Leeds Photo Gallery - Arcades

Leeds has several covered shopping arcades from the Victorian era, all within a short walk of each other. Some are particularly more high-end than others but they're all pleasant and worth a browse. Victoria Quarter is the most beautiful. Designed by Frank Matcham, shoppers can browse in protected comfort across 2 intersecting arcades with plenty of visual stimulation. Stretching 3 storeys high with a glass roof, Thornton's Arcade opened in 1878, setting off a trend for other arcades to be built nearby. Charles Thornton built a block of shops and offices in 1873 and applied for permission 2 years later to build the new arcade of shops. The next parallel street down, Queens Arcade opened in 1889. A short walk further in the Northern Quarter is the Grand Arcade, which opened in 1898.