File:East_Gates_in_Leicester_city_centre_-_geograph.org.uk_-_7631735.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Leicester
Also known as Leicester, England
Leicester ( ) is a city, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a population of in . The greater Leicester urban area had a population of 559,017 in 2021, making it the 11th most populous in England, and the 13th most populous in the United Kingdom. For three years running, the annual Good Growth for Cities Index has ranked Leicester as the best place to live and work in the East Midlands. The latest study, which is based on a range of economic factors, rated Leicester as the best performin
AI overview
Leicester is a major city in England's East Midlands region and the county town of Leicestershire, with a population of over 559,000 in its urban area, making it the 11th most populous urban area in England. The city has been recognized as the best place to live and work in the East Midlands according to recent economic rankings.
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Place details
- Locality
- Leicester
- Region
- England
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Population
- 368,600
Travel guide
Understand
thumb | 300px | National Space Centre Leicester has been a town at least since the Iron Age, which from 50 AD the Romans expanded into Ratae Corieltauvorum. In early medieval times it was known as Legorensis civitatis which morphed into Ledecestre, while its Roman street plan remained. Richard III stayed here before the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 Aug 1485, which brought an end to the Wars of the Roses, to the millennium known as the Middle Ages in England, and of course to Richard himself. His burial site was forgotten until 2012 but is now a major visitor attraction.
Early modern Leicester was some distance from a port and its development lagged behind other midland cities. But from 1790 the canal enabled bulk transport such as coal, and the railway arrived in 1832. Small-scale "cottage industry" of stockings and similar textiles was replaced by the smokestacks and "dark satanic mills" of the 19th century Industrial Revolution. There was major labour unrest, with support for Chartist, radicalism and the Co-op movement. Heavy industry withered during the 20th century and Leicester transitioned to a service economy, though the bid to be a centre for space-related innovation was always a mite optimistic.
Leicester for a century has been one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Britain, drawing in those displaced by turmoil in Europe and beyond. One of the most visible communities is Gujerati: in 1972 Idi Amin the eccentric dictator of Uganda declared that all Asian…
Get around
Walk: most city sights are within walking distance. First Bus Leicester operate a dozen city routes. Arriva and Centrebus run further out. Most tickets are not interchangeable between these companies, but the Flexi Day for all buses in 2026 is £6.20 adult, £4.30 child. Buy on the bus. Park & Ride services (M-Sa) are west at Meynells Gorse off A47, north at Birstall on A6, and south at Enderby by the M1. Cycling is mostly on-road. Sustrans Route 6 crosses the city north-south, and Route 63 goes northwest toward Charnwood Forest. The Bike Park is a secure park open daily. It's by Town Hall on Horsefair St. Free motorcycle parking is available on Abbey Street and behind the Town Hall. A dozen taxi firms ply in city centre.
See
thumb | 300px | Last stand of Richard III thumb | 300px | His tomb in the cathedral Castle walls survive as scraps of masonry in the riverside gardens west of St Mary de Castro. New Walk is a bosky walkway coursing past the museum, from city centre to Victoria Park. It was laid out in 1785 and may follow the line of a Roman road, Via Devana. thumb | 300px | Jewry Wall and St Nicholas Bradgate Park surrounds the house. "Old John" is a hilltop folly of 1784 in the shape of a beer tankard.
~67 min read
Article
69 sectionsContents
- Name
- History
- Prehistory
- Roman
- Medieval
- Modern
- Tudor
- Stuart
- Civil War
- Industrial era
- Early 20th century
- World War II
- Contemporary
- Urban expansion; central rapprochement
- Immigration
- Coronavirus
- Geography
- Areas and suburbs
- Climate
- Governance
- Political control
- Representation at Westminster
- Coat of arms
- Demography
- Comparing
- Languages
- Population change
- Tourism
- Economy
- Good Growth for Cities Index
- Textiles
- Engineering
- Shopping
- Food and drink
- Landmarks
- Transport
- Air
- Road
- Buses
- Cycling
- Railway
- Mainline rail
- Great Central Railway
- Waterways
- Education
- Schools
- Tertiary
- Religion
- Places of worship
- Culture
- Museums
- Music
- In popular culture
- Sport
- Public services
- Notable people
- Local media
- Print and online
- Television
- Radio
- Twin cities
- Freedom of the City
- Individuals
- Military units
- Notes
- References
- Secondary sources
- Newspapers
- External links
Leicester ( ) is a city, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a population of in . The greater Leicester urban area had a population of 559,017 in 2021, making it the 11th most populous in England, and the 13th most populous in the United Kingdom. For three years running, the annual Good Growth for Cities Index has ranked Leicester as the best place to live and work in the East Midlands. The latest study, which is based on a range of economic factors, rated Leicester as the best performing city in the East Midlands in 2024 and 20th overall out of 52 other UK cities.
The city lies on the River Soar and is approximately north-northwest of London, east-northeast of Birmingham and northeast of Coventry. Nottingham and Derby lie around to the north and northwest respectively, whilst Peterborough is located to the east. Leicester is close to the eastern end of the National Forest.
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On the map
60 mapped locations
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Categories
1st-century establishments in Roman Britain50 establishments50s establishments in the Roman EmpireBoroughs in EnglandCities in the East MidlandsCounty towns in EnglandFormer civil parishes in LeicestershireIncomplete lists from October 2019LeicesterLocal government districts of the East MidlandsLocal government in LeicestershirePopulated places established in the 1st century