Where is the city of Leicester in England. Leicester is one of the oldest cities in England
English Leicester, which has existed for about 20 centuries, is the main city of the county of Leicestershire.
In the place where Leicester is located today, there were Celtic settlements. Having fortified them, the Romans built their city known as Ratae Corieltauvorum. A reminder of this time is the Roman cemetery and preserved sections of sidewalks. In the 7th century, the city received the status of a "city" and became the seat of a bishop. In the 11th century, due to the wars of the church with the nobility and civil wars, the city lost this status and managed to get it again only in 1919.
The status of "city" was given in Great Britain to cities with cathedrals, and was very prestigious.
In the 19th century, Leicester began to develop rapidly and became the center of the machine-building, footwear and textile industries. Over the past 4 decades, the urban population has tripled. Plumbing, sewerage, municipal buildings appeared in Leicester. The Royal Hospital was built.
The Second World War led to an economic downturn and production declined significantly in the post-war years. The influx of immigrants, who represent cheap labor, has enabled the revival of urban businesses. And now Leicester occupies a leading position in the UK economy. In addition to textiles, industrial equipment is produced here, and the city is also home to the head office of the BBS Group, a large company engaged in the design and construction of engineering systems. And immigrants who arrived from India, Africa, the Caribbean and became the legal residents of this city make up 50% of its population.
sights
The main attraction of the city is the ancient Leicester Castle, built in the X century. It, together with the Church of St. Mary and the picturesque garden, is part of the architectural ensemble located in the city center. The nearby Clock Tower, built at the intersection of five roads, is considered the symbol of the city.
The Cathedral named after St. Martin is also very interesting. It was he who gave the opportunity to the city of Leicester to receive the prestigious status of "city". The cathedral has an original facade and magnificent interior decoration. In addition, it houses the tomb of Richard III, the English king, whose name is immortalized in the play of the same name by Shakespeare. The medieval bridges Aylestone Packhorse Bridge, King William’s Bridge and Belgrave Bridge, erected in the XV-XVII centuries, are also architectural monuments.
There is also a modern facility in Leicester that deserves the attention of travel lovers. This is the National Space Center for Astronautics, which houses a planetarium and six halls with displays on space themes.
Guidebooks and brochures with a list of planned activities in the near future, which can be obtained from the tourist center on Every Street, will help you to correctly schedule your sightseeing and not get lost in its vastness.
Hotels
There are over 50 hotels in and around Leicester. The choice of hotel depends on the preferences of the guests. Accommodation in the comfortable conditions of city hotels, for example, in or
Leicester is a city in England, the administrative center of Leicestershire. The city arose about two thousand years ago on the site of the settlements of the Celts. In those days, the Romans began to build the first fortifications, which later gave rise to the city. Later it was captured by the Danes, but in the XI century the city was entered in the English register of cities - "The Book of the Last Judgment".
During the Middle Ages, Leicester was an active trading city, and the birth of industry took place. In the 17th-19th centuries, as a result of the construction of a railway line, the city became a transport hub, from which it is very easy to get to various areas of the county and the country, industry began to develop rapidly, due to which the influx of residents increased, and the city began to expand its borders, absorbing small surrounding populations points.
Today, Leicester is a typical English city with an old town in the center with Victorian buildings and new neighborhoods on the outskirts. The historical part of the city contains many beautiful buildings from the 18th-19th centuries, which include the city municipality of The Guildhall, the church of St. Mary de Castro, Leicester's first hotel, The City Rooms, Leicester Abbey and Castle, and some other buildings. Also in the city you can see the ruins of Roman baths, the Jewish Wall and the Clock Tower (popular because five roads converge on it). Copyright www.site
In Leicester, you can visit the Botanical Gardens, Abbey Gardens, Victoria Gardens, shopping centers, sports clubs, the stadium. The city has a large population of Asians, so here you can find a Muslim mosque, a center of Jainism, a Hindu temple and a synagogue.
Fans of painting in Leicester will be interested in visiting the New Walk Museum - Gallery, which occupies a huge territory and offers its guests a lot of interesting entertainment. The museum houses a large collection of exhibits dating back to the times of Ancient Egypt. Ancient tables with petroglyphs and mummies were brought here, which were discovered at the end of the 19th century. The pride of the museum is a huge collection of paintings, where you can see the works of many famous British artists.
