Category: City Areas

[osm_map lat="52.6844886" lon="-1.1493774" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Situated on the northern edge of Leicester, Ashton Green is a suburb that has attracted attention as one of the city's significant residential development areas. It lies within the wider Leicester urban area and is positioned to offer relatively easy access to the city centre while retaining a suburban character on the city's outskirts.Development and InvestmentAshton Green has been identified as a major investment opportunity within Leicester, with plans centred on new housing alongside supporting infrastructure. The site is promoted through Leicester City Council's investment framework, reflecting the city's broader ambitions to expand its residential capacity on previously underused land at its northern fringe. The scale of the development makes it one of the larger planned housing schemes in the Leicester area.Getting ThereAs a…

[osm_map lat="52.6040242" lon="-1.1540074" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Lying to the southwest of Leicester city centre, Aylestone sits east of the River Soar in Leicestershire. Victorian terraces fill much of the area closest to the city, particularly around Aylestone Park, while 20th-century housing spreads outward in other directions. The original village core, centred on St Andrew's Church, has been designated a conservation area and retains much of its older character despite the suburban growth around it.A Settlement with Deep RootsThe name Aylestone traces back to the Anglo-Saxon words meaning 'Aegel's settlement' or 'Egil's settlement', pointing to origins well before the Norman Conquest. The settlement appeared in the Domesday Book under the name Ailstone, recorded as being held during the reign of Edward the Confessor by Alveva, Countess of Mercia. By 1086, Robert…

[osm_map lat="52.6103861" lon="-1.1391842" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting within the southern reaches of Leicester, Aylestone Park is a residential suburb that takes its character from the quieter, greener fringes of the city. The area borders other established Leicester neighbourhoods and is within easy reach of the city centre, making it a practical base for those who prefer suburban surroundings without straying far from urban amenities.Character and surroundingsThe suburb is made up largely of housing streets set against a backdrop typical of Leicester's outer districts. The nearby River Soar and the open spaces associated with the broader Aylestone Meadows area are among the most notable natural features close to the suburb, offering walking routes along the riverbank and across the flood meadows that stretch between Aylestone and the city.Getting aroundAylestone Park is…

[osm_map lat="52.6632253" lon="-1.1588995" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting within the city boundary of Leicester, Beaumont Leys is a suburb in the ceremonial county of Leicestershire, England. The name itself derives from the French for 'beautiful hill or mountain', though the area today is characterised by large residential estates, schools, and industrial development rather than any notable elevation. The suburb borders the wards of Abbey to the east, Fosse to the south-east, and New Parks to the south, while the Leicestershire villages of Anstey and Glenfield lie to the north and west.Growth and DevelopmentBefore the 1970s, the land was mostly farmland and sewage infrastructure, with little residential presence. The 2021 census recorded a ward population of 18,808, up from 16,480 a decade earlier in 2011, reflecting the steady pace at which the…

[osm_map lat="52.6289026" lon="-1.1450503" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting close to Leicester city centre, Bede Island occupies a strip of land bordered by the River Soar to the west and the Grand Union Canal to the east. This waterside position gave the area potential that went largely unrealised for decades, particularly on the southern section known as Bede Island South, which became notorious as brownfield land and the home of Vic Berry's locomotive scrapyard.Regeneration and the WaterfrontDuring the 1990s, an urban regeneration programme transformed Bede Island South from a neglected industrial site into a housing and employment area, with the waterfront development forming a central part of Leicester's broader city transformation. New residential streets, office buildings, and improved public spaces replaced the scrapyard and derelict land, bringing the canal and river frontage…

[osm_map lat="52.6523025" lon="-1.1215629" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Lying just north of Leicester city centre, Belgrave occupies the eastern part of the city within the ceremonial county of Leicestershire. It borders Rushey Mead and the village of Birstall to the north, with Spinney Hills, North Evington, and Northfields to the east across the Midland Main Line. To the south lies St Matthew's and Leicester city centre, while Beaumont Leys and Stocking Farm form the western boundary. The old village section sits close to the Leicestershire county border and the Borough of Charnwood, just beyond Red Hill Circle, placing Belgrave at the point where the city meets the wider county.History and OriginsThe settlement's name first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Merdegrave, derived from the Old English words for 'marten' and…

