Last year I took the big plane across the pond and landed at Heathrow one chilly and rainy London afternoon. But London had to wait that particular day … I hopped the train into the city and made my way to Kings Cross where I spent a few hours waiting for my very first train ride in the United Kingdom: to Leeds, where I was going to attend the Thought Bubble comics convention.
I mistimed my arrival and train ride by a few extra hours, so I had plenty of time to explore Kings Cross, which included a Harry Potter store/photo opportunity. Finally I boarded the train around 6:30pm and took the 2.5 hours ride to Leeds. It was already dark, so I didn’t see much, but I loved travelling by train, something that is entirely different here in the U.S. I splurged for first class and got a nice meal as we plunged through the dark, heading north in England. I would see the occasional quaint little train station. We got into Leed around 9:30pm (there were some delays) and I spent a bit of time aimlessly wandering around looking for my hotel. (I would be able to see much more of my train ride and the British countryside when I traveled back to London a few days later … see the photo above and the first one below).
The next day was foggy and rainy, but that didn’t deter me from roaming all over downtown Leeds. Over the next few days I thoroughly explored that area, including the charming shopping arcades, and the bigger mall know as Leeds Trinity. I roamed around the canal, back and forth to the convention site, which was the Leeds Armory. I kept spotting that cute little yellow water taxi. I kind of fell in love with Leeds, to be honest, and I can’t wait to go back again. Adding to the charm: The city was just beginning to decorate for the holidays.
Here are a few of my photos from that trip, albeit a year later. Click on the photos to see them larger on your screen.
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innocent bystander 