Hotels in West Yorkshire

The major part of West Yorkshire is formed by the Pennine Hills, with the River Aire cutting a gap through the range, dividing the county in two. The hills are covered in heathers and dotted with sheep, and to the east of the county is a gentle limestone ridge that slopes down into the Vale of York.

There is evidence of Stone and Iron Age settlement in the uplands of West Yorkshire, but the Romans were the first to inhabit the lowland region. During the Middle Ages Leeds developed as an agricultural market town, and Flemish immigrants later introduced wool manufacturing to the area, which saw both Leeds and Bradford grow into major centres of the English wool trade. During the 18th century coal mining took over from wool, and Leeds and Bradford saw a rapid increase in both industrial output and population.

Following the decline of the traditional local industries Leeds developed into a major hub for finance and banking, and is now the second most important English legal centre after London. Many new industries have settled in Bradford, but the textile industry is still important there. Despite their industrial past, Leeds and Bradford are surrounded by lush countryside, much of which is used for sheep-farming in the Pennines region, and dairy and arable farming on the lowlands.