[osm_map lat="52.6371954" lon="-1.1437774" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Tucked into the north-west corner of what was once the walled Roman town of Ratae Corieltauvorum, Blackfriars is a neighbourhood in Leicester, Leicestershire, built on and around the remains of a medieval Dominican priory. The priory is also known as St Clement's Priory or St Clement's Church, and the name Blackfriars itself comes from the Order of Preachers - a religious order whose members wore black cloaks and were commonly called Black Friars or Dominican Friars. The site sits a few hundred metres north of the Jewry Wall, Leicester's surviving Roman bathhouse structure.Roman Origins and the Blackfriars VillaBefore the church or priory were ever built here, the ground beneath Blackfriars was already significant. Archaeological evidence points to a wealthy Roman townhouse - the Blackfriars…

[osm_map lat="52.6594901" lon="-1.1789763" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Bradgate Heights is a suburb of Leicester, sitting within the wider city to the north-west. The name connects it geographically and culturally to the Bradgate Park area, one of Leicestershire's best-known open spaces, which lies a short distance away in the Charnwood Forest fringe. The suburb is largely residential in character, with housing streets typical of Leicester's outer neighbourhoods.Getting AroundAs part of Leicester's suburban spread, Bradgate Heights is accessible via the city's road network, with links feeding into the broader urban area. Residents travelling into the city centre have a straightforward route through Leicester's northern suburbs, and local bus connections provide public transport options for those without a car.The Local AreaThe surrounding area includes other Leicester suburbs and is within reasonable reach of the…

[osm_map lat="52.6227709" lon="-1.1647605" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Lying to the west of Leicester city centre, Braunstone is a suburban area that grew significantly through the twentieth century as the city expanded outward. It sits within the broader urban fabric of Leicester, sharing boundaries with several other residential neighbourhoods that spread across this part of the city. The area is primarily made up of housing streets typical of Leicester's western suburbs, with local amenities serving the communities that live there.Getting AroundBraunstone is well connected to central Leicester by road, and the surrounding street network links it to the wider city with relative ease. Residents have access to local bus services running into the city centre, making it a practical location for those who commute or travel regularly into Leicester's commercial areas.Character and…

[osm_map lat="52.6152364" lon="-1.1172746" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Tucked into the south of Leicester, Clarendon Park sits within Castle Ward and the constituency of Leicester South. Welford Road borders it to the west, London Road to the east, Victoria Park to the north, and Avenue Road and Avenue Road Extension to the south. Two main shopping streets, Queens Road and Clarendon Park Road, intersect near the centre of the area, with Queens Road running north to south and Clarendon Park Road running east to west. Both are lined with independent cafés, vintage shops, and second-hand stores that give Clarendon Park a character distinct from Leicester's city centre.History and DevelopmentMuch of the land now covered by Clarendon Park was owned by the Cradock family of Knighton until the 1870s, when Edward Hartopp Cradock…

[osm_map lat="52.63176" lon="-1.0969333" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Crown Hills sits in the east of Leicester, a residential suburb that spreads across a quietly established part of the city. The area lies within easy reach of the city centre and is bordered by other eastern Leicester neighbourhoods. Local streets are largely made up of housing developed through the twentieth century, giving Crown Hills a settled, domestic character typical of inner-ring Leicester suburbs.Getting AroundCrown Hills is well connected to the wider city by road and local bus services running into central Leicester. The suburb is close enough to the city centre to be practical for daily commuters while still sitting far enough out to feel removed from the busier commercial areas. Crown Hills Avenue is one of the better-known local roads threading through…

[osm_map lat="52.6364423" lon="-1.164473" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] On the western edge of Leicester, Dane Hills covers a substantial area that takes in the smaller district of Western Park, whose western boundary runs up against the settlement of Glenfield. The name almost certainly traces back to the late ninth century, when a Danelaw encampment is believed to have occupied the site around 877 AD, leaving its mark on the local geography long after the Vikings had gone.Black Annis and Local LegendDane Hills carries one of Leicester's more unusual pieces of folklore. A cave within the area was historically known as Black Annis's Bower, said to be the lair of a witch or hag called Black Annis. The legend attached to the cave gave this corner of west Leicester a distinctly sinister reputation…

