I have a special place in my heart for Leeds, because it was Leeds that first taught this London boy that the north has got plenty to offer. I was previously in the mindset that our capital was unsurpassed as a city, that it was the pinnacle and no UK city would ever match it and so there was no point visiting them. So when a few friends went to the University of Leeds, I reluctantly went to visit and the previously grey looking north turned into colour as my coach pulled into the city.

A small city bustling with students, Leeds gives off an incredibly friendly vibe. There is a sense of community that seems to stem both from its size and residents, the old and young mingle along the city's main shopping area, Briggate, and it's breath of fresh air from the large, cold London. Perhaps the sense of community comes from the comradery between students, of which there are three universities worth, as the city seems to survive on us students fuelling its midweek nightlife and frivolous spending of Student Loans.

On my visits to Leeds, I drank my way through many nights in most of the bars and found a few little gems that were regular spots by the time my third year pals began to calm down and fix their eyes on their dissertation. First up is Jake's Bar, a small underground cocktail bar that serves unbelievably good drinks, the Whisky Smash is just...wow. This is a good place to start your night and from there move on round the corner to HiFi, again it's underground and plays music you might not hear at the likes of Oceana. The mix of soul and indie rock is great and the drinks aren't expensive, nights here tend to start slowly, so make sure you take your time in Jakes!

As well as buzzing nightlife, Leeds has a lot of culture to offer and it’s annual events showcase these well. Light Night was a great night where students can put on shows all over Leeds, venues ranged from the Universities, to pub, clubs and even the town hall where I saw a chilling one woman show. Also, Leeds German Market that opens around Christmas is great for a day of drinking large beers, eating giant sausages and getting in the festive spirit all in one fell swoop.

Overall Leeds is a fantastic city this small amount of words cannot do justice, these places and events I've mentioned are just my particular highlights and I'm sure you'll find your own. It may not be the largest city in the country, but it just might be my favourite.

To visit Leeds, on the cheap today, hop on the mega bus for as little as £1 and stay in a cheap hostel such as the Discovery Inn in the city centre.