Leicester

Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands region of England, the capital of the traditional county of Leicestershire, with a population of some 330,000 in the city area and nearly 500,000 in the metropolitan area.

Leicester (pronounced Less_ter) is one of the oldest English towns, having been founded by the Romans as Ratae Corieltauvorum in 50 CE. Its role as a Saxon town is less certain, but the medieval town walls and street plan retain exactly those of the Romans. It was rarely centre stage through the middle ages, so lacked political impetus nationally. While other such towns acquired cathedrals and grand civic functions, Leicester gradually built up a small scale industrial prosperity based around framework knitting. This used semi-automated, leased machines, operated in people's own homes, to make stockings. Automation and factory building in the 19th century enabled Leicester to grow in population, land area and prosperity, with knitwear and machine manufacturing providing the bedrock of its economy. In the 1920s, its size and significance was reflected in being granted city status.

It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United Kingdom. It is also Britain's first environment city. Leicester continued to grow rapidly throughout the 20th century. From the 1960s arrivals from the West Indies and Asians from east Africa and the Indian subcontinent added to that growth and more recently Somalia, west and southern Africa, and Poland have been some of the larger of many different national communities. The two universities also both have very high overseas student intakes, and Leicester now sees itself as a cosmopolitan city with friendly people from all races, backgrounds and cultures creating a culturally diverse city.

• St Nicholas Church. The oldest (over 1200 years) place of Christian worship in Leicester. Open for visitor every Saturday, 2PM - 4PM, as well as for worship - see the website for details.
• St. Mary de Castro Church. M-F noon - 2PM; Sa 2PM - 4PM. One of the most ancient buildings in Leicester (from the early 12th century). The name means "St Mary of the Castle". It stands on the grounds of Leicester Castle, from which it gets its name and of which it was once the chapel.
• The National Space Centre, Exploration Dr, LE4 5NS (2 km north of the city centre., +44 845 605 2001. A popular attraction with tourists visiting daily from all over the world. It is the nation's only Space Centre of its kind and features a space theatre.
• The National Gas Museum, 195 Aylestone Rd, LE2 7QJ, +44 116 250-3190.
• King Richard III: Dynasty, Death and Discovery, 4A St. Martins, LE1 5DB, 0300 300 0900 (non-geographic number). Life and times of King Richard III; Events surrounding the battle in 1485, when he was killed; The discovery in 2012 of his remains, the archaeology, identification, DNA and other tests in confirming the identity of the remains. The museum includes the original burial site, within the Greyfriars Priory, now viewed through a glass floor. £7.95/£4.75.
• Leicester Cathedral, Peacock Lane, LE1 5PZ, +44 116 261-5200. Medieval church of St Martin, substantially rebuilt in the 1860s, made a cathedral in 1927. Since March 2015 the remains of King Richard III are buried there, under a massive stone tomb. Additional display includes the ceremonial pall which covered the coffin during the reburial period.
• Leicester Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, LE1 5FQ, +44 116 253-2569. 11AM-4:30PM daily. One of the best preserved timber framed halls in the country, dating back to the 14th century, also used as a performance venue. Do not miss a prison cell on the ground floor. From 2015 it includes new Medieval Leicester Galleries, showing items from Leicester in the middle ages.
• Jewry Wall Museum. Those who wish to visit historic sights can visit this 2000-year-old remains of the Roman Bath House, the second largest such survival in the UK. The adjacent Museum tells Leicester's history since ancient times. The city's Roman name was Ratae Corieltauvorum.
• New Walk Museum and Art Gallery. A comparatively small, but exciting place. Its Dinosaur, German Expressionist and Picasso Ceramics galleries are well worth seeing. Free group tours take place every other Saturday at 2PM - consult the website for the dates. It is also the main venue for the Leicester International Music Festival, every September.
• Newarke Houses Museum and Gardens. The best place to learn about the city's 20th-century history. The garden is particularly beautiful. Take a walk along the
• Abbey Pumping Station museum of science and technology. Four working steam-powered beam-engines in their original location. Also, exhibitions on light and optics, historic transport and public health,including an 'interactive toilet'.
• The Golden Mile. A stretch of the Belgrave Road renowned for its authentic Indian restaurants, sari shops, and jewellers.
• New Walk. A late 18th-century urban public walk a street, it was a pedestrian street for over 200 years.
• Kirby Muxloe Castle, Off Oakcroft Ave, Kirby Muxloe, LE9 2DH (4 miles west of Leicester off B5380; close to M1 junction 21A, +44 1162 386886. adults £3.60, children £2.20, concessions £3.20.