[osm_map lat="52.6215407" lon="-1.0722846" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting on the south-eastern edge of Leicester, Evington is an electoral ward within the Leicester district, in the ceremonial county of Leicestershire. The area takes in three distinct communities: the original historic village of Evington, and the mid-twentieth-century council estates of Rowlatts Hill and Goodwood. At the 2021 census, the ward had a population of 17,268. The village itself has been a designated conservation area since 1989, preserving the character of its older streets around Main Street and the Anglican church of St Denys.History and DevelopmentThe name Evington comes from the Old English for 'farm or settlement of Eafa/Aefa', and the earliest recorded spelling appears in 1259, when Walter de Evington leased around 100 acres of land here. After the Norman Conquest, the land…

[osm_map lat="52.591011" lon="-1.1454317" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting in the far south-west corner of Leicester, about five miles from the city centre, Eyres Monsell is one of the city's larger post-war housing estates. Despite being surrounded on several sides by areas that fall under Leicestershire County Council, Eyres Monsell is administered by Leicester City Council, making it the southernmost ward in the city. The Birmingham to Peterborough railway line marks its southern boundary, Saffron Road runs along its eastern edge, and Leicester Road defines its western limit. The historic village of Aylestone lies immediately to the north, with South Wigston to the east and the civil parish of Glen Parva to the south and west. Blaby is also adjacent to the ward. The Fosse Shopping Park in Enderby is within walking…

[osm_map lat="52.6574191" lon="-1.0691388" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting in the north-eastern corner of Leicester, Hamilton is a modern housing estate that takes its name from a deserted medieval village once belonging to the civil parish of Barkby Thorpe, just beyond the city boundary. It forms part of the Humberstone and Hamilton electoral ward, which also takes in Humberstone, Humberstone Garden City, and Netherhall.The Humber StoneOne of the area's most unusual features is the Humber Stone, a granite monolith of uncertain origin - possibly deposited during a glacial period - that lies in a field in Hamilton. The stone gives Humberstone its name, first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Humerstane', meaning 'Hunbeorht's stone'. Until 1750 it was fully exposed, but a farmer then cut it down and buried the…

[osm_map lat="52.6315614" lon="-1.1179394" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting on high ground to the southeast of Leicester city centre, Highfields is one of the elevated inner-city areas of Leicester, England. The Midland Main Line forms its western boundary, while London Road (the A6) runs along the south and East Park Road marks its eastern edge. To the north lies Spinney Hills, though the boundary between the two areas is not sharply defined, and Spinney Hills - which extends northwards to Humberstone Road - is frequently considered part of Highfields. The area falls within the Spinney Hills, Wycliffe, and Stoneygate wards of Leicester City Council.Conservation Area and Street CharacterA section of Highfields running between London Road, Evington Road, and St Peter's Road was designated the South Highfields Conservation Area in April 1981. It…

[osm_map lat="52.6463523" lon="-1.0799397" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Tucked into the north-eastern edge of Leicester, Humberstone is a suburb with roots stretching back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as 'Humerstane'. The name translates as 'Hunbeorht's stone', a reference to a granite monolith that still lies in a field in the neighbouring area of Hamilton. This large stone, of possible glacial origin, was estimated in 1878 to have a volume of around 200 cubic feet and weigh approximately 15 tonnes. It was said to align with a nearby stone, known as St John's Stone, to mark sunrise at midsummer or at Beltane. Partly buried by a farmer around 1750, partially re-exposed in 1878, and uncovered again in the 1980s, the stone is now fenced off near the Leicester…

[osm_map lat="52.6362384" lon="-1.198593" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting on the western edge of Leicester, Kirby Frith is a suburban area that takes its name from the old English and Old Norse words associated with woodland and open land - a reminder that this part of the city was once far more rural in character. The suburb sits within the broader urban spread of Leicester, bordered by residential streets that give way to the wider city beyond.Getting AroundKirby Frith is accessible from central Leicester by road, with the surrounding street network connecting it to other western suburbs. Like much of this part of the city, the area is largely residential in character, made up of housing streets typical of Leicester's outer neighbourhoods.Exploring the AreaThe interactive map of Kirby Frith gives a useful…