In the vicinity of Leicester, there is the National Space Center, which has also become a popular tourist attraction for a long time. Its main visitors are tourists with children; educational excursions are held for them in the center, during which they can try out various interactive exhibits in action. This center hosts a lot of interesting events dedicated to astronomy and modern science.
Gorse Hill City Farm will be a great place for family tourists and everyone who loves rest in a country atmosphere. This is a very beautiful park, fully equipped for recreation, on the territory of which there is a small farm. Here you can see a variety of animals, feed them, and also take excellent memorable photos. This park will be most interesting to visit during the warm season.
One of the main symbols of Leicester is the Sor River, a walk along the banks of which can also turn into an unforgettable event. There are beautiful parks on the banks of the river.In the warm season, locals often arrange picnics here, and also enjoy sports activities. Lively neighborhoods with restaurants, shops and attractions are just around these lovely parklands.
Fans of unusual attractions will be interested in visiting the Wistow Park. This is a difficult park, in its design it resembles a large farm, in which labyrinths of well-known plants are equipped everywhere. Here you can walk in the maze of sunflowers and corn.There are interesting playgrounds for children on this farm. For the youngest visitors, educational events are held here, during which they can learn a lot of interesting things about the world of plants. It will be interesting to walk along the spacious fields on your own, interesting information signs are installed everywhere here.
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Leicester located on the banks of the Saar River, in the central part, and is one of the most cosmopolitan cities. Of the 300,000 people living in the capital of Leicestershire, a significant proportion are from the Asian continent, as well as representatives of various European countries. The huge tourist interest in the city is due to the rich history of this region, beautiful architecture and a whole scattering of cultural and historical sights. Ancient bridges, exquisite decoration of temples, an abundance of museums and narrow picturesque medieval streets invariably delight even experienced travelers.
Most tourists while moving around the city do not use public transport, preferring to travel on foot, enjoying the picturesque landscapes of Leicester. Well-developed infrastructure and modern technologies that are easy to use enable guests of the city to quickly find themselves at the right point, without wasting time looking for the desired destination. Also, the tourism industry is excellently established here, including the availability of comfortable hotels with a wide range of services and travel agencies with all kinds of excursion routes for every taste. In addition, special Discover Leicester buses run around the city every day, following the route to the most interesting places and attractions and which anyone can use.
One of the central objects worthy of attention in Leicester is the eponymous leicester Castle, according to historical data, erected in the second half of the 10th century. It is located in the central part of the city and is a whole architectural complex, which includes a green picturesque garden, the ancient church of St Mary de Castro, dating back to the XII century, and the fortress itself. There is a tower not far from the castle Clock tower, considered one of the symbols of Leicester. The Leicester Guildhall Museum, housed in the inner halls of the City Hall, is also well known among the guests of the city. There you can learn a lot of interesting things about the history of the entire region, and specifically the city as a whole. For lovers of historical artifacts, of great interest is abbey Park, on the territory of which the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey of Leicester, which was born in 1143 and founded by the representative of the Augustinian community, Robert de Beaumont, have been preserved. In the Jewry Wall Museum, visitors have the opportunity to see architectural fragments left over from the Roman bath complex that was located here many centuries ago, as well as appreciate the strength and appearance of the armor of Roman soldiers, along with samples of Roman mosaics. Fans of astronautics and everything related to the vast expanses of our universe can pay tribute to the unique space center National Space, which is equipped with several rooms on space and astronomical topics. The center also has a 3D cinema, a planetarium, several restaurants and souvenir shops.
The main religious building in Leicester is Cathedral of Saint Martin, within the walls of the central part of which is the tomb of King Richard III. Interestingly, a mysterious legend is associated with this place, according to which, King Henry VII, who did not have love for his predecessor, ordered to steal the body from the coffin when he was on the territory of the Greyfriars Church and throw it into the river. The servants of the current monarch carried out the order, and an empty coffin was taken to the Cathedral of St. Martin, without the remains stored in it. Subsequently, the loss was discovered, but in order not to provoke discontent and not to inflame the atmosphere among the local population, the church officials decided not to expand on this topic and put an empty tomb in the church. Of course, this is just a legend, but after all, no one has opened the coffin of Richard III for a long time either. For a bird's eye view of the cityscape, visit the observation deck of the Ibis Leicester City, where guests are also invited to spend a romantic evening in a cozy restaurant. An excellent place to stroll and enjoy the clean Leicester air, there are superb parks, including the luxurious university botanical garden, and green gardens with famous English lawns, where the townspeople and visitors of the capital of Leicestershire love to have picnics.
