Leicester, Leics
Leicester local area guide
Picture shown above: Leicester City centre town hall water fountain.
Leicestershire is situated in the heart of England at the centre of a cluster of seven other well-known Midland counties sharing its borders: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.
The historic city of Leicester, the county’s capital and namesake, is situated in the centre of the county and has the largest town population within the county. This vibrant and exciting city is a popular UK tourist destination successfully combining its long and colorful history with cutting edge innovations in city architecture and eco-friendly living. It boasts a strong student and sporting presence and offers a wide range of art and entertainment choices, including such landmark institutions as the UK National Space Centre. Other major towns in the county include Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Lutterworth and Oadby and Wigston.
History of Leicestershire
Today, both Leicestershire County Cricket Club and Leicester City Football use the symbol of the fox as their team mascot giving a clue to Leicestershire’s rural roots. The county has a long history of selective livestock breeding and farming. These traditions continue today with a plentiful population of farmers, estate managers, farming assistants and, of course, livestock – mainly cattle, pigs and sheep – according to statistics from DEFRA. Markets can be found across the county where local produce still thrives at the centre of community living. Aside from farming, Leicestershire is well known for its commitment to the development of British Engineering, with the engineering departments at Leicester, De Montfort and Loughborough universities providing cutting-edge technology partnered with world-class education standards in the subject of Engineering.
Transport in Leicestershire
Leicestershire has a good selection of road, rail and air transport links. The central motorways serving the county are the M1, which provides a central link to both the north and the south of the UK, and the M6, which links the east of England to the west. The Midland Mainline runs a frequent rail service from London St Pancras to Leicester, and local rail links provide a reliable service within the county and beyond to such major locations as Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield. The nearest airport is the East Midlands Airport situated in the neighboring county of Derbyshire.
Education in Leicestershire
Leicestershire offers an extensive choice of comprehensive education. Secondary schools are often divided into middle schools for ages 10 -14, upper schools for ages 14 -16, and upper schools incorporating sixth form education for ages 14-18. Leicester College and Stephenson College also offer vocational training and diploma qualifications as an alternative to sixth-form education. Private education is also available in Leicester. Specialist education includes farming sector training at Brooksby Melton College. For those seeking higher education opportunities, Leicestershire is home to Leicester University, De Montfort University and the University of Loughborough, which has recently become world-renowned for its sporting prowess.
Property in Leicestershire
With its diverse landscape, homebuyers have a wide range of property to choose from. Leicestershire’s major towns offer a diverse and plentiful mix of flats, apartments and terraced houses, and its rural towns and villages offer more substantial semi-detached and detached properties. Visit our Leicestershire property page to view a selection of houses.