I have driven past The Vale Stables and their signs indicating logs and manure for sale many times…read morethinking it was just a horse stables. It may well be this but when I walked past I was overjoyed to find a little garden centre that looks like it rose up from ground and grew out of the trees that hide it. It exists mostly outside with a lady, a cat and dog huddled round a wood burner, running the place. There are plants everywhere, planted in boots, old toilets, amongst carved pieces of wood, as well as in pots, for sale. Recently I picked up a pot of thyme for £1.50 but there were loads of herbs and flowers I could have chosen from. I also wanted some trays and pots to plant my seeds in so I asked if they had any. The lady told me they had loads and to help myself from the pile for no charge! This beats sterile and expensive landscaped garden centres I have tried to avoid since my childhood any day.

The Vale Stables is truly a hidden gem…read more A lovely rambling space packed with seasonal plants of all kinds, where the owners can be found warming their hands on a crackling wood-burner in all weathers - inspiring you to the outdoor life. They sell beautiful healthy plants which are so much cheaper than at any local garden centre. You can also buy wood and good quality manure in the autumn. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. The owner, Gwen, and her daughter, have a wealth of gardening knowledge and will go out of their way to help and advise. My 3 year old boy loves to visit and see the hens, the dog and the river while I browse the plants on offer and soak up the atmosphere.

nice little lesuire centre, clean, tidy, friendly staff…read more lots going on especially for the kids in the hols & a great swimming pool. also lovely warm baby pool & a great spectators room upstairs. close to the kirkstall morrisons & shops & on various bus routes including the 38, 91.

Being our local leisure centre I am a regular here. Having a Leeds card gives you a discount and…read morechildren can also get a Breeze card which gives them a discount. Having only ever used two facilities here they are all I can comment on. Childrens parties: We had a bouncy castle which was a great hit with the kids, and then went into a room in which there was a full platter of finger foods and a birthday cake. They do offer different kinds of kids party such as roller disco's. Swimming: There are two pools; a small heated childrens pool and a larger pool. The small pool is brilliant for bringing babies and toddlers swimming and is regularly monitored that there is only a certain number of people in the pool to avoid over crowding. The larger pool is often sectioned off into two ares, a lanes swimming area and then an open pool area for the people who don't wish to swim in lanes. The changing rooms are normally quite clean and tidy although the air conditioning can make it a bit cold. There are 4 showers in the female changing rooms as well as a couple of toilets. Lockers are provided for everyone to use and cost £1 which you get back at the end of your session.

Now, I bet you didn't know you could Yelp that, right? Yep, well. Since no one has written up about…read morethe glory that is Leeds' unique spot, The Dark Arches, I thought I'd be the first to pen some words. They come under the category 'local flavour', as in, something local and unique to Leeds-not a business as such - but a monument, a space, an area that is noteworthy enough to mention, and noteworthy enough to visit. (If you have such spaces in mind, I encourage you to share.) Somehow, I'd not managed to discover this space on my own. Many moons ago, I was taken here for my first visit, and told that the space used to be much more vibrant -this was before some of Leeds' finest indies settled up on Granary Wharf -that there used to be bustling market held here back in the day. I'm sad to say there's no such market now, but if you follow the cimmerian, moist and atomospheric pathway to the end, you'll find a pot of gold. Wasabi Teppanyaki, The Hop, VINeataly, to name but a few. But, back to the Arches themselves. Even for a brief wander, if you've somehow missed out (as did I) on the fleeting venture that is a small walk yonder, under the railway lines, you're missing out on a few moments of excellence. It speaks to the ruminative nature of my eyes and ears: the wide cavernous pathway, the luminescent pale orange lights, the deep vestibule that offshoots caverns in which to park, like a tidy network of cells, roots, branches, in bricks and mortar. The sounds bombilate, they are deep, rumbling. There's a permanent installation, of sorts, en route to the main arch, where the constant rumbling of the cars and thundering of the trains, are complimenting by a soundtrack of clacks, beats, hums and lights. I love this. I want more of this in the city. Once you reach the end, there is the flow and ebb of the water to immerse yourself in (not literally), a museful view of the structures and canal, and if you step foot off the path to your right you can meander around and get a stunning view of the waterways under the arches. This I discovered so many years later, at the spectacle that was Overworlds and Underworlds -a collection of the arts, formulated into a mysterious adventure, culminating here at this dark of under-artery of the city. Perhaps I've been too poetic. Perhaps you might wander down, or have meandered, and think not much of it. Bring your eyes, your ears, your sense of adventure and you might make of it as much as I have. It's a short walk, no more than mere minutes, but I consider it to be a place of ponderous sounds and sights. And there's always the reward of a good ale or a Mediterranean bite waiting for you on the other side, for when you return to reality and daylight.

