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At first glance, you might not think that Leeds in the UK and Durban in South Africa have that much in common. Durban’s a place that tourists head to for the beaches and weather that’s warm pretty much year-round, only dipping below 20 C in June, July and August. Leeds on the other hand, may have plenty of culture and heritage to entertain its visitors, but it’s not exactly somewhere you’d think of as a summer holiday destination.
Their fundamental differences didn’t stop the two city councils deciding that they’d make great twinning partners. In July 1999, a memorandum of understanding was signed and since then, Leeds and Durban have been forging ever closer links.
The tradition of towns and cities twinning or becoming ‘sister cities’ with an international counterpart has been going strong since the end of the Second World War and recent research provided by Voucherbox, the money-saving website, suggests that the concept is still a popular one. There are 47 counties in the UK whose towns have active twin relationships across the globe today. Some towns have just one twin, while others have a number of special relationships with specific cities.
Although Leeds and Durban didn’t feature on Voucherbox’s list of most interesting twin towns, they are certainly some clear reasons for the two cities to have linked up.
Music Festivals
A must on any music festival fan’s agenda is the annual Leeds Festival which takes place over the August Bank Holiday in Bramham Park. With four stages, it’s one of the biggest rock festivals in the country, with acts playing both in Leeds and Reading over the three-day event. Durban has its own array of music festivals on offer, one of the biggest being Rage Festival, South Africa’s biggest youth music and lifestyle festival, which starts at the end of November and will be held this year in Durban, Ballito and Umhlanga at a range of nightclub and beach venues.
A Sporting Vibe
Both cities have sporting connections. Durban hosted the FIFA 2010 World Cup and the Moses Mabhida Stadium was constructed for the tournament. Along with the new multi-purpose stadium, the waterfront was treated to a huge makeover, making the city much more of a tourist magnet than it used to be. Durban’s next major international sporting event will be the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with the opening ceremony and events taking place at the new stadium.
Leeds has a strong football and rugby league history. Football fan visitors to Leeds can do a tour of the Elland Road stadium, home to Leeds United, which includes seeing all the areas off the pitch such as the director’s box and the dressing rooms, or see a game during their trip. There’s also Headingley Stadium, home to Leeds Rhinos rugby league team to visit.
No trip to Headingley would be complete without visiting the Cricket Stadium, home to the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. And it’s cricket, perhaps, that offers the greatest sporting link between Leeds and Durban, with both cities sharing a passion for the sport. Durban’s Kingsmead Cricket Ground is the usual venue for any Boxing Day Test when a Test series is played in South Africa and has often welcomed the Barmy Army.
The Great Outdoors
Durban may be South Africa’s third biggest city, but you can always find some space on the amazing beaches along its Golden Mile. This seaside playground is conveniently located right next to the city and when you need to cool off, there’s the Indian Ocean to splash around in. There are plenty of beaches to choose from on Durban’s coastline, whether it’s sunbathing or surfing that takes your fancy.
Although Leeds doesn’t have a beach, it’s only an hour to Scarborough, where visitors can get a taste of a traditional English seaside town. But you don’t need to leave the city to find green space in Leeds – there’s Roundhay Park, Golden Acre Park and Chevin Forest Park which all offer a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. And only a short distance from Leeds itself, you’re into the stunning Yorkshire Dales, an archetypal English landscape where there are walking routes like the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail to explore.
At first glance, Leeds and Durban might not seem to be a natural twinning choice, but when you look a little closer, they have plenty of reasons to pair up.