Why go
- City and unitary authority in England.
- Served by Bitteswell Farm Airstrip.
History
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 388,348 in 2024. 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.
Where to stay
2 Peacock Ln, Leicester LE1 5PX, United Kingdom · stmartinslodge.co.uk
2 Great Central Pl, Leicester LE1 4JS, United Kingdom · all.accor.com
Hinckley Rd, Leicester LE3 1HX, United Kingdom · winstanleyhouse.co.uk
16 Hotel St, Leicester LE1 5AW, United Kingdom · thecityrooms.co.uk
101 Welford Rd, Leicester LE2 7QS, United Kingdom · ihg.com
20 De Montfort St, Leicester LE1 7GR, United Kingdom · belmonthotel.co.uk
Filbert Wy, Raw Dykes Rd, Leicester LE2 7FL, United Kingdom · ihg.com
21a, M1, Welcome Break Leicester (Forest East) Service Area J21, Leicester LE3 3GB, United Kingdom · hotels.welcomebreak.co.uk
St. Georges Tower, 1A St Georges Way, Leicester LE1 1AA, United Kingdom · premierinn.com
Granby Pl, Leicester LE1 6ES, United Kingdom · discoverasr.com
84-90 Charles St, Leicester LE1 1GE, United Kingdom · wyndhamhotels.com
7 Saxby St, Leicester LE2 0ND, United Kingdom · graftonhousehotelleicester.top
17A Guildhall Ln, Leicester LE1 5FQ, United Kingdom · sanghastudentaccommodation.com
19-21 St.Nicholas Pl, Leicester LE1 4LD, United Kingdom · villarehotels.com
Grove Park, Smith Way, Leicester LE19 1SW, United Kingdom · marriott.com
CROFT HOTEL, 3 Stanley Rd, Leicester LE2 1RF, United Kingdom · shouthotels.com
175 Hinckley Rd, Leicester LE3 0TF, United Kingdom · leicesterguest.co.uk
4-6 Glenfield Rd, Leicester LE3 6AP, United Kingdom · glenfieldlodge.com
360 London Rd, Leicester LE2 2PL, United Kingdom
Indoor
Indoor
Indoor
17-19 Westleigh Rd, Leicester LE3 0HH, United Kingdom · campbellshotel.com
1 Pocklingtons Walk, Leicester LE1 6BU, United Kingdom · thepocklington.com
36 Market St, Leicester LE1 6DP, United Kingdom · thegreshamaparthotel.com
8 Bath Ln, Leicester LE3 5BE, United Kingdom · empireservicedapartments.co.uk
Restaurants & places to go
Sandwich, Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Th-Su 12:00-22:30; Mo-We 12:00-21:30 · 9 Welford Place, Leicester, LE1 6ZH · peterpizzeria.co.uk
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · 90 The Parade, Oadby, LE2 5BF · papajohns.co.uk
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 08:30-18:00; Su 10:00-16:00 Features: takeaway · Narborough Road South, Braunstone Town, LE3 2LL · storelocator.asda.com
Noodle, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:30-22:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · 1 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, LE1 5AD · chopstixnoodles.co.uk
Latin American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-22:30; Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 11:00-22:00 · 13-15 Belvoir Street, Leicester, LE1 6SL · iguanas.co.uk
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway, vegan options, halal, step-free access, air conditioning · Wakes Road, Wigston,… · mcdonalds.com
Chicken, Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:30-22:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-23:00 · 50 Granby Street, LE1 1DH · nandos.co.uk
Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 06:30-22:00; Sa-Su 07:00-22:00 · 297-299 Leicester Road, Wigston, LE18 1JW · bellaitalia.co.uk
Tex-Mex, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-22:30; Su 12:00-22:00 · Lubbesthorpe Way, Leicester, LE19 1JZ · chiquito.co.uk
American, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-21:00; Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-21:00 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · 14-16… · frankieandbennys.com
British, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-23:00 Features: outdoor seating · Grove Way, Leicester, LE19 1HZ · thelounges.co.uk
Donut, Coffee Shop, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 07:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · LE19 1HX
Caribbean, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · 15 Bath House Lane, Leicester, LE1 4SA · turtlebay.co.uk
Mexican, Restaurant · Opening hours: 12:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-00:00 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · 6-8 St Martin's Square, Leicester, LE1 5DF · bodegacantina.co.uk
Kebab, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-03:00 · 124 Narborough Road, Leicester, LE3 0BT · donermasterleicester.com
Indian, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Sa 17:30-22:00; Su off Features: halal · 66 Belgrave Gate, Leicester, LE1 3GQ · flavoursofasiaonline.com
Portuguese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-We 08:00-17:00; Th-Sa 08:00-23:00; Su 10:00-17:00 Features: outdoor seating, vegan options, halal · 93 Queens Road,… · portandnata.co.uk
Thai, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Sa 17:00-21:30 · renusthaistreetfood.com
Milk, Milkshake, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-20:00 · Beeby Road, Leicester, LE7 9JA · villagefarmgetaway.co.uk
Wings, Fast Food · Opening hours: Su-Th 11:00-24:00, Fr,Sa 11:00-02:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · 14-16 Bath House Lane, Leicester, LE1 4SA
Sushi, Restaurant · Features: step-free access · 4 Highcross Lane, Leicester, LE1 4SD · yosushi.com
Steak, Restaurant · Steak restaurant · Leicester Road, Leicester, LE19 2BJ · millerandcarter.co.uk
Fries/Chips, Fast Food · Opening hours: Term Time Mo-Fr 11:00-17:00 · Mayor's Walk, Leicester, LE1 7RH · le.ac.uk
Belgian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Th 18:00-02:00, Fr 16:30-03:00, Sa 14:00-03:00; Su,Mo off · 90-92 High Street, LE1 5YN · cafebruxelles.net
