Leicester
Leicester (/ˈlɛstər/ ⓘ LES-tər) is a city, unitary authority area, unparished area and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands. Its population was 368,600 in 2021, increased by 38,800 ( 11.8%) from around 329,800 in 2011. The greater Leicester urban area had a population of 559,017 in 2021, making it the 11th most populous in England, and the 13th most populous in the United Kingdom. In 2023, Leicester was named as the best place to live and work in the East Midlands.
Leicester
City of Leicester | |
|---|---|
Clockwise, from top: City Centre & Clock Tower; Leicester Cathedral; Curve Theatre; the Jewry Wall; and National Space Centre | |
|
Flag Coat of arms | |
Shown within Leicestershire | |
Leicester Location within the East Midlands Leicester Location within the United Kingdom Leicester Location within Europe | |
| Coordinates: 52°38′04″N 1°07′55″W | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Ceremonial county | Leicestershire |
| Founded | AD c. 47 as Ratae Corieltauvorum |
| City status restored | 1919 |
| Administrative headquarters | Leicester Town Hall (meeting place) and City Hall, Leicester (council offices) |
| Areas of the city (2011 census BUASD) | List
|
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary authority |
| • Body | Leicester City Council |
| • Leadership | Mayor and cabinet |
| • Executive | Labour Party |
| • Lord Mayor | George Cole |
| • City Mayor | Peter Soulsby (Lab) |
| Area | |
| • City and Unitary Area | 28.3 sq mi (73.3 km2) |
| • Urban | 87 sq mi (225 km2) |
| • Metro | 290 sq mi (750 km2) |
| Elevation | 205 ft (62.5 m) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • City and Unitary Area | 368,600 |
| • Density | 12,000/sq mi (4,500/km2) |
| • Urban | 508,916 |
| • Urban density | 5,900/sq mi (2,260/km2) |
| • Metro | 836,484 |
| • Metro density | 3,070/sq mi (1,185/km2) |
| • Ethnicity (2021) |
|
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
| Postcode areas | |
| Dialling codes | 0116 |
| ISO 3166-2 | GB-LCE |
| ONS code | 00FN (ONS) E06000016 (GSS) |
| OS grid reference | SK584044 |
| NUTS 3 | UKF21 |
| Primary airport | East Midlands Airport (Outside of Leicester) |
| Councillors | 54 |
| MPs | List of MPs |
| Website | leicester.gov.uk |
The city lies on the River Soar and is approximately 90 miles (140 km) north-northwest of London, 33 miles (53 km) east-northeast of Birmingham and 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Coventry. Nottingham and Derby lie around 21 miles to the north and northwest respectively, whilst Peterborough is located 37 miles (60 km) to the east. Leicester is close to the eastern end of the National Forest.