Given that Leicester is a multicultural city, there are dozens of all kinds of restaurants, cafes and eateries from different countries. Therefore, on city streets you can often find establishments with Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, French and even Russian cuisine. There are especially many Indian restaurants, among which you should pay attention to the oldest of them - Taj Mahal on Highfields Street, as well as Sharmilee and Phulnath on Rise of the Raj. As for the classic British cuisine, it is widely represented at the Opera House, in the Guildhall Lane Town Center. The most common place to shop is the large-scale Highcross shopping complex, as well as the Beaumont Leys market with an incredibly diverse range of goods. You can fully appreciate the hospitality and cheerful disposition of the locals during the numerous festivals, among which the day of St. George the Victorious and the Hindu festival "Diwali", accompanied by bright processions with fiery torches, stand out.
Leicester has a mild temperate climate with humid but relatively warm winters and sunny summers. In the period from May to September, the average air temperature is +22 degrees, while it is during this time period that almost all sunny days of the year fall. From December to January, the thermometer fluctuates around +3 - +4 degrees with frequent rains, followed by snow. However, frosts are also not uncommon for this region, and sometimes the air temperature drops quite significantly below zero. It is best to visit Leicester during the summer season, when the weather conditions allow you to emphasize all its natural advantages, and rain and snow do not interfere with enjoying the beauty of man-made.
Leicester is located in the central part of England, on the banks of the Saar River and is considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Great Britain. Of the 300 thousand people who inhabit the capital of the county of Leicestershire, most of them are immigrants from Asia, as well as many European countries.The huge interest in the city from tourists is explained by the rich history of this region, graceful architecture, as well as an abundance of historical and cultural attractions. Even sophisticated travelers are invariably delighted with ancient bridges, picturesque narrow medieval streets, luxurious decoration of temples and an abundance of museums.
Built in the 10th century, it is considered the most striking historical landmark of the city. It flaunts in the central area of \u200b\u200bLeicester and is a unique architectural complex. On the surface, it actually looks like a recently erected building.
It includes the fortress itself, a picturesque garden, and church of St Mary de Castro, 12th century building.
In the center of Leicester rises clock Tower, which is considered one of the symbols of the city.
Among the guests of Leicester, he gained great fame and leicester Guildhall Museum, which is located in the halls of the City Hall.
For fans of ancient artifacts, of great interest is abbey Park, because on its territory the ruins of St. Mary's Abbey of Leicester have been preserved.
Fragments of the bath complex of Roman baths and the armor of Roman soldiers can be seen in jewry Wall Museum.
Unique national Space Center has a 3D cinema, planetarium, several restaurants and souvenir shops.
The main religious building in Leicester is the Cathedral of St. Martin, within the walls of which the tomb of King Richard III is located.
From the observation deck of Ibis Leicester City you can admire the landscapes of the city. You can also spend a wonderful evening in a fashionable restaurant.
Leicester is replete with dozens of all kinds of eateries, restaurants and cafes serving cuisines from different countries. There are especially many Indian restaurants in the city, among which Phulnath, Taj Mahal and Sharmilee stand out. The Beaumont Leys Market, as well as the grand Highcross Mall, are considered the city's most popular shopping destinations. You can appreciate the cheerful disposition and hospitality of the local population during the period of various festivals, the most colorful of which are the Hindu festival "Diwali", as well as the day of St. George the Victorious.
At first superficial glance, Leicester appears to be a completely modern city, but a closer inspection reveals traces of the medieval and Roman past, which lie directly west of the downtown area, its commercial part, near the Sor River. The Romans chose this site to keep an eye on the rebellious tribe of the Koryeltawvi, or Koritani, and developed Leicester's predecessor, Reith Korioneltavori, a fortified city outfitted with huge public buildings by Emperor Hadrian, on Fosse Way, a military road that ran from to Sirenster.
