Anywhere in Leeds is an alternative, playful guide to Leeds, which includes interesting, lesser-known facts, stories and sights about the city, in an attempt to make its inhabitants more conscious about their surroundings and thus more engaged with the place they live in. The guide will take form in a printed map, as well as an online version, accompanied by social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. At present, it is planned that Anywhere in Leeds will consist of three routes: Culture, History, and Fun Facts – with the opportunity to add more in the future. The option is also open for the guide to be eventually turned into a downloadable app. While the target audience for the scheme are the people who live in Leeds, it doesn't exclude visitors from participating.
As part of this scheme, signs will be placed in visible areas outside pubs and shops for a period of one to two months (ideally – if owners allow it – the placards will stay up until mid July, for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France). Such signs will showcase bits of information included in the maps, as a way to involve and strike interest among pedestrians. To increase curiosity, hidden “geocaches” or surprises will be strategically placed along the way, which will contain tokens to be exchanged for small gifts, discounts or perks at local pubs and shops. This will help the local economy by bringing more footfall into said businesses, while involving them more in the community.
It is expected for Anywhere in Leeds to be launched on Saturday May 3, with publicity on the project website and social media sites, as well as online blogs and city guides like The Culture Vulture, Leeds Inspired and Leeds-List. Accompanying the Internet publicity, there will also be a month-long printed poster campaign invading some of advertising drums placed around the city centre.