Leicester is a unique city and a wonderful place to visit, with a superb range of visitor attractions, shopping, bars and restaurants. It's a city that combines the finest English traditions with multi-cultural activities and the cosmopolitan buzz of city life.
Historic places to visit in Leicester
Leicester is well known as an important Roman settlement, and evidence of this can be seen at the Jewry Wall Museum in the city. Take a guided walk around Castle Park, Leicester's old town and see the medieval Guildhall and the Great Hall of Leicester Castle. Further afield visit the Battle of Bosworth Visitor Centre, and find out all about the battle that claimed the life of King Richard III. At Harborough Museum you can see the treasure that has been found in Hallaton which includes a Roman decorated helmet that has been restored at the British Museum.
The county boasts many splendid stately homes including the 17th century Stanford Hall, the majestic Belvoir Castle and the unique Calke Abbey.
The University
The University of Leicester is a research-led university. It has scientific research groups in the areas of astrophysics, biochemistry and genetics. The techniques used in Genetic fingerprinting were invented and developed at Leicester in 1985 by Sir Alec Jeffreys.
Literary connections include Kingsley Amis, who is believed to have partially based his novel lucky Jim on Leicester University. Amis is alleged to have been aspired to write the book when visiting his friend Phillip Larkin who was working at the university as a librarian at the time. Malcolm Bradbury also used Leicester as a basis for his satire on university life, Eating People Is Wrong.
Famous Alumni
Leicester's alumni include author Sir Malcolm Bradbury, actor and director Justin Chadwick, writer, broadcaster, comedian Pete McCarthy, MP Norman Lamb, England rugby union international Tony Underwood, broadcaster and author Sue Cook, philosopher William Hare.