Thereafter, in the 8th century, the Danes colonized the city, and later, as its medieval castle became the main residence of the Earls of Leicester, the most famous of which was Simon de Montfort, who forced Henry III to convene the first English parliament in 1265, starting at the end of the 17th century. century, Leicester was the center of the knitwear trade, and it was its production that attracted hundreds of immigrants from Asia who settled here in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, roughly a third of Leicester's population is Asian, and the city elected its first Asian MP, Keith Waz, in 1987. Leicester Hindus celebrate two big autumn festivals, Navrati and Diwali, and a sizable Afro-Caribbean commune hosts the second largest English street festival (after Notting Hill Carnival), Leicester Caribbean Carnival takes place annually on the first weekend of August.
Leicester Station is on the Road, directly southeast of the city center, while St Margaret's bus station is located at the north end of the center, next to Gravel Street. The center is visible from both places - the large Haymarket shopping center is in between and is easy to navigate.
The travel agency is located a short walk south of Haymarket, 7-9 Every Street, Town Hall Square (Monday-Wednesday and Friday 9.00-17.30; Thursday 10.00 -17.30; Saturday 9.00-17.00; first class line).
There is no particular reason to stay overnight in Leicester, but there are plenty of business hotels close to the center, within a 5 minute walk from the station. The travel agency also has a list of competitively priced Bed and Breakfasts, although most are off-center. They will help you find a place to sleep, but this is rarely difficult, except during the Navrati and Diwali festivals.
Accommodation in Leicester
1). Best Western Belmont House Hotel - An exquisite chain hotel on a modernized and extended George estate approximately 300 yards south of London Road train station. The hotel is popular with business workers. Weekend discounts. Location: De Montfort Street;
2). Holiday Inn Hotel - Good chain hotel, located in the middle of the ring road. Comfortable rooms, indoor pool, large fitness facilities. Weekend discounts. Location: 129 Saint Nicholas Circle;
3). Spindle Lodge Hotel “The hotel is an ivy-covered Victorian town house on a tranquil sleeping street and has three floors. After a ten minute walk from the train station, head south on London Road, turn right onto De Montfort Street and then left onto Regent Road. Spindle Lodge is located at the intersection of Regent Road and West Walk. Location: 2 West Walk.
Leicester landmarks
Most of Leicester's iconic landmarks are centered around the city center, at an easy distance from each other on foot. A municipal pride is the art collection at the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery.
Highmarket Shopping Center in Leicester
The most prominent building in Leicester's crowded city center is undoubtedly the large, modern Haymarket Shopping center, but the real icon is the 1868 Victorian Clock Tower that stands in front of the Haymarket and marks where the seven streets meet. One of the seven, Cheapside, which leads to the Leicester Open Market (Monday-Saturday), one of the best of its kind in the country, is where young Geri Lineker, now the most famous football connoisseur and columnist, worked in the family business.
The good-natured Gehry remains a popular figure to this day, he was made an honorary citizen of the city, which gives him the right to graze his sheep in front of the city hall. Another of the seven streets is Silver Street (later Guildhall Lane), which leads to Saint Martin's Cathedral, a vastly refurbished 11th century structure whose medieval covered entrance is decorated with exquisite carvings.
Nearby is the Guildhall (February-November Monday-Wednesday and Saturday 11.00-16.30; Sunday 13.00-16.30; free), a half-wooden building that served different purposes - the city hall, prison and police station. The most interesting part of the visit is the fragile Great Hall, its beams caved in over time, but there are also a couple of old chambers and the city gallows, on which the bodies of the hanged were exhibited for public viewing until the 1840s.
Jewish wall in Leicester
From the town hall, you can quickly walk west to Saint Nicolas Circle, a large roundabout that forms part of the ring road. Walk around it to the right - there is a pedestrian path - and you will see on the right, behind the church, the Jewry Wall of Roman masonry, about 5.5 meters high and 22 meters long, which was formerly part of Hadrian's public baths.
The project annoyed the Emperor immensely: the great plan was ruined by engineers who miscalculated the line of the aqueduct through which the water was supposed to flow through the pipe, so that the washers had to rely on a cistern, which was poured by hand from the river.
Church of Saint Mary de Castro and Jain Center
From the Jewish Wall, continue around St. Nicholas Circle, leaving the Holiday Inn on the left, then head down the first large street on the right, and opposite the entrance to the Castle Gardens, a narrow strip of park that runs along the canalized section of the Sor River. The gardens are a pleasant place, they include a too high embankment, where the grove of Leicester Norman castle used to be.
At the far end, you exit to Newark. Turn left and follow the ring road, and in a couple of minutes you will reach Castle View, a narrow street that ends at the Turret Gateway, a rare surviving relic of a former medieval castle.
