Feeling brave? Now you can embark on a ghost hunt around one of the most historical buildings in the city, the Leeds City Museum.
If you’re fascinated by the ethereal and fancy hunting ghosts in the dead of night, this overnight ghost hunt is the perfect event for you.
And the Leeds City Museum is a brilliant place to do it, housing three levels of terror full of many exciting artefacts and ghostly tales.
A former Victorian mechanics institute, the museum is an imposing building with over 200 years of history.
During this time, there's been various reports of unnerving paranormal activity. Lights flicker on and off, ghostly footsteps are heard running down the halls and there have even been sightings of an unknown figure lurking in the shadows of the Albert Hall balcony.
Feeling scared yet? There are also rumours that the restless spirit of the Leeds mummy, named Nesyamun, haunts the museum...keep your eyes peeled for wet footprints leading from his coffin.
Image: UK Ghost Night
Now here's a bit of history for you, when the Leeds Philosophical and Literary society members decided that Leeds was worthy of its museum back in 1819, they could have had no idea how popular it would be today.
It took them a whopping two years to open the museum to the public at the original site on Park Row, and they kept control of the museum for 100 years before the city council took it over in 1921.
Everything ran smoothly until the bombing in WWII damaged most of the exhibits and a lot of the original building. However it was kept open, and this could perhaps explain all the spooky sightings that have been spotted since...
Ghost hunts around the Leeds City Museum run from 9 pm to 2 am, giving those fascinated with the spectral world the chance to see the building’s eerie happenings in the flesh – so to speak.
Paranormal Eye, who organise the hunts, have warned that they’re not for the faint-hearted and we’re happy to take their word for it.
Tickets are on sale now for £49, with dates available in November 2022 and March 2023. Find out more here.
Two motorways in and around Leeds have been named the ‘most challenging’ in the UK.
As part of MoneySuperMarket’s new Great British Motorway Report, new research has found that one in three UK motorists find motorway driving ‘stressful’ – despite more than 70 billion miles being travelled on Britain’s motorways each year.
From delays and congestion to high traffic levels, there are a number of factors that can contribute to driver stress levels.
But are some motorways more challenging for drivers than others? According to the data, yes. And two of the top 10 worst motorways in the UK are in and around Leeds.
Three Manchester motorways have been named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’ / Credit: pxfuel
To find out which are the most challenging, MoneySuperMarket analysed everything from collision rates and roadworks, to lane closures and driver feedback in order to reveal the top 10.
Leeds is home to three of the UK’s top 10 most challenging motorways – the M62, and the M621.
The M60, M25, and the M11 ranked as the UK’s most challenging motorways, with lengthy delays and a high number of incidents affecting their scores.
“If you’re feeling anxious, allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to rush or make last-minute decisions,” commented Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket.
“Plan your route in advance, including where you’ll stop for breaks, as regular rest stops can help you stay alert and reduce stress on longer trips, and if you’re travelling alone, consider sharing your route with someone you trust if it helps you feel more comfortable.”
End of an era as Harvey Nichols is leaving Leeds after 30 years on Briggate
Clementine Hall
It's time to say goodbye to one of Leeds' most recognisable shops.
One of Leeds’ most iconic shops is set to undergo a major makeover - as Harvey Nichols is reportedly leaving Briggate after three decades.
The luxury department store has been a staple in the heart of Leeds since 1996, but its days under the famous Harvey Nichols name are coming to an end.
It has been reported that the store is set to become a Flannels, following the takeover of Harvey Nichols by Frasers Group earlier this year.
The brand was bought by Frasers Group after the luxury retailer entered administration in August.
At the time, Frasers said the business had faced “sustained trading and operational challenges” and that significant restructuring would be needed.
Now, Frasers boss Michael Murray has confirmed that Leeds and Bristol are the two stores set to lose the Harvey Nichols name and become Flannels.
Murray has said the group plans to invest in its Manchester store, while the future of the Knightsbridge flagship in London is also being considered.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
For Leeds, though, it means saying goodbye to a name that has been part of the city for almost 30 years.
And with another Flannels already sitting just a stone’s throw away, there are plenty of questions about what the change will mean for the city's already luxury-heavy retail offering.
Whether you've dined in the beautiful Fourth Floor Brasserie restaurant or enjoyed browsing the beauty hall over the years, we all have our own memories of Harvey Nichols and there's no doubt it will be missed.
For now, there’s no confirmed date for exactly when the Harvey Nichols name will leave Leeds but we will keep you updated.
Clementine Hall -
20th October 2022 