St Nicholas Church. The oldest (over 1200 years) place of Christian worship in Leicester. Open for visitor every Saturday, 2PM - 4PM, as well as for worship - see the website for details.

St. Mary de Castro Church. M-F noon - 2PM; Sa 2PM - 4PM. One of the most ancient buildings in Leicester (from the early 12th century). The name means "St Mary of the Castle". It stands on the grounds of Leicester Castle, from which it gets its name and of which it was once the chapel.

The National Space Centre, Exploration Dr, LE4 5NS (2 km north of the city centre., +44 845 605 2001. A popular attraction with tourists visiting daily from all over the world. It is the nation's only Space Centre of its kind and features a space theatre.

The National Gas Museum, 195 Aylestone Rd, LE2 7QJ, +44 116 250-3190.

King Richard III: Dynasty, Death and Discovery, 4A St. Martins, LE1 5DB, 0300 300 0900 (non-geographic number). Life and times of King Richard III; Events surrounding the battle in 1485, when he was killed; The discovery in 2012 of his remains, the archaeology, identification, DNA and other tests in confirming the identity of the remains. The museum includes the original burial site, within the Greyfriars Priory, now viewed through a glass floor. £7.95/£4.75.

Leicester Cathedral, Peacock Lane, LE1 5PZ, +44 116 261-5200. Medieval church of St Martin, substantially rebuilt in the 1860s, made a cathedral in 1927. Since March 2015 the remains of King Richard III are buried there, under a massive stone tomb. Additional display includes the ceremonial pall which covered the coffin during the reburial period.

Leicester Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, LE1 5FQ, +44 116 253-2569. 11AM-4:30PM daily. One of the best preserved timber framed halls in the country, dating back to the 14th century, also used as a performance venue. Do not miss a prison cell on the ground floor. From 2015 it includes new Medieval Leicester Galleries, showing items from Leicester in the middle ages.

Jewry Wall Museum. Those who wish to visit historic sights can visit this 2000-year-old remains of the Roman Bath House, the second largest such survival in the UK. The adjacent Museum tells Leicester's history since ancient times. The city's Roman name was Ratae Corieltauvorum.

New Walk Museum and Art Gallery. A comparatively small, but exciting place. Its Dinosaur, German Expressionist and Picasso Ceramics galleries are well worth seeing. Free group tours take place every other Saturday at 2PM - consult the website for the dates. It is also the main venue for the Leicester International Music Festival, every September.

Newarke Houses Museum and Gardens. The best place to learn about the city's 20th-century history. The garden is particularly beautiful. Take a walk along the

Abbey Pumping Station museum of science and technology. Four working steam-powered beam-engines in their original location. Also, exhibitions on light and optics, historic transport and public health,including an 'interactive toilet'.

The Golden Mile. A stretch of the Belgrave Road renowned for its authentic Indian restaurants, sari shops, and jewellers.

New Walk. A late 18th-century urban public walk a street, it was a pedestrian street for over 200 years.

Kirby Muxloe Castle, Off Oakcroft Ave, Kirby Muxloe, LE9 2DH (4 miles west of Leicester off B5380; close to M1 junction 21A, +44 1162 386886. adults £3.60, children £2.20, concessions £3.20.

