The Brecon Beacons from the air. Photo: Adrian Warren and Dae Sasitorn

A touring exhibition offering views of Britain from the Air lands in the UK’s third largest city this week.

The free outdoor exhibition will open in Leeds on Thursday, offering more than 100 striking images of the countryside.

Geographer and broadcaster Nick Crane will officially open the exhibition, which will also feature a 16m-long Ordnance Survey map of the country.

Britain from the Air is organised by the Royal Geographic Society and sponsored by outdoor brand Craghoppers. The upcoming exhibition, open 24 hours a day, will be the first showing in Yorkshire.

Dr Rita Gardner, director of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), said: “Britain from the Air provides a fantastic opportunity to witness the beauty and diversity of Britain’s natural and human landscapes and to explore the social, economic and environmental forces that shaped them. We are delighted that the exhibition will be in Leeds.”

Around the walk-on map, Leodis – the photographic archive of Leeds – will also tell the history of the city.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council executive member for culture, said: “This promises to be a wonderful insight into Britain’s incredibly diverse and striking landscapes and offers a great opportunity to explore them on our own doorstep.

“Visitors will be able to study the beauty of the photos while also visualising where these amazing places are by walking around the map. We’re proud to be hosting this enlightening exhibition in Leeds.”

The North York Moors. Photo: Adrian Warren and Dae Sasitorn

The Craghoppers-sponsored Britain from the Air launch will take place on 12 March in Leeds. Guests will be free to walk around the exhibition in Victoria Gardens in Leeds city centre from 5.40pm to 6.20pm where staff will be on hand to answer questions. An evening reception hosted by Nick Crane will then take place in the Leeds Art Gallery to officially launch the exhibition.

Craghoppers managing director Jim McNamara said: “The UK landscapes are wonderful, hugely varied and tell important stories about our country and ourselves and it is vitally important that as citizens we understand the country we live in.

“The British landscape and heritage, both urban and rural, are central to Craghoppers and have helped to evolve the brand into what it is today.”

The work of the clumsily titled Royal Geographic Society (with Institute of British Geographers) to reconnect the public with the landscapes and geography of the UK also includes Discovering Britain, a set of self-led walks that are available to the public at no cost.

Mr McNamara said: “The geographical walks that make up Discovering Britain and the stunning imagery of Britain from the Air can be discovered by anyone and everyone and Craghoppers kit is ideal to help people get out and discover the landscape, giving them the protection they need to make the most of the Great British outdoors.”