Directly behind the gate is the old church of Saint Mary de Castro (Easter - October Saturday 14.00-17.00), where Chaucer may have been married. The church's jagged leafy spire rises above a harmonious blend of architectural styles, including some Norman features such as dog-toothed doors and a row of five altar seats.
Behind the church, along the ring road, you can see the Magazine Gateway (no access), a combination of a medieval gatehouse and an arsenal now divided between two carriage sheds. Cross the ring road, walk right along Oxford Street, and you will soon come to the Jain (Qain Center), which occupies a converted 19th century chapel of the Congregation.
The beliefs of the followers of Jainism are based on an incredible reverence for all manifestations of life - traditional customs include wearing gauze masks so as not to accidentally inhale flying insects. The temple, one of the few of its kind in Western Europe, has a magnificently decorated white marble facade, visitors can enter the lobby, or better view the interior by prior arrangement.
New Walk Museum and Art Gallery in Leicester
From Jain Center, approximately ten minutes walk to the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, 55 New Walk (Monday-Saturday 10.00-17.00; Sunday 11.00-17.00; free), the best museum cities. To get there from the center of Jain, head back to the start of Oxford Street, turn right onto Newark Street and walk straight until you cross Newark Street - turn onto it. This is a pedestrian street that goes to Victoria Park.
The museum occupies a vast territory, its main attraction is an extensive collection of ancient art objects, mummies and tables with hieroglyphs brought to Leicester in the 1880s. There is also an excellent collection of paintings, including works by British artists such as Hoggard, Francis Bacon, Stanley Spencer and Lowry, as well as a slew of sickeningly sentimental romantic Victorian paintings, such as Charles Green's The Girl I Left (1880) ...
In addition, and this is quite surprising, there is an extraordinary collection of German Expressionist works, most of them drawings, sketches, woodcuts and lithographs in the style of Otto Dix and George Grose. In particular, pay attention to the drawing of the coffins of two leaders of the German revolutionary movement, Rosa Luxemburg Karl Liebknecht. From the museum about 10 minutes walk to the "Haymarket".
Food, drink and entertainment in Leicester
People come for miles around to eat at Indian restaurants on Belgrave Road. The best ones are concentrated at the beginning of the road, near the exit from the center to the northeast, and this is where you can find the famous Bobby's, at no. 154 (closed on Mondays). Check out Gugaratis, a gleaming, modern vegan restaurant that does not use garlic or onions. Try their amazing Bobby's Special Chaat with many flavors.
Or you can go to Sayonara Thali, located at No. 49, which specializes in ready-made tali sets with several different side dishes, breads and marinades served together on wide steel platters, while Chaat House, which is opposite Sayonara Thali , at no. 108, make delicious masala dosas and other snacks from South India.
The best restaurant in the city center is Opera House, at 10 Guildhall Lane, in lovely old premises and with a creative menu including dishes such as wild mushroom ravioli (£ 13-20 average). The award-winning Phoenix Arts Center in Leicester is located in the city center on Newark Street and features a first-class blend of comedy, music, theater and dance, while also home to an independent cinema.
Outskirts of Leicester (Belgrave and National Space Center)
Starting about a mile northeast of downtown, the terraced houses of the neighboring suburb of Belgrave, the center of Leicester's Asian community, are crowded. Both Belgrave Road and its northward extension, Melton Road, are populated by Indian and Pakistani jewelers, sari shops, Indian music shops and curry houses.
It's never boring here, but Sunday afternoons are especially enjoyable when locals stroll the streets in smart clothes. Belgrave hosts two major Indian festivals: Diwali, the Festival of Light, held in October or November, when 6,000 lamps are lit along Belgrave Road and 20,000 people come to watch the lights are lit; and Navrati, an eight-day festival in October in honor of the goddess Ambaya.
On the outskirts of Belgrave, next to the A-6, 2 miles north of downtown, is the National Space Center (Tuesday-Sunday 10.00-17.00; school premises 10.00-17.00 daily; admission deadline 90 minutes before closing; £ 12, children (5-16 years old) £ 10).
It is dedicated to space, science and astronomy, with a number of themed galleries exploring everything from planets to Earth's orbit. The emphasis is on interactivity, which makes this place very popular with children. Bus 54 connects the station and Highmarket to Abbey Lane, which is a five-minute walk from the center.
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