Armley & Wortley

Armley is west of Leeds, starting less than a mile from Leeds city centre, between the M621 motorway and Kirkstall Road.

Armley is a predominantly and historically a working class area, including many rows of back-to-back terrace houses. It is traditionally a strong Labour area, although current Labour policies, voter apathy and the creeping gentrification from Headingley (via Burley) is being to erode the landslide-style victories of yesteryear.

Armley Town Street includes a couple of high street names and charity shops as well as independent retailers typical of a suburban high street.

There is especially good coverage of food retailers, plus excellent bus links into Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield

Armley Town Street has been praised for its large amount of free, off-road car parking, something unusual amongst inner-city and suburban high streets.

Wortley is part of the metropolitan district of Leeds. Until about 1700 it was known as Wirkelay. The manor was owned by the Hopton family until the Civil War and then the Smith family.

It was a weaving town, and then became an industrial town with coal pits, brickworks and railway depots.