I didn't realise there was an "anti-Leeds brigade", though I suppose I could become a member. If it does exist, perhaps there is a reason...
That is not what I meant by "history", though. I am sure Leeds has been around for quite some time, but nowhere do you have anything hinting at life in the settlement before the late 19th century. Has any of mediaeval Leeds been preserved or reconstructed? Later? Where is there any sense that the city is anything other than today.
I'll grant that the Corn Exchange is interesting, and the Victoria Arcade has been tarted up. But, with due respect to the awards givers, the recent stuff is just bland identikit architecture. The rest of the buildings in Leeds are also dull and being left to rot, or redesigned with little feel for context. Just look at Millenium Square - so much potential, so little done. And then look at the wasteland to the south, around the Armouries - nothing at all attractive, which is why it doesn't attract people.
Again, I forgot Henry Moore - apologies. But the city is hardly overbrimming with activity. The Grand seems to have the level and quality of activity as a much smaller town; City Varieties is niche. Only the WYP has a feeling of continued production. Classical music provision is downright shameful. As for the Arena - the stated reason for getting that was that Sheffield had one!
Yes, if you want to buy posh (or cheap) frocks and baubles. Where are the specialist shops? Where can I buy sports goods, piano music, modelling tools, photographic equipment, needlework stuff, classical CDs - other than a few standard items? There is more of that in Ilkley than Leeds:roll:
But part of its function is to attract customers towards rail travel, and it just doesn't. It is gloomy because all sources of natural light have been blocked off and the chosen colour scheme was, well, gloomy. Compare, eg, St Pancras. (And, yes, any list of dire stations would have New Street at the bottom)
Even the Northern concourse has its faults - couldn't the side opposite Starbucks have been better restored? The Southern concourse I agree is dire, but was virtually unchanged when the Northern concourse was restored. As there have been numerous "schemes" for improvement over the years, I am not going to hold my breath to see how the current "plans" turn out. The same goes for the proposed southern entrance. It may improve things, it may not. But, at present, Leeds Station is bad.
BTW, I live in Ilkley.
HISTORY: The history of Leeds can be traced to the 5th century when the Kingdom of Elmet was covered by the forest of "Loidis", the origin of the name Leeds. The city however grew on the back of the wool trade.
ARCHITECTURE: I would hardly say that the rest of the buildings are being "left to rot". Most buildings in Leeds city centre are very well kept. The only place your analogy would be true is a small section of Kirkgate.
Many new buildings do lack vision or imagination, and the same can be said of any large city in the UK.
The area around the Royal Armouries is a bit of a white elephant to be honest - a kind of extension of the city centre with a gap in the middle. New owners are now in place and hopefully that will change things.
ENTERTAINMENT: Leeds got an arena as it was the largest city in the UK not to have one. It's a high profile city and needed one, and now it's here, may it thrive!
Theatre wise, well a friend of mine who is an actress tells me that Leeds is a major player in the theatrical scene, and has a good array of venues offering a great number of productions. Also, Opera North and I believe Northern Ballet are based in the city.
Art, well we've covered that!
SHOPPING: Leeds has MANY independent traders if you look closely enough. It also offers chain stores, like any other city, but also high end retailers which is why Leeds is ranked so highly by Experian in their annual retail rankings. Trinity Leeds has added to that, and Victoria Gate, once completed, will enhance it even more. There's clearly demand for it.
STATION: The main concourse needs a refurb, I agree, and I never understood why I wasn't completed in 2002. The north concourse is better and the facilities in the station generally are good. Manchester Piccadilly's refurb was much better in my opinion, but when you compare Leeds station to Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester (especially Leicester), Coventry, Liverpool Lime Street, and at present Birmingham New Street, it is miles better.
ILKLEY: Nice town granted, but one that's hyped beyond belief. Having been out there recently, your choice of pubs is dire, compared to neighbouring Skipton and Otley. The Cow & Calf is in a stunning location, granted, but lacks the service to match in recent visits.
The station, whilst busy, just needs bit of TLC now & then .. 
