Hotels in Leicester

Leicester: Roman Foundations and a Premier League Fairytale

Leicester sits at the heart of the East Midlands, roughly 100 miles north of London and 40 miles east of Birmingham. The city's recorded history stretches back nearly 2,000 years — Roman Ratae Corieltauvorum left a mosaic pavement still visible at the Jewry Wall, one of the tallest surviving Roman structures in Britain. In 2012, archaeologists confirmed the discovery of Richard III's remains beneath a city-centre car park, now commemorated at the King Richard III Visitor Centre on St Martins.

Where to Stay in Leicester

Most hotels cluster around Granby Street and the Cultural Quarter near Curve theatre. The Golden Mile on Belgrave Road — the UK's most concentrated stretch of South Asian restaurants and jewellers — is a short taxi ride north. Football fans target accommodation close to King Power Stadium, 1.2 miles south-west of the city centre along Filbert Way, home to Leicester City FC.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: East Midlands Railway runs frequent trains from London St Pancras in around 1 hour 15 minutes.
• Getting around: The city centre is walkable; buses connect outer suburbs. Trams do not serve Leicester.
• Timing: The Diwali celebrations on Belgrave Road draw over 35,000 visitors each October — book hotels several weeks ahead.
• Currency: GBP; card payments accepted almost universally.