[osm_map lat="52.6096634" lon="-1.1277285" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting to the south of Leicester's city centre, Knighton Fields is a residential suburb that borders some of the city's more established southern neighbourhoods. The area takes its name from the historic fields that once stretched across this part of Leicestershire, and today it is characterised by rows of houses and quiet streets typical of mid-city suburban living. Knighton itself lies close by, and the proximity to Victoria Park and the wider Oadby corridor makes this part of Leicester a practical base for those who want access to green space without straying far from the urban core.Getting AroundKnighton Fields is well connected within Leicester's road network, with routes running north towards the city centre and south towards the outer suburbs. Regular bus services link…

[osm_map lat="52.6072376" lon="-1.1098891" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Lying a couple of miles south of Leicester city centre, Knighton is a residential suburb within the ceremonial county of Leicestershire. It sits between Clarendon Park to the north, Stoneygate to the east, Oadby and Wigston to the south, and the Saffron Lane estate to the west. Once a self-contained rural village, Knighton was gradually absorbed into Leicester during the Victorian period as demand for housing grew alongside industrial employment. Despite this expansion, the original village core survives and is now a designated conservation area, retaining historic buildings such as Oram Cottage and the Church of St Mary Magdalen.History and OriginsKnighton's recorded history stretches back to 1086, when it appeared in the Domesday Book under the spelling Cnihetone. At that time it was a…

[osm_map lat="52.6474425" lon="-1.1176655" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting to the east of Abbey and south of Belgrave, Latimer is an electoral ward in the city of Leicester, England. It covers the residential suburb of St Marks, which was developed following Leicester's slum clearance programmes in 1960. The ward is also bordered by Spinney Hills to the south and North Evington to the east.Population and CommunityLatimer had a recorded population of 11,583 with an average age of 35, matching the city-wide average. The ward has the highest concentration of Indian residents anywhere in Leicester, with 74% of its population identifying as Indian, compared to 25% across the city as a whole. Only 16% of Latimer residents are native British, making it one of the most distinctly South Asian communities in the East…

[osm_map lat="52.6683446" lon="-1.1394219" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Mowmacre Hill is a suburb in the northern part of Leicester, sitting within a residential stretch of the city that extends towards the outer edges of the urban area. The suburb is surrounded by other established Leicester neighbourhoods, with the wider north Leicester area characterised by housing estates and local amenities that developed substantially through the twentieth century.Character and SettingThe streets of Mowmacre Hill are primarily residential in nature, with houses forming the bulk of the built environment. The suburb connects to central Leicester via the road network that runs through north Leicester, making it accessible to the wider city. Neighbouring communities and populated places sit close by, giving the area a well-integrated position within Leicester's northern quarters.Getting AroundVisitors and residents travelling to Mowmacre…

[osm_map lat="52.6480984" lon="-1.0566992" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting within the city of Leicester, Nether Hall - also known as Netherhall - is a suburb on the eastern side of the city. Leicester's eastern suburbs form a broad residential belt, and Nether Hall is part of that wider pattern of housing and local streets that extends outward from the city centre. The area is surrounded by other Leicester neighbourhoods, giving it good connectivity to the city's road network and everyday amenities.Character and surroundingsNether Hall is primarily a residential suburb, characterised by housing streets typical of Leicester's outer districts. The alternative name Netherhall is used interchangeably with Nether Hall, and both forms appear in local usage. As part of Leicester, the suburb falls under the governance of Leicester City Council and shares in…

[osm_map lat="52.6459457" lon="-1.0900624" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting to the east of Leicester city centre, New Humberstone is a residential neighbourhood that forms part of the broader urban fabric of the city. It lies in close proximity to the older settlement of Humberstone, from which it takes its name, and is surrounded by the kind of low-density housing typical of Leicester's inner and middle-ring suburbs. Local streets connect to the wider road network, giving residents straightforward access into the city and to neighbouring communities across the east side of Leicester.The Surrounding AreaThe neighbourhood sits within a part of Leicester where residential streets meet local amenities and community facilities. Humberstone Park is nearby, offering open green space to residents in this part of the city. The area borders other established neighbourhoods, and…

[osm_map lat="52.6468137" lon="-1.1769817" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting on the western side of Leicester, New Parks is a residential suburb within the Leicester district, which falls under the ceremonial county of Leicestershire. The Western Park ward borders it to the south, Beaumont Leys to the north, and the Fosse ward to the east. The area is well served by local shops positioned alongside residential streets, along with leisure centre facilities.Community FacilitiesOne of the most notable additions to New Parks in recent years was the opening of the New Parks Centre Library on 16 March 2010. The £1.5 million facility was funded jointly by the Big Lottery Fund and Leicester City Council, and was officially opened by Councillor Andy Connelly alongside local residents Karen Berry and Sally Kibble. Education provision in the…

