Leeds Dundee Train

The city of Leeds is located in West Yorkshire and is considered by many to be the cultural, financial and commercial centre of West Yorkshire. Historically, Leeds was located in the West Riding of Yorkshire and has grown from a small market town in the valley of the River Aire to become a large urban centre by the middle of the 20th century. During the Industrial Revolution Leeds transformed itself into a major industrial centre which was dominated by the wool and flax industries along with iron foundries and printing.

Leeds has three universities and as a result has one of the largest student populations in the UK. It is also second largest legal centre in the United Kingdom, after London. Leeds has extensive shopping opportunities for visitors including the indoor shopping centres of the Merrion Centre, St. John's Centre, The Core, the Victoria Quarter, The Light, the Corn Exchange and Trinity Leeds.

Leeds is home to the Grand Theatre where Opera North is based. The theatre has 1,500 seats and has recently undergone a £31.5m refurbishment. The City Varieties Music Hall, which hosted performances by Charlie Chaplin and Harry Houdini and was also the venue of the BBC television programme The Good Old Days, and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Just south of Leeds Bridge once stood The Theatre which hosted Sarah Siddons and Ching Lau Lauro in 1786 and 1834 respectively.

The city of Dundee is located in north east Scotland and is Scotland's fourth largest city. Dundee is home to cutting edge life sciences research sector, a growing digital media industry and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. Due to open in 2017 is the V&A Dundee which aims to embody the enterprise of the city and make a huge contribution to Scotland's cultural heritage. It is aims to stimulate growth by establishing Scotland as a leading global player in design. The museum, whose building was designed by Japanese-based architects Kengo-Kumo and Associates, will showcase design talent, provide a UK base for major international touring exhibitions, and promote a wider understanding and application of design. There is no better way to see the city and its wildlife than taking a trip along the famous River Tay. Numerous tour operators offer trips from March to September. Bottlenose dolphins and seals are regular visitors to the estuary, and the famous hump back whale still remains part of Dundee folklore. The city centre is a family-friendly pedestrianised hub with more than 5,000 car parking spaces, which offers a range of shopping. The Overgate and Wellgate shopping centres with the Forum Centre in-between offer a mix of high street and designer shopping.