Guarded on the west by the Pennines, Leeds is sheltered from blizzard-type conditions in the winter although it can't avoid the fog that can blanket the landscape. The city has a climate that is relatively cool throughout the year with the precipitation for the month registering around 62 mm.
December sees eight hours of daylight, with the sun shining brightly approximately an hour a day.
The average temperature for December is above the freezing mark, or 38 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). The high temperature during the day generally climbs to 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) while it falls to 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) after the sun goes down.
The low temperatures do not deter residents and visitors from getting out and about. For example, a walk on the Leeds Country Way can be brisk and invigorating. The circular path runs 100 k, or 62 miles, and is only a few miles from the heart of Leeds or City Square. The walkway has been sectioned into distances of around five miles, each linked to routes leading to buses and trains.
Visitors also enjoy shopping at one or more of Leeds' shopping destinations, including the Victoria Quarter, Clarence Dock, and the Corn Exchange. Because Leeds shopping is touted as one of the best things to do in the UK, Christmas shopping in Leeds is an enjoyable experience. In the Victoria Quarter, the festive nature of Christmas is underscored, with shops housed in Edwardian and Victorian buildings.
Another shopping venue, Kirkgate Market, has the distinctive reputation of being the largest indoor market in Europe. Merchants sell a variety of foods as well as items such as lighting, china, and bedding. The Edwardian building that contains the indoor stalls has been noted for its dragon embellishments.