[osm_map lat="52.6400465" lon="-1.1570329" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Lying south of the former Leicester and Swannington Railway, Newfoundpool is a residential area in west Leicester, falling within Fosse Ward and the Leicester West parliamentary constituency. Fosse Road North runs through the area and connects it to the wider city, with the surrounding streets largely made up of Victorian terraced housing laid out in the late nineteenth century.From Spa to SuburbThe story of Newfoundpool begins around 1830, when a market gardener named Isaac Harrison purchased the land with plans to develop a spa. He intended to use a natural spring as the water source for a hydrotherapy and bathing establishment, but the venture failed within a few years. The building was later converted into a private residence called Newfoundpool House, occupied by successive…

[osm_map lat="52.6404528" lon="-1.0969686" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting in the eastern part of Leicester, North Evington is a suburb and electoral ward that grew out of the historic parish of Evington. Bordered by Belgrave to the west, Charnwood to the north, Evington and Humberstone & Hamilton to the east, and Spinney Hills to the south, it forms part of the wider Highfields area of the city, within the ceremonial county of Leicestershire.Origins and DevelopmentNorth Evington was planned and built as a purposeful suburb by architect Arthur Wakerley, beginning in the 1880s. The development was originally separate from the village of Evington itself, though the land between the two has long since been filled in. By the time the First World War began, the area was fully built out - rows of…

[osm_map lat="52.6483798" lon="-1.0992038" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting in the northern part of Leicester, Northfields is a suburban area made up of three residential estates - Tailby, Morton, and Northfields proper. To the west lies the ward of Belgrave, with Rushey Mead to the north-west on the far side of the Midland Main Line. Humberstone and Hamilton border the area to the east across Victoria Road East, while Coleman and North Evington sit to the south-east and south respectively. Just to the north, beyond Gipsy Lane, lies the Troon Industrial Area and Estate.The Origins of the NameThe name Northfields traces back to one of three open fields that once nearly encircled Leicester. This particular field was enclosed in 1764 and subsequently developed as residential land. The timing proved fortunate - the…

[osm_map lat="52.6647556" lon="-1.1049633" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting at the northern edge of Leicester, Rushey Mead borders the city limits where urban streets give way to the Leicestershire villages of Thurmaston and Birstall, both within the Borough of Charnwood. To the south and west lies Belgrave, while Humberstone and Hamilton and Northfields sit to the east and south-east, separated by the Midland Main Line. The ward takes in the whole of the Rushey Mead suburb along with parts of Belgrave and historical sections of Northfields and Thurmaston. At the 2011 census, the ward's population stood at 15,962.From Thurmaston Parish to City WardRushey Mead's administrative history stretches back to the 19th century, when the area formed part of the Thurmaston civil parish. In 1894 it was separated and gazetted as the Thurmaston…

[osm_map lat="52.6385926" lon="-1.1087713" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting to the north of Highfields and centred around Spinney Hill Park, Spinney Hills is an inner city area of Leicester, England. The railway line forms its western boundary, while Northfields lies to the north, North Evington to the east, and the main body of Highfields stretches away to the south. The area also functions as a ward of the City of Leicester, recording a population of 25,561 at the 2011 census.Spinney Hill ParkThe 34-acre (14 ha) park was laid out in 1885 on a gently sloping site, with the specific intention of giving the east side of a rapidly expanding Leicester access to open parkland. The town had opened Abbey Park to the north in 1882, converted Victoria Park from a racecourse in…

[osm_map lat="52.6417032" lon="-1.1240673" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting immediately to the northeast of Leicester city centre, St Matthew's is an inner-city area separated from the centre by the A594 dual-carriageway ring road. The area is bounded to the west by Belgrave Gate, which runs between the city centre and the district of Belgrave, to the north by Dysart Way, and to the east by the Humberstone Road (A47) towards Highfields. Locally, St Matthew's is known by several informal names, including 'Mashtown', 'Little Somalia', and 'Hell City'.History and HousingBefore redevelopment, the area consisted largely of small factories and slum housing, much of it back-to-back terraces. During the 1950s, this was cleared and replaced with council housing, and the majority of properties in St Matthew's remain local authority-owned today. The ring road that…