The "Great Leeds Valentines Fair" is back again folks, for the 19th year running, Leeds is cashing…read morein on the Valentines Day madness and holding a fun fair in it's honour. oh lucky Valentine!! All jokes aside it's a grand idea! It's £1 to enter on to the site, admission goes towards the payment of security around the fun fair limits, which is an excellent point, considering the amount of kidlets and families and potential for disaster sort of scenarios these type of events often have. The fair starts today, and runs until Sunday 21st of Feb this year, and it's open from 1pm and closes at 10.30pm. There are some exceptions to this, due to the football fixtures and Elland Road being Leeds' home ground. So what's there? Well, there are Roller Coasters, Dodgems, Ghost Trains, Fun Houses, the crazy claw looking thing that hurls you (safely) in every direction, Carousels, the Crazy Mouse, prize games, novelty stores, candy floss, toffee apples, greasy burgers, fries, hot chocolate, and all that other childish brilliantly fun stuff fun fairs generally have to offer. This year's chosen charity of choice is Martin House Hospice, which is dedicated to providing support to children with life limiting illnesses and their families.

Love is in the air, every time I look around. That's not strictly true but go on spread some love…read moreand hug a neighbour. No, okay then maybe try the ever increasing Valentine Fair at Elland Road. Now I must admit, fairgrounds and romance aren't the first two things to spring to mind when I think about it but any excuse for some thrill seeker rides, candy floss and hook-a-duck in my book. It really is becoming a big event in the city and I've now come to expect the resulting queuing traffic off the M621 and gaggle of school children milling around each time it rolls into town. Plenty of attractions to get your teeth into and I suggest the bungee if you like a bit of adrenaline action, or even the buzz mouse. Enough sugar rotting treats to shake a stick at and of course your entire usual fair ground games and over-sized teddy bears to win. Do watch out for pick pockets but that is the same at any large gathering of people. It's a shame to have to say that when the whole point of the event is to give a little love. Also look out for the special promotions to save on those pennies. Not exclusively for those in love, that would rule quite a few of us out, so don't let the name put you off.

So after a recent dabble in the world of gymming thanks to some LA Fitness Groupon vouchers, I…read moredecided I'd join a gym. My choices were pretty limited given that I don't drive and Mr MacDoo's working hours are such that I have to be at home looking after the Mini MacDoo's in the evening, so after ummiing and ahhing about affordability and would I stick to it, I took the plunge and joined the VirginActive gym on Kirkstall Rd. I've been a couple of times now and I'm pretty impressed. I went for an off-peak membership and so far I've only been on a weeknight quite late (9pm-11pm) so I can't really comment at the mo on how crowded it gets at other times. The ladies changing room is clean and spacious, and the lockers are huge. The gym's cardio equipment is great with either little things that you can plug your headphones into and listen in to the various different channels being shown on the TVs around the room, or some even have TVs built in, so you can run/step/cycle along while watching Eastenders/news/the footy which is great. The weights machines all seem good too, with fancy high-tech displays that show you how smoothly you are working out which helps with technnique. The pool is fabulous, if a little cold! At the times I've been, the pool has been practically deserted and I've been able to swim lengths in peace. The pool is lit beautifully as well, which makes for a lovely night swimming experience. There's also a kids pool which looks a lot of fun, although I haven't brought the Mini MacDoos down here for a splash just yet. For me, the crowning glory is the spa room. Bubbles and jets of water everywhere in a pool that's as warm as a relaxing bath. Wooden recliners around the lovely dim relaxing room. A steam room and sauna are included too. A total haven of relaxation after your workout and swim. 'Well, Rosey...' you must be thinking 'why only 4 stars and not 5 then?' Good question. The only thing that lets this place down is the price. Not so much of the membership - that's expensive but, to be fair, pretty par for the course at any big chain gym of this standard - what I think really disappoints for me is the cost of taking my family along. There is a creche available but it would cost me a chuffing fortune to make use of it. And if I wanted to to take Mr MacDoo and the Mini MacDoos along one afternoon for a swim, that would cost us £20! So come on Virgin, sort it out! If they made bringing the family along cheaper, I reckon we'd have a nice afternoon down there a couple of times a month (especially as winter sets in and we're looking for more indoor things to do) And who know, if he liked the look of it enough, Mr MacDoo might even join! But at current prices, it'll just be once in a blue moon I think.

