Leicester

Leicester, on the River Soar which joins the The Grand Union Canal at Ayleston, is approximately 98 miles or 158 kilometres NNW of London on the M1 motorway and approx 30 minutes drive by car from East Midlands Airport.

Leicester Market is the largest covered market in Europe - it has been on the same site for 700 years offering traditional market shopping. The Great Central Railway, the heritage steam rail on the list of the 50 greatest railway journeys in the world runs from Leicester, through Rothley to Loughborough.

Leciester's development was shaped by its engineering and textile industries. Modern Leicester is home to the National Space Centre and two universities. Sir Alec Jeffreys of the University of Leicester discovered DNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling was used in a criminal investigation for the first time in Leicester in the 1980s.

With its large Asian population, Leicester was declared the Curry Capital of Britain in 2007. Leicester holds the UK’s biggest and brightest Diwali celebrations (Hindu festival of light), reputed to be the largest Diwali celebrations outside India.

Leicester Accommodation

Book Leicester Hotels online for convenience with no booking fees. See backpackers hostels in England for nearby budget accommodation. You can also search for holiday cottages for rent in the region.

Leicester Tours and Transport

Check our transport page for car hire and links to public transport. 

Leicester Things to Do

• See Interest Groups in Leicestershire for clubs and groups to join. Volunteers are always needed and it is a quick way to make friends and learn new skills - see Volunteer Groups for ideas.
• See Sports Clubs in Leicestershire for links to all types of sporting clubs. 
• Go to the Theatre or Cinema
• Visit a Museum
• You'll also find a lot of ideas from the websites on the Festivals & Events page. Major events are also included on the UK events page. 

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