[osm_map lat="52.6605084" lon="-1.1455074" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Situated in the northern part of Leicester, Stocking Farm is a residential suburb that sits within the wider city. Like many of Leicester's outer suburbs, it developed as a planned housing area and today is made up predominantly of houses and streets typical of mid-twentieth century urban expansion. The surrounding area includes other Leicester neighbourhoods within easy reach, making it well connected to the broader city.Getting AroundStocking Farm's position within Leicester means residents have access to the city's road network and public transport links running into the centre. The suburb's street layout reflects its purpose as a settled community, with local roads feeding into the main routes heading south towards Leicester city centre.The Local AreaDay-to-day life in Stocking Farm revolves around its residential character.…

[osm_map lat="52.6196528" lon="-1.1038861" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] About two miles south-east of Leicester city centre, Stoneygate sits along the London Road corridor, a route that once carried horse-drawn carriages between Leicester and London and still connects the city with Market Harborough to the south. The suburb is primarily residential, characterised by broad streets lined with large Victorian houses, and its name traces back to the Old English for "stone road" - a reference supported by Ordnance Survey maps that show the former route of the Roman Gartree Road heading south-east from Leicester towards Little Stretton, Medbourne, Corby, and eventually Colchester.Conservation and ArchitectureLeicester City Council designated Stoneygate a conservation area in 1978, recognising the quality of its built environment. The Stoneygate Conservation Area - which also takes in properties in the neighbouring…

[osm_map lat="52.6403336" lon="-1.0523693" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting in the eastern part of Leicester, Thurnby Lodge occupies a corner of the city bounded roughly by the Uppingham Road to the south, the A563 outer ring road to the west, and Scraptoft Lane to the north. Despite sharing its name with the village of Thurnby, the estate lies just inside the city boundary and is not part of that settlement, which sits to the south-east. Neighbouring areas include Humberstone to the north and west, Scraptoft to the east, Evington to the south, and Goodwood also to the south.History and HousingThurnby Lodge was constructed from the early 1950s through to the 1960s as a council estate, built to house residents displaced by slum clearance programmes in central Leicester. Houses were built in brick…

[osm_map lat="52.6318249" lon="-1.1499907" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting just west of Leicester city centre, across the River Soar, the area known as Westcotes - or West End - occupies a compact patch of inner-city Leicester bounded by Braunstone to the south and Dane Hills to the west. It lies south of West Bridge and the old town gateway once known as West Gates. The three main roads running through the area are Braunstone Gate, Hinckley Road, and Narborough Road, all of which feed directly into the city centre. Its proximity to De Montfort University makes it a popular choice for students and young professionals, and the area has a well-established concentration of shops, bars, and restaurants.History Beneath the StreetsThe ground beneath West End has a long history. Two Roman roads once…

[osm_map lat="52.6255831" lon="-1.1531866" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Just west of Leicester city centre, across the River Soar and below the old town gateway of West Gates, lies Westcotes - also widely known as the West End. The area sits within Leicester City Council as an electoral ward, with Braunstone to the south and Dane Hills to the west. Three main roads run through it: Braunstone Gate, Hinckley Road, and Narborough Road. Its proximity to De Montfort University has made it a popular address for students and young professionals, who are drawn by the concentration of shops, bars, and restaurants along its main streets.History and DevelopmentWestcotes developed later than much of inner Leicester because the land remained in two private estates until the 1870s. This is reflected in its relatively lower density…

[osm_map lat="52.6321999" lon="-1.1673842" width="100%" height="480px" zoom="13"] Sitting in the West End of Leicester, Western Park is both the city's largest park and the name of the surrounding suburb. Purchased in 1897 for £30,000, the park covers 178 acres (0.72 km²) of meadows, mature woodland, and hedgerows, while also housing an unusually wide range of sporting facilities. The ward of Western Park recorded a population of 10,609 at the 2011 census.Sport and RecreationFew urban parks in the East Midlands pack in as much sporting provision as Western Park. The grounds include a BMX track, a skate ramp, two bowling greens, five football pitches, six cricket pitches each with changing facilities, and six tennis courts that are now open to the public. Those tennis courts were previously occupied by Westcotes Church Tennis…