Category: Attractions

[osm_map lat="52.6234293" lon="-1.1215049" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Standing in Victoria Park in Leicester, the Arch of Remembrance is one of the most striking First World War memorials in England. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the arch rises 69 feet (21 metres) above the park and can be seen from the main southward routes out of the city. It sits at the intersection of paths leading from the University Road entrance and the London Road entrance to the park, placing it at the natural centre of foot traffic through this part of Leicester's East Midlands setting.Design and StructureThe memorial takes the form of a tetrapylon, or quadrifrons - a single Portland stone arch with four legs forming four arched openings. The two main openings on the north-west to south-east axis each reach…

[osm_map lat="52.6777314" lon="-1.1652227" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Castle Hill Earthworks is a historic monument in Leicester, representing one of the city's older surviving archaeological features. As an earthwork monument, it belongs to a category of heritage sites shaped by human activity over centuries, where raised landforms, ditches, or embankments mark the ground in ways that outlast the structures once associated with them.What to Expect at the SiteVisitors to Castle Hill Earthworks will find a site that rewards those with an interest in Leicester's deep history. Earthwork monuments of this type typically preserve evidence of earlier settlement, fortification, or ceremonial use, and Castle Hill is no exception. The surrounding area of Leicester has long layers of Roman, medieval, and earlier occupation, and sites like this one sit within that broader historical context.Visiting…

[osm_map lat="52.6362309" lon="-1.1330642" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] At the junction where five major streets converge near the centre of Leicester's ring-road, the Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower has been a fixture of the city since 1868. The five streets meeting at this point are Gallowtree Gate, Humberstone Gate (A47), Haymarket (A607), Church Gate (A6), and Eastgates (A47), making the Clock Tower one of the busiest pedestrian crossroads in the city.History and ConstructionBefore the Clock Tower was built, the site held an Assembly Room dating from 1750, which was later divided into shops in 1805. Local property owners regarded the building as an obstruction and campaigned for its removal; it was demolished in 1862. A hay market that had occupied the same area was then relocated to Humberstone Gate, leaving a wide open…

[osm_map lat="52.6513762" lon="-1.160188" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Gorse Hill City Farm is a working farm attraction in Leicester, giving visitors the chance to experience farm life within an urban setting. The farm brings together animals, growing spaces, and hands-on activities, making it a popular spot for families and school groups looking to connect with the countryside without leaving the city.What to Expect at Gorse Hill City FarmThe farm operates as a genuine working site rather than a simple petting zoo, with livestock and seasonal activities that change throughout the year. Visitors can meet farm animals up close, explore the grounds, and learn about where food comes from. It is the kind of place that appeals as much to younger children as it does to adults with an interest in urban agriculture…

[osm_map lat="52.6323703" lon="-1.1412043" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] The Great Hall is one of the most significant surviving medieval structures in Leicester, tracing its origins to the role that large ceremonial halls played at the centre of royal, noble, and manorial life throughout the Middle Ages. The term "great hall" itself came into common use over several centuries to distinguish these older, multifunctional rooms from the very different hall layouts found in later post-medieval houses. Originally, the room would simply have been called "the hall" - the word "great" at the time meant nothing more than large, without the modern sense of excellence or grandeur.Layout and DesignA typical medieval great hall followed a well-established rectangular plan, generally between one and a half and three times as long as it was wide, and…

[osm_map lat="52.6265387" lon="-1.1974622" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Highway Spinney is a forested area within Leicester, listed as a wildlife attraction and documented by NatureSpot, a local wildlife recording network. The spinney is a small woodland of the kind that once characterised the fringes of Midlands towns before suburban expansion. Wheelchair access is limited, so the terrain is likely uneven or partially surfaced, making it more suited to those comfortable with natural woodland ground underfoot.Wildlife and NatureAs a forest classified as a tourist attraction, Highway Spinney draws visitors with an interest in local wildlife and natural habitats. NatureSpot records the spinney as a wild place in Leicester, suggesting it supports native plant and animal species typical of Leicestershire woodland. Those interested in wildlife recording, quiet walks, or casual nature observation are the…