• Curve Theatre, Rutland Street, LE1 1SB, +44 116 242-3595. Theatre facility for touring and local productions.
• Phoenix Cinema, 4 Midland Street, LE1 1TG, +44 116 242-3595. Independant cinema with art exhibition programme. Two modern cinema screens show micro-budget independent films through to Hollywood mainstream, plus festivals and events.
• Great Central Railway, The Sidings, LE4 3BR (off the A563, near Redhill roundabout, +44 1509 632323. A preserved steam mainline railway running on the line of the Great Central Railway from Leicester North to Loughborough.
• Abbey park. A public park owned and managed by Leicester City Council. It contains the remains of the 12th-century Leicester Abbey and the ruins of Cavendish House. It has formal gardens, a sensory garden, a boating lake and model boat lake, a miniature railway, visitor centre, cafe, children's play area with paddling pool, pets corner, tennis courts, sports fields, a bowling green, and a bandstand.
• Bradgate Park. Encompassing 850 acres of land, it's s good place to take a walk or a picnic. There is also a visitor's centre on site, the ruins of the former home of Lady Jane Grey (Queen for 9 days) Bradgate House, are within the park as is Old John, a hilltop folly in the shape of a beer tankard built in 1784. Both structures were built by the Grey family (Lady Jane's family) of Groby from the 15th-century onwards. The park is also a protective zone for many bird, deer and plant species.
• Richard III exhibition, 4A St. Martin’s (Right in the heart of the city centre, adjacent to Leicester Cathedral., 0300 300 0900 (non-geographic number). M–F Su 10AM–4PM; Sa bank holidays 10AM–5PM. Last admission 90 minutes before closing.. Encompassing 850 acres of land, this is a good place to take a walk or a picnic. There is also a visitors' centre on site, the ruins of Bradgate House, the former home of Lady Jane Grey (the "Nine Days' Queen"), are within the park as is Old John, a hilltop folly in the shape of a beer tankard built in 1784. Both structures were built by the Grey family of Groby from the 15th century onwards. The park is also a protective zone for many bird, deer and plant species. Free.

Ticket prices shown are those for one adult ticket and are subject to change.

• Leicester City FC, Filbert Way LE2 7FL. They play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Their "King Power" stadium (formerly "Walkers"), capacity 32,000, is a mile south of city centre. Tickets: £23-30.
• Leicester Tigers, Welford Rd (Welford Road Stadium. Rugby Union Tickets: £10-40.
• Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Grace Rd, LE2 8AD (Two miles south of centre. Leicestershire CCC play in Division Two of the County Championship.
• Leicester Lions, Beaumont Leys, Beaumont Way, LE4 1DS (The Lions. Motorcycle speedway — as of 2019, in the Second Division. Tickets: £15.
• Leicester Riders, De Montfort University, The Gateway (John Sanford Sports Centre. Basketball Tickets: £10.
• Leicester Rowing Club, Upperton Rd, LE2 7AU.
• Leicester Blue Sox, Park View, LE3 6SJ (Western Park. Baseball

Leicester City FC, Filbert Way LE2 7FL. They play in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Their "King Power" stadium (formerly "Walkers"), capacity 32,000, is a mile south of city centre. Tickets: £23-30.

Leicester Tigers, Welford Rd (Welford Road Stadium. Rugby Union Tickets: £10-40.

Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Grace Rd, LE2 8AD (Two miles south of centre. Leicestershire CCC play in Division Two of the County Championship.

Leicester Lions, Beaumont Leys, Beaumont Way, LE4 1DS (The Lions. [[Motorcycle speedway]] — as of 2019, in the Second Division. Tickets: £15.

Leicester Riders, De Montfort University, The Gateway (John Sanford Sports Centre. Basketball Tickets: £10.

Leicester Rowing Club, Upperton Rd, LE2 7AU.

Leicester Blue Sox, Park View, LE3 6SJ (Western Park. Baseball

• Rutland Water, a reservoir 20 miles east of Leicester is a popular location for birdwatching, fishing, picnics and watersports such as sailing and jetskiing.
• As noted above, Bradgate Park is close to the city, and very popular with locals for a breath of country air - it can, however get crowded on Bank Holidays. Despite its popularity, it is poorly served by public transport.
• The canal/River Soar is a popular green artery running both north and south of the city. North through Abbey Park towards Birstall is a pleasant walk and leads to Watermead Park, and return by bus from Birstall is possible; going south through the Aylestone Country Park, to Aylestone, Blaby and beyond will quickly get you into open country, with the option of returning either by bus or walking back along the Great Central Way (part of the Sustrans National Cycleroute).

