Leicestershire

Leicestershire is a county in the East Midlands region of England. Its traditional capital is the county city of Leicester.

Cities, towns and villages

Map of Leicestershire

Cities

• 1 Leicester – county town

Towns

• 2 Ashby-de-la-Zouch
• 3 Coalville
• 4 Hinckley
• 5 Loughborough
• 6 Lutterworth
• 7 Market Harborough
• 8 Melton Mowbray
• 9 Oadby
• 10 Wigston (Wigston Magna)

Villages

• 11 Appleby Magna
• 12 Barrow upon Soar
• 13 Castle Donington

Understand

Belvoir Castle

National Space Centre, Leicester

Burrough Hill

Melton Mowbray Pork Pie

Stilton Cheese

Leicestershire's traditional capital is the county city of Leicester, though this is now administered as a unitary authority separate from the rest of the county. Leicestershire is bordered by Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire.

• Leicestershire visitor information

Talk

The main language in the countryside is English with a lot of local dialect passed through generations of country living people.

English is the main language. In more urban and multicultural areas such as Leicester other languages may be spoken as well, but English is a necessity to get by.

Get in

By plane

1 East Midlands Airport (EMA ^IATA) is 7 miles north-west of Loughborough on the Derbyshire border at the village of Castle Donington.

By car

The M1 from London and Leeds runs through the middle of the county, while the M42 from Birmingham will get you into the north west of the county.

By bus

Leicester and Castle Donington are well served by national bus companies.

By train

Leicester is on the main London to Leeds line.

Get around

Over a thousand bus services connecting all major towns and villages.

See

• The Moat House Appleby Magna
• Ashby Castle Ashby-de-la-Zouch
• Belvoir Castle is a grand Gothic Revival mansion near Grantham.
• Conkers Ashby-de-la-Zouch
• Grantham Canal is disused and reed-choked, but the towpath is in good condition for walking.
• Twycross Zoo Appleby Magna
• Bosworth battlefield north of Hinckley
• National Space Centre Leicester
• Burrough Hill near Melton Mowbray

Do

• Skiing
• Cycling
• Walking
• Horseriding
• Fox Hunting
• Birdwatching
• Shopping
• Cricket: Leicestershire CCC play at Grace Rd in Leicester.

Eat

At the heart of Stilton and Red Leicester cheeses. Also, the home of the Melton Mowbray pork pie.

• Stilton cheese. Blue cheese with a strong flavour. (updated Jan 2024)
• Red Leicester. Similar in taste and texture to Cheddar cheese though with a characteristic bright orange colour. (updated Jan 2024)
• Melton Mowbrey pork pie. Small pork pies from the gastronomic capital of Leicestershire. (updated Jan 2024)

Particularly in Leicester, "Indian" curry houses are very good in the area. All towns and many villages have a fish and chip shop.

Drink

• Pubs In Measham are must-sees: on Friday or Saturday nights, they have singing, dancing or just a quiet drink: on Sunday nights, they have posh bands and a quiz.
• The Emporium club in Coalville is famous around the UK. Entry at certain times is often free, but ID is a must to enter.

Go next

• Derbyshire
• Nottinghamshire