City of Leeds

Leeds
Motto: 
Latin: Pro Rege et Lege, lit.'For King and the Law'
Leeds shown within West Yorkshire
Leeds
Location within England
Leeds
Location within the United Kingdom
Leeds
Location in Europe
Coordinates: 53°48′03″N 1°33′01″W / 53.8007°N 1.5502°W / 53.8007; -1.5502
OS grid referenceSE 2971 3391
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionYorkshire and the Humber
City region and ceremonial countyWest Yorkshire
Historic countyWest Riding of Yorkshire
Borough Charter1207
Town charter1626
City status1893
Metropolitan borough1974
Named afterLeeds
Administrative HQLeeds Civic Hall
Government
 • TypeMetropolitan borough with leader and cabinet
 • BodyLeeds City Council
 • ControlLabour
 • LeaderJames Lewis (L)
 • Lord MayorDan Cohen
 • Chief ExecutiveEd Whiting
 • House of Commons
Area
 • Total
213 sq mi (552 km2)
 • Rank71st
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
845,189
 • Rank2nd
 • Density3,970/sq mi (1,532/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode areas
Dialling codes
  • 0113
  • 01924
  • 01937
  • 01943
  • 01977
ISO 3166 codeGB-LDS
GSS codeE08000035
ITL codeTLE42
GVA2021 estimate
 • Total£27.9 billion
 • Per capita£34,487
GDP (nominal)2021 estimate
 • Total£30.6 billion
 • Per capita£37,764
Websiteleeds.gov.uk

The City of Leeds, also known officially as Leeds, is a metropolitan borough with city status in West Yorkshire, England. It occupies the north east of the county and includes Leeds and its surrounding towns, including Wetherby, Garforth, Morley, and Otley. The borough had an estimated population of 845,189 in 2024, making it the second largest district in England by population after Birmingham.

The borough was created in 1974 as part of a reform of local government in England. It is one of five metropolitan boroughs within the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, which was created at the same time. Local government was shared between Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire County Council until 1985, when the county council was abolished and the city council took on its responsibilities. The city council is a member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a strategic body for the county.