[osm_map lat="52.6754437" lon="-1.1785095" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Spanning one of Leicester's historic waterways, King William's Bridge is a listed heritage structure within the city. The bridge carries the designation of a tourism attraction, pointing to its recognised place among Leicester's older built fabric rather than simply functioning as a crossing point. Its heritage status marks it as a structure of historical interest, preserved as part of the city's layered architectural record.Visiting King William's BridgeThe bridge sits within Leicester's broader network of streets and neighbourhoods, and it can be explored on foot as part of a wider walk through the city. Its surroundings include residential streets and other local landmarks typical of Leicester's inner areas. For visitors with an interest in historic infrastructure, King William's Bridge is worth seeking out alongside the…

[osm_map lat="52.6486906" lon="-1.1369949" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Tucked within Abbey Park in the north of Leicester, the ruins of Leicester Abbey are among the most historically layered sites in the East Midlands. Formally known as the Abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis, this Augustinian house was founded in the 12th century by Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, and grew into the wealthiest religious establishment in the whole of Leicestershire. Through royal and papal patronage, the abbey accumulated advowsons of churches across England, extensive landholdings, and several manorial lordships. It also maintained a dependent daughter house, known as a cell, at Cockerham Priory in Lancashire.Rise and Fall of a Powerful InstitutionAt its height, the abbey housed between 30 and 40 canons, sometimes called Black Canons on account of their white…

[osm_map lat="52.632365" lon="-1.1401682" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Tucked into the western edge of Leicester City Centre, between Saint Nicholas Circle to the north and De Montfort University to the south, Leicester Castle occupies a site that has shaped the city since the Norman Conquest. Built along the eastern bank of the River Soar and constructed over earlier Roman walls in the south-western corner of the medieval town, the castle was most likely raised around 1070 under the governorship of Hugh de Grandmesnil. What survives today includes a large motte, the Great Hall, the Church of St Mary de Castro, and the ruined Turret Gateway. The castle is a scheduled monument.A Seat of Power Through the Medieval PeriodIn 1107, King Henry I granted the castle and the old Roman town to Robert…

[osm_map lat="52.6634456" lon="-1.1265825" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre is a multi-sport attraction in Leicester, offering activities suitable for a range of visitors. The centre is wheelchair accessible, making it open to people of varying mobility levels, which is relatively uncommon among outdoor activity venues. Its multi-sport focus means visitors can engage in a variety of pursuits rather than a single discipline.What to ExpectAs an outdoor pursuits venue, the centre is geared towards active participation rather than passive sightseeing. Whether visiting as an individual, a family, or a group, the multi-sport provision means there is likely something to suit different interests and fitness levels. The wheelchair accessibility provision reflects a practical commitment to inclusive participation across its activities.Getting ThereThe centre is located within Leicester, a city well connected by…

[osm_map lat="52.6317418" lon="-1.1379092" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Standing where the carriageways of Leicester's inner ring road diverge, the Magazine Gateway is one of the city's most striking medieval survivals. To its north lies the Southgates underpass, to the east Newarke Street, and from the south traffic arrives along Oxford Street. Once the principal entrance to a walled religious precinct, the gateway now occupies a pedestrianised area between the De Montfort University Business and Law building and the Newarke Houses Museum, at the eastern end of a stretch largely absorbed by De Montfort University.Origins and HistoryThe story of the Magazine Gateway begins in 1330, when Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster, established Trinity Hospital in an area along the south side of the castle wall. His son, who later became Duke of Lancaster,…

[osm_map lat="52.6195476" lon="-1.0754703" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Piggy's Hollow is an attraction located in Leicester, sitting within the city's wider network of local points of interest. While the available detail on its immediate surroundings is limited, it is recorded as a named attraction in Leicester, suggesting it draws visitors looking to explore the more characterful and lesser-known corners of the city.Visiting Piggy's HollowLeicester itself is well connected by road and rail, making it straightforward to reach local attractions across the city. Piggy's Hollow can be explored using the interactive map above, which allows visitors to zoom in on the surrounding streets, nearby houses, and neighbouring areas to plan a visit with ease.

