Leeds, the third largest city in England, United Kingdom of Great Britain (after London and Birmingham), is the largest town in West Yorkshire in northern England. The town lies on the banks of the River Aire and is considered to be the capital of northern England. Leeds metropolitan area is part of the same name.

The city was an important trade fair in the Middle Ages, first mentioned in documents dating from 1207. In the Tudor period Leeds was mainly a commercial city where wool coats. Link to other European cities was through the Humber estuary.