Leicester

Leicester combines England's most significant archaeological discovery with space exploration and surprisingly good curry, all within walking distance of a compact city centre. The 2012 discovery of King Richard III's remains under a car park put this Midlands city on the map. Today Leicester offers excellent South Asian food, free museums, and the interactive National Space Centre.

Planning your trip? See our Leicester travel guide, best things to do in Leicester, one-day Leicester itinerary, weekend Leicester itinerary.

Start at the King Richard III Visitor Centre on St Martins to understand the 2012 archaeological discovery that put Leicester on the map. From there, the cathedral where the king is buried is a 2-minute walk. The compact city centre means you can see the main Roman and medieval sites on foot within a morning.

The best time to visit Leicester is May to September. For mild weather and outdoor festivals, though most attractions are indoor.

Avoid: January and February bring cold rain and limited daylight hours.

Annual Events

• Masala fish - Spiced fish curry Leicester specialty Find it at: Chaat House on Belgrave Road. (£8-12)
• Pork pie - Leicester's rival to Melton Mowbray version Find it at: Walker & Son butchers. (£3-5)
• Gujarati thali - Vegetarian feast with curries and breads Find it at: Sharmilee on Belgrave Road. (£12-18)
• Leicester cheese - Crumbly local cheese aged 9-18 months Find it at: Leicester Market. (£6-8 per wedge)
• Samosas - Triangular pastries with potato or meat filling Find it at: Belgrave Road street vendors. (£1-2 each)

• Planning more than 2-3 days when Leicester's main sights take 1.5 days
• Eating Indian food in city centre instead of authentic Belgrave Road
• Missing the free museums which are Leicester's best cultural attractions
• Visiting on Mondays when many attractions close

• Melton Mowbray (27km, 45 minutes) - Home of pork pies and Stilton cheese. Best for: Food lovers
• Nottingham (45km, 1 hour) - Robin Hood sites and cave tours. Best for: History enthusiasts
• Warwick (60km, 1.5 hours) - Medieval castle and town. Best for: Castle fans

Leicester's compact centre sits between the railway station to the south and the Cultural Quarter to the north. The Golden Mile stretches east along Belgrave Road. Most attractions cluster within a 10-minute walk of Clock Tower, the city's heart.

Most guides oversell Leicester as a major tourist destination when it works better as a 2-day stop. The Richard III story is fascinating but the actual sites take just half a day. Many also ignore that Belgrave Road's South Asian restaurants outclass anything in the city centre.