Breakfast, Burger, Cake, Coffee Shop, Fish And Chips, Hotdog, Kebab, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-We 08:00-15:00; Th-Fr 08:00-21:00; Sa 07:00-15:00; Su… · connorscafewigston.co.uk
Chinese, Fast Food · Opening hours: Th-Tu 16:30-23:00; We off Features: vegetarian options · just-eat.co.uk
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Term Time: Mo-Fr 11:00-18:00 · Mayor's Walk, Leicester, LE1 7RH · le.ac.uk
Restaurant · Opening hours: Th-Tu 10:00-18:00 Features: vegetarian options · 93 Melton Road, Leicester, LE4 6PN · phulnath.co.uk
Polish, Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su,Tu-Th 12:00-20:00; Fr 12:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-24:00 · 4 Southgates, LE1 5SH
French, Restaurant · Features: step-free access · 8-10 Millstone Lane, Leicester, LE1 5JN · lebistrotpierre.co.uk
Tapas, Restaurant · Tapas restaurant · Queens Road, Leicester, LE2 1TU · barceloneta.co.uk
Eastern European, Restaurant · Eastern European restaurant · 1 Newport Place, Leicester, LE1 1DN · tatraeasterncorner.co.uk
Japanese, Korean, Sushi, Fast Food · Features: takeaway · 19 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, LE1 5AD
Vietnamese, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · 87 High Street, Leicester, LE1 4JB
Frozen Yogurt, Dessert, Fast Food · Features: takeaway
Turkish, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 18:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 18:00-00:00 · 14 Allandale Road
Baked Potatoes, Cheese Toasties, Cake, Tea. Coffee, Soft Drinks, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-16:30; Sa,Su 10:00-17:00; PH 10:00-17:00 Features:…
Regional, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:30 · 97a London Road, Leicester, LE2 0PF
Wholefood, Restaurant · Opening hours: Tu-Fr 11:00-15:00; Sa 11:00-16:00 · 19 Free Lane, LE1 1JX
Fish And Chips, Fast Food · Fish And Chips fast food · 48-50 Wanlip Road, LE7 1PA · frydales.co.uk
World, Fast Food · World fast food · 2 Leire Street, LE4 6NT · chilliflakeonline.co.uk
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-18:30; Sa 09:00-17:00; Su 09:30-13:00 · 104 Queens Road, LE2 3FL · northerncobbler.com
Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Th 16:00-22:45, Fr-Sa 16:00-00:30, Su 16:00-22:45 · squarepizzablaby.co.uk
Greek, Restaurant · Features: outdoor seating · 17 Fosse Road South, Leicester, LE3 0LP
357 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
East Midlands Airport (EMA) 16 mi to the centre
Nottingham, Leicestershire, ENG, GB — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 10 airlines (Ryanair, Jet2.com, Transavia France, Monarch Airlines…) · direct flights to 57 destinations incl. Arrecife, Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Faro… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Birmingham (34 mi) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 10 airlines, 57 direct destinations
- Ryanair FR (737-800) · 37 routes: Alicante, Almeria, Arrecife, Barcelona, Bergamo, Bergerac, Berlin, Carcassonne, Chania, Connaught, Cork, Dinard, Dublin, Faro, Fuerteventura, Gerona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Kerkyra/corfu, Krakow, La Rochelle, Limoges, Malaga, Menorca, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Reus, Rhodos, Riga, Rome, Rzeszow, Tenerife, Treviso, Valencia, Warsaw, Wroclaw
- Jet2.com LS (737-300, 737-800) · 20 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Bodrum, Budapest, Dalaman, Dubrovnik, Faro, Funchal, Gran Canaria, Heraklion, Ibiza, Malaga, Menorca, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Paris, Prague, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Transavia France TO (737-800) · 13 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Dalaman, Enfidha, Faro, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Larnaca, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Rhodos, Tenerife
- Monarch Airlines ZB (A321) · 7 routes: Alicante, Arrecife, Faro, Malaga, Malta, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife
- Flybe BE (Dash 8-400) · 5 routes: Amsterdam, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jersey
- Thomas Cook Airlines MT (A321) · 5 routes: Arrecife, Dalaman, Enfidha, Fuerteventura, Tenerife
- Thomsonfly BY (737-800) · 5 routes: Arrecife, Enfidha, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Tenerife
- Air Sicilia BM (ER3) · 1 route: Brussels
- Aurigny Air Services GR (ATR 72) · 1 route: Guernsey
- Eastern Airways T3 (J41) · 1 route: Aberdeen
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Nottingham City Airport (NQT) 20 mi to the centre
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, ENG, GB — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Leicester Airport 4.7 mi to the centre
Leicester, Leicestershire, ENG, GB
Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome 9.6 mi to the centre
Lutterworth, Leicestershire, ENG, GB
Claybrooke Farm Airstrip 11 mi to the centre
ENG, GB
Getting there by ferry
Ferry terminal
Ferry terminal · 12 mi from the centre
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bitteswell Farm Airstrip; 7 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 12 mi.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Leicester, United Kingdom. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Broker, marketplace · Operator network worldwide · Online charter marketplace, part of Directional Aviation; instant quotes.
Marketplace · Operator network · Transparent on-demand jet charter marketplace showing the operator and tail.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.