Pros - Modern, Clean, lots of Machines, Swimming pool…read more... Cons - can be very very busy But overall best gym in Leeds by far!

This little park was way better than we expected! We took an Uber from the hotel to this place,…read moreand immediately I was impressed with how many little children were attending. It's pretty cheap to get in and get ready to feel ALL the humidity. It's so tropical in there. Your glasses will fog. You will sweat. But it's all worth it. There were so many exhibits with fresh water fish, birds, and lizards. This is a must if you're in the area and you have kids with you.

Wow. Just wow. I absolutely loved this place. The animals were amazing and even the food at the…read morecafe was amazing. I had the cheese chips. My family got regular chips and a chip sandwich (buttered buns with chips). To drink we got diet coke, sprite, and cherry coke. The prices were pretty good too! Will return.

Leeds City Cruisers undoubtedly provided me with one of the best methods of getting to work. When I…read morelived in a city centre flat, I caught a canal boat every morning, which transported me to the opposite side of town. The Riverbus service runs during the months of finer weather, and is scheduled to start again at Easter. It was such an entertaining journey, I always arrived at work in a buoyant mood. I concede, the head attire was too much, but you know the phrase - when in Rome, wear a pirate's hat. Leeds City Cruisers offers a variety of packages besides the early morning Riverbus. It can be privately hired out for parties, I often see it soothingly chugging along the water with raucous feather boa clad ladies giggling, signalling a hen party is in full swing. Parties of up to 50 people can catered for, with a full bar and a choice of a hot meal or buffet. The website offers a comprehensive list, detailing the various prices for trips of smaller groups. A two hour cruise with a cream scone and tea, with free admission into the neighbouring Royal Armouries Museum costs an extremely reasonable £13.50 per person. I can't recommend the experience highly enough, it almost feels as though you are on holiday in your own city, due to its originality. Having moved abode, I do resent my alternative method of transport to work. Driving is so mundane, I will have to replace it with an equally exciting journey. Zorbing, anyone?

With most of the developments surrounding it given over entirely to posh flats, office blocks and…read morepricey restaurants, it's quite easy for ordinary (i.e. poor) people such as myself to almost completely forget that Leeds has a canal. Leeds City Cruisers are setting out to change that, offering cruises in their specially made wide beam boat along the Aire and Calder waterways. The boat is available to hire for private parties, and individuals can book places on their regular Sunday Lunch and themed dinner cruises. I joined the Sunday Lunch cruise, which although not cheap at £25 for two courses was a great way to spend an afternoon, with delicious food and a well-stocked bar for company. The sunshine definitely helped, and I'm not sure if I would have had as good a time if the rain had been pouring down, but as it was it was a lovely, relaxing experience and an interesting opportunity to see Leeds from an entirely new perspective.

An excellent fitness and leisure centre in the huge Quarry House near Leeds Playhouse. It's not…read morethat cheap at £26 per month for full membership, but there is a pool, squash courts and a well equipped fitness room. Add to that qualified fitness instructors who you can book for 1-2-1 sessions and get your fitness routine worked out so it's right just for you. They have various classes you can attend, from yoga to badminton to circuits. It's good stuff. I've never been fit but this place is slowly getting me going in the right direction - I hope there's no looking back!