewood House and West Yorkshire Playhouse, which stages more productions than any other theatre outside of London.

• Leeds is recognised as the regional capital of Yorkshire and the Humber, an area with a population of around five million – similar to that of Scotland or Denmark.

• Over two-thirds of the Leeds district is covered with green belt land and the city centre is less than 20 miles from the Yorkshire Dales National Park.