The Oulton Hall Hotel is only a few miles from Leeds. This means that guests of the hotel have the best of two worlds: a pleasant countryside setting and a close proximity to numerous Yorkshire attractions.
Leeds has lots to offer, with history, retail, sports and leisure all well represented. One of the city’s most famous sights is the Royal Armouries Museum (Armouries Drive
Leeds, LS10 1LT; Tel: 0113 2201999). It contains an impressive selection of weapons from various eras across history. Admission is free, but the museum also offers reasonably priced temporary exhibits. On a more medical theme, the Thackray Museum (Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7LN; Tel: 0113 2444343) explores healthcare and surgery through the ages using displays and interactive exhibits.
There are also several traditional country manors and stately homes to explore, including Kirkstall Abbey (Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3EH; Tel: 0113 2305492), which is a remarkably well preserved example of a 12th century Cistercian abbey. Lotherton Hall (Off Collier Lane , Aberford , LS25 3EB; Tel: 0113 2813259) is a traditional mansion and country park. The Hall itself has a fine art collection, while the grounds have a bird garden and a population of red deer. Harewood House (Harewood, Leeds, LS17 9LG; Tel: 0113 2181010) is another option, a listed building and one of Yorkshire’s more popular destinations. Its gardens are attractive and the house itself has a good collection of art and furnishings.
This area of Yorkshire has a strong sporting heritage. Pontefract Racecourse (Pontefract Park, Park Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 4QD; Tel: 01977 702210) offers a fun day at the races from April to October. Leeds Rhinos (St Michael’s Lane, Headingley, Leeds, LS6 3BR; Tel: 0844 2486651) are West Yorkshire’s Super League team, with home matches played at Headingly Stadium. In terms of football, Leeds United (Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 0ES) are the local team.