Briggate, Leeds

Briggate is the principal pedestrian shopping street of Leeds, lined with historic buildings, shops, cafés, and some of the city's finest Victorian shopping arcades. Its name is thought to combine the Old English word "brycg," meaning bridge, with the Old Norse "gata," meaning street. Briggate dates back to 1207, when Maurice Paynell, Lord of the Manor of Leeds, granted a charter establishing the town's first borough.

Begin at the street's northern end, where New Briggate meets The Headrow. Before heading south, explore the Grand Arcade on the eastern side of New Briggate. Dating from 1897-1898, it contains covered passages lined with Victorian-style shopfronts. Walk towards its Vicar Lane entrance and look up to see a mechanical clock made by Potts of Leeds. There, two armoured knights strike bells, while uniformed figures appear beneath the clock face, with a metal cockerel standing above them.

Now, cross The Headrow and continue south along pedestrianised Briggate. Almost immediately, on your right, you'll find the entrance to Thornton's Arcade, one of Leeds' oldest shopping arcades, opened in 1878. Step inside and admire its glass roof, decorative ironwork, and red winged lions adorning the arches. At the far end, towards Lands Lane, look up to see the Ivanhoe Clock. Its figures represent characters from Sir Walter Scott's novel, such as Richard the Lionheart, Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, and Gurth the Swineherd; they strike the hours and quarter-hours.

Return to Briggate and continue south. On your left, opposite Thornton's Arcade, stands the Victoria Quarter, a collection of elegant shopping passages dating from the late Victorian period. Enter through County Arcade, identifiable by its grand arched entrance. Continue through the complex to Queen Victoria Street, covered by an enormous stained-glass roof designed by artist Brian Clarke and installed during the area's renovation around 1990. Its colourful geometric patterns are particularly impressive when sunlight filters through.

Back on Briggate, directly opposite the Victoria Quarter, you'll find Queens Arcade, which is yet another Victorian shopping passage. Opened in 1889 and named in honour of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, it connects Briggate with Lands Lane.

Further south, on your left, you'll reach Central Arcade, a more modern shopping passage opened in 2012. Its entrance leads towards Central Road, with shops arranged across several levels. Unlike its Victorian counterparts, Central Arcade features contemporary retail architecture.