[osm_map lat="52.6180696" lon="-1.1393518" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Off Aylestone Road in Leicester, a low earthwork survives as one of the city's most unusual Roman relics. Raw Dykes (grid reference SK583026) is a scheduled monument consisting of two parallel banks up to 20 metres apart, with an excavated channel running between them. Of an original length of at least 550 metres, only a 110-metre stretch now remains, the rest having been swallowed by the expansion of Leicester over the centuries. The public cannot walk the site freely, but a viewing enclosure off Aylestone Road allows visitors to observe what survives.An Aqueduct, a Canal, or Something Else?The official schedule of monuments maintained by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport records Raw Dykes as a Roman aqueduct. The narrow cut running along the…

[osm_map lat="52.6536426" lon="-1.1322722" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] The Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium is a planetarium and visitor attraction located in Leicester. Named after the celebrated British astronomer and television presenter Sir Patrick Moore, it draws visitors with an interest in space, astronomy, and the night sky. Leicester has a long-standing connection to space science, and this planetarium sits within that broader tradition in the city.What to ExpectThe planetarium is classified as a dedicated astronomy attraction, offering immersive experiences that go beyond what a standard museum exhibit provides. Visitors can expect to be taken through presentations about the universe, planets, and celestial phenomena in a purpose-built environment designed specifically for that kind of display.Visiting the PlanetariumThe Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium is well placed for those exploring Leicester's cultural and scientific attractions. As…

[osm_map lat="52.6257841" lon="-1.1436219" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Leicester has its own version of an American icon. The Statue of Liberty in Leicester is a local attraction that draws curious visitors and residents alike. While it may not rival the scale of its New York counterpart, this Leicester landmark has carved out a place of its own as a recognised point of interest in the city.Finding the AttractionThe Statue of Liberty sits within Leicester, a city in the East Midlands of England well connected by road and rail. Leicester is served by the A6, A47, and M1 motorway, and its railway station offers regular services to London St Pancras, Nottingham, and Birmingham. The attraction can be reached on foot or by local bus from Leicester city centre.Visiting the AreaThe surrounding streets give…

[osm_map lat="52.6351318" lon="-1.1386666" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Standing in the centre of Leicester, The High Cross is a historic monument marking what was once the crossroads of the two principal Roman streets of the ancient settlement of Ratae Corieltauvorum. The intersection of Fosse Way and the road running north to south through the Roman town placed this spot at the geographical and civic heart of Leicester for nearly two thousand years. Today the monument occupies a prominent position near St Nicholas Circle, within easy reach of the city's Roman Quarter and close to the remains of the Jewry Wall, one of the largest surviving pieces of Roman civil masonry in Britain.The Monument ItselfThe current structure is a stone pillar topped with a sundial, erected in the eighteenth century to commemorate the…

[osm_map lat="52.6579994" lon="-1.0786681" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] On the eastern fringes of Leicester, The Humber Stone is one of the city's oldest and most curious landmarks. This ancient stone, also recorded under the alternative name The Humberstone, sits within a residential area that has grown up around it over the centuries, yet the stone itself retains a quiet, unmistakable presence. It is classified as a historic attraction, drawing visitors interested in Leicester's pre-urban past.History and SignificanceThe Humber Stone is believed to be a prehistoric standing stone, making it a rare survival in an otherwise heavily built-up part of the city. The surrounding neighbourhood of Humberstone takes its name directly from the stone, pointing to just how long this landmark has shaped local identity. Its age and origins place it well outside…

[osm_map lat="52.6568904" lon="-1.0827336" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Vantage House is a building in Leicester with historic memorial status, recognised for its significance within the city's built environment. Its classification as both a building and a memorial places it among Leicester's sites that carry a commemorative dimension beyond their physical structure.A Building with Memorial StatusThe historic designation attached to Vantage House indicates that it has been identified as a structure of historical interest worthy of preservation. Such classifications in Leicester typically reflect a connection to the city's social, commercial, or civic past, and the memorial aspect suggests the building holds a commemorative function alongside its architectural presence.Visiting Vantage HouseLeicester has a well-connected city centre with regular bus services and rail links through Leicester Railway Station, making it straightforward to reach most points…