Leek is a town in North Staffordshire in the English Midlands.
Known at the Queen of the Moorlands, Leek is the administrative centre of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. The main industry was silk and textiles but it has now diversified into tourism and food processing, and is the headquarters of the Britannia Building Society.
Leeks train station closed in the 1960s so the only real public transport option is the bus.
There are occasional services to Buxton and Macclesfield but the most practical option for most visitors is the number 18 bus from Hanley bus station in Stoke-on-Trent (£2.40 one way, £5.00 for unlimited travel on PMT First buses all day - the best value if coming from stoke train station). This runs roughly three times an hour via Stockton Brook, Endon and Longsdon, during the day and runs once an hour after about 7PM until 10ish. On Monday, Friday and Saturday nights it tends to get full with rowdy and often quite tipsy Leekensians on their way to sample the relatively diverse nightlife in Hanley.
Another bus, the 16, runs from Stoke (Hanley bus station) via Cheddleton and Werrington, although this service is less frequent.
Plans are being considered to reintroduce train links into town.
There is little public transport in Leek, taxis are an option. The one bus service within Leek travels through Haregate, which offers exceptionally little in terms of sights or activities. This service is primarily aimed at elderly locals.
Take the steam train ride along the lake on the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway.
Take a boat ride on the lake from the Dam Head & walk around the lake.
Support Rudyard sailability a national centre of excellence for disabled sailing.
There is plenty to buy in Leek. There is a market, indoor and outdoor, on Wednesdays and Saturdays in, as you'd expect, the market place - although the quality of the goods on sale varies wildly.
Leek also considers itself a great place to purchase antiques and as much there are numerous antique shops - many of these are clustered on and around St Edwards street and parts of Cheddleton Road.
For day to day needs Leek has the usual array of supermarkets - Morrison's is located on Newcastle Road. There is a small Asda near Haregate as well as an Aldi, which is closest to the town centre on Haywood street. Be aware however that there have been issues involving unfair fines being issued in their car park.
Leek isn't renowned for its culinary delights but many options do exist, personally I'd visit the Cup Cake cafe. There are a series of the usual Indian and Chinese restaurants throughout the town as well as the ubiquitous takeaways you'd find in any English town. In addition, many pubs now serve food as well. Details for each type of eatery are listed below -
These are found throughout the town and many do delivery on orders over £5. Two of the most popular are on the top of St Edwards street.
At the Platform 2 cafe at Rudyard Station. Open at weekends year round. Bar meals or carvery at the hotel.
Leek once boasted the most pubs per capita in the whole of England. Unfortunately economic circumstances have resulted in many of these closing down, the following are all open as of October 2010 (there are more pubs, but these are the highlights). Most of the pubs are centred around St Edwards street while the bars are largely around the market place.
There are several hotels in Leek, and the local Tourist information centre (at the Market Place) will happily book you a room for a three pound fee.
Leek is a relatively safe town with little crime. On Friday and Saturday nights the usual drunken chaos occurs, which is to be expected in any English town. There are occasional fights in the Market Place or in the Elmos bar, but these are usually quickly broken up. In addition most are between people who already know each other. There are sometimes large groups of young people hanging around in the evening, but 99% of the time if you leave them alone they'll leave you alone.
If you're driving then Buxton in Derbyshire is a worthwhile visit and boasts a Theatre amongst other things.
Alton Towers is another favourite among visitors.
Stoke-on-Trent boasts the nearest train station and has the most frequent bus services to/from Leek. This is the easiest route for people without their own car.