Cara, who runs The Magic Geekdom channel, said she was “blown away” after her first ever visit to Leeds and she believes the Yorkshire city is extremely overlooked by outsiders
An American YouTuber has been left utterly enchanted by one UK city and labelled it a “hidden gem” after visiting for the first time. Cara, the face behind The Magic Geekdom channel, couldn’t contain her excitement when she arrived in Leeds.
She explained: “This was my very first time in Leeds and it completely blew me away! I didn’t know much about the city going in, but after a full day exploring its stunning arcades, fascinating museums, delicious food spots, and lively streets, I can honestly say Leeds is one of the most overlooked cities I’ve visited so far in the UK.
“From beautiful architecture to incredible markets and independent shops, this city has so much to offer.”
In her video, Cara expressed surprise at the aesthetic appeal of Leeds, telling viewers: “I don’t know why, I wasn’t expecting this much gorgeousness in the buildings around here but there is a lot of pretty things to look at here.”
Highlighting Leeds City Museum as a prime example of the city’s allure, she mentioned that before visiting, she sought recommendations, with the Royal Armouries Museum topping the list.
After exploring the free-to-enter museum, Cara concluded with admiration: “What a great museum, something that I was not expecting to love but then ended up being very fascinated by many different aspects of the museum.”
Instead of solely delving into arms and military history, she spiced up her day with a jaunt on a boat and savoured a pint at Whitelock’s Ale House in Leeds, the city’s oldest pub.
Eager to soak up local Yorkshire flavour, she opted for a crisp pint of Kirkstall Pale Ale. Her adventure continued through the city’s arcades, where she eagerly anticipated Queen’s Arcade but found it her “least favourite” due to its less impressive appearance compared to Thornton’s Arcade.
She found County Arcade to be “much more opulent” than the rest, describing it as “beautiful and very posh” yet her preference leaned towards the more understated.
During her exploration, she offered a unique take: “Here is an observation I’ve made here that I’ve never made anywhere else.
“I think in most places, buskers have mapped out times or areas and I think here in Leeds it is just a free for all because there are people everywhere doing all kinds of things with microphones and it is kind of hard to hear any of them at any given time.
“But I think that adds to the experience a little bit.”
The video, available for viewing here, prompted one viewer to comment: “As a Manchester lad that has lived in Leeds for 14 years I can say it is different, it has it’s own vibe. It’s full of amazing people. And a place I am proud to call home.”
Replying, Cara said: “It definitely has a vibe.”
Another person said: “Lived in Leeds all my life. You’ve shown off the city beautifully.”
A third added: “My son went to Leeds uni for three years, i love this city and he loves it so much he’s moving back to Leeds this September to work. There is so much there plus its close enough to the Yorkshire dales and Cumbria which is even better!”