The old docks area in Leeds was originally constructed in 1843 to link the Leeds-Liverpool Canal with the Aire and Calder Navigation, primarily to enable coal to be transported to where it was needed to power industries. It inevitably declined in the mid/late 20th century, as road and rail freight took over from the waterways. Its regeneration began with the opening of the Royal Armouries museum in 1996 and the subsequent construction of offices and residential blocks, with the aim of forming a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood around what is now called Leeds Dock (above). This has, I think, to some extent been successful. It's quite an interesting quarter, with plenty to see and photograph.
The Royal Armouries, a rather forbidding-looking grey fortress, sits between the Dock and Leeds Lock. It holds the UK's national collection of historic arms and armour, one of the largest such collections in the world.
It is one of three linked sites, along with the White Tower in the Tower of London, and Fort Nelson at Fareham near Portsmouth. I don't visit very often since arms and munitions don't really excite me but occasionally they have some interesting temporary exhibitions, and sometimes hold live displays of jousting and suchlike in the summer.
The Hall of Steel is a glass tower, functioning as a staircase and holding 2500 items of arms and armour artistically displayed on the inner walls. It's quite a sight!
Goodness! Like you, arms etc. don't excite me to the point that I would go to this museum just for them, but the way they are displayed in the glass tower is rather impressive.
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