Rutland Water, a reservoir 20 miles east of Leicester is a popular location for birdwatching, fishing, picnics and watersports such as sailing and jetskiing.

As noted above, Bradgate Park is close to the city, and very popular with locals for a breath of country air - it can, however get crowded on Bank Holidays. Despite its popularity, it is poorly served by public transport.

The canal/River Soar is a popular green artery running both north and south of the city. North through Abbey Park towards Birstall is a pleasant walk and leads to [[Watermead Park]], and return by bus from Birstall is possible; going south through the Aylestone Country Park, to Aylestone, Blaby and beyond will quickly get you into open country, with the option of returning either by bus or walking back along the Great Central Way (part of the Sustrans National Cycleroute).

Curve Theatre, Rutland Street, LE1 1SB, +44 116 242-3595. Theatre facility for touring and local productions.

Phoenix Cinema, 4 Midland Street, LE1 1TG, +44 116 242-3595. Independant cinema with art exhibition programme. Two modern cinema screens show micro-budget independent films through to Hollywood mainstream, plus festivals and events.

Great Central Railway, The Sidings, LE4 3BR (off the A563, near Redhill roundabout, +44 1509 632323. A preserved steam mainline railway running on the line of the Great Central Railway from Leicester North to Loughborough.

Abbey park. A public park owned and managed by Leicester City Council. It contains the remains of the 12th-century Leicester Abbey and the ruins of Cavendish House. It has formal gardens, a sensory garden, a boating lake and model boat lake, a miniature railway, visitor centre, cafe, children's play area with paddling pool, pets corner, tennis courts, sports fields, a bowling green, and a bandstand.

Bradgate Park. Encompassing 850 acres of land, it's s good place to take a walk or a picnic. There is also a visitor's centre on site, the ruins of the former home of Lady Jane Grey (Queen for 9 days) Bradgate House, are within the park as is Old John, a hilltop folly in the shape of a beer tankard built in 1784. Both structures were built by the Grey family (Lady Jane's family) of Groby from the 15th-century onwards. The park is also a protective zone for many bird, deer and plant species.

Richard III exhibition, 4A St. Martin’s (Right in the heart of the city centre, adjacent to Leicester Cathedral., 0300 300 0900 (non-geographic number). M–F Su 10AM–4PM; Sa bank holidays 10AM–5PM. Last admission 90 minutes before closing.. Encompassing 850 acres of land, this is a good place to take a walk or a picnic. There is also a visitors' centre on site, the ruins of Bradgate House, the former home of Lady Jane Grey (the "Nine Days' Queen"), are within the park as is Old John, a hilltop folly in the shape of a beer tankard built in 1784. Both structures were built by the Grey family of Groby from the 15th century onwards. The park is also a protective zone for many bird, deer and plant species. Free.

The city centre of Leicester has a vibrant and friendly atmosphere along with many department stores and a large shopping centre called Highcross (formerly 'The Shires'), off High Street. Shoppers can expect to find the majority of items and services offered within a main city in the UK. Highcross features many shops including John Lewis, Topman, Next, Hugo Boss, and an Apple store amongst others. The Haymarket centre is another shopping centre.

Leicester also has some interesting independent shops around the 'Lanes' area leading from Loseby Lane. The St Martin's area also has interesting small boutiques, delicatessens and specialist shops, although St Martin's Square has several empty units.

• Delilah Fine Foods, 4 St Martins, Leicester LE1 5DB. A delicatessen established in Nottingham has opened a branch in Leicester. It is a good place for regional and original products, sweets to alcohol, as well as a light meal and coffee.

Delilah Fine Foods, 4 St Martins, Leicester LE1 5DB. A delicatessen established in Nottingham has opened a branch in Leicester. It is a good place for regional and original products, sweets to alcohol, as well as a light meal and coffee.

Leicester is a fantastic place for Indian food. Laguna has existed since the late 70s and operates a traditional tandoor oven, on Narborough Road and the Good Food Guide listed The Rise of the Raj is on Evington Road.

Leicester's large Gujarati community - centred in the Belgrave area - has led to the opening of many excellent Indian vegetarian restaurants in that part of the city. Sharmilee, Sayonara and Phulnath, come highly recommended by local residents. The Chaat House is also a great places for Masala Dosas and other light meals.

The choice of fine restaurants in Leicester is limited and sadly there has been a recent closure of two fine restaurants, namely Entropy and the Opera House, however the City is in the grip of major renovation and regeneration which is likely to spur on a greater choice and profusion of fine dining experiences. However excellent food can be had at Watsons Restaurant which is a refined and tasty experience (near the Phoenix Theatre) and The Case near St. Martins, the lunch menu is excellent as are the wait staff, a distinctly French feel is on offer and The Case has the joy of being connected to the delightful Champagne Bar on its ground floor. Dinos on Garrick Walk, Haymarket has an excellent reputation and a very Italianate, exciting menu. A more recent addition with an excellent menu is The Quarter, housed in the former wholesale vegetable market building on Halford Street and close to the Curve theatre, Leicester's new theatre which opened in 2008. This restaurant/bar is a beautiful open space with a great menu and superb cocktails!

Some good, mid-range restaurants/bars with menus can be found near the City on Braunstone Gate, the best of these being the ever popular Left Bank, which is cheap, spirited and tasty. Across the road, Mobius is interesting with a lively bar to the ground floor and restaurant upstairs. The Sultan, one of a number of Turkish restaurants along the Narborough Road, has very good value authentic Turkish meals: donor, shewarma, pide and meze.

Mid-priced food can also be found easily at decent chains such as Ask, Zizzi, Las Iguanas, La Tasca and three Pizza Express restaurants around the city.

For those with even tighter budgets, Leicester offers a wide array of different takeaways. Leicester takeaways range from Indian food to Italian, American, Turkish, Chinese, Thai and other types of food. Generally, a takeaway meal for two can be purchased between £10 and £15.

Tea rooms and coffee shops abound, most notable are Mrs Bridges on Loseby Lane and Bossa close to the City Gallery, if you want to avoid the usual Starbuck and Costa chains, Fenwicks also houses a pleasant old-school cafe, steeped in the 1960s/70s, on its top floor, with excellent food on offer at reasonable prices.

Gelato bars offer a range of non-alcoholic drinks and puddings: Madisons Cafe Bar & Gelateria on London Road, Gelato Village on St Martin's Square, Whipee Gelato and Bru, both on Granby Street, offer daytime and evening opening, as do similar places further out from the centre, such as Narborough Road.

Places in the City Centre:

• Wakaze, 74 High Street, Leicester LE1 5YP. A Japanese restaurant on the main Leicester street popular for good inexpensive bento meals.
• Roma Café Bar, 11 Halford Street, Leicester LE1 1JA, +44 116 251-5959. daytime: M-Sa. Pizza, pasta and other Italian food, family-run café/restaurant since 1996
• The Case Restaurant and Champagne Bar, 4-6 Hotel St, +44 116 251-7675.

Wakaze, 74 High Street, Leicester LE1 5YP. A Japanese restaurant on the main Leicester street popular for good inexpensive bento meals.

Roma Café Bar, 11 Halford Street, Leicester LE1 1JA, +44 116 251-5959. daytime: M-Sa. Pizza, pasta and other Italian food, family-run café/restaurant since 1996

The Case Restaurant and Champagne Bar, 4-6 Hotel St, +44 116 251-7675.

With two universities, Leicester boasts a good number of bars, pubs, and clubs offering a wide variety of alcoholic drinking experiences, offering everything from traditional pubs to champagne and vodka bars.

Leicester also has a small number of bars and a nightclub catering for the lesbian/gay communities.

For those that prefer their drink without alcohol there are also a good number of coffee shops in the city centre, but these usually tend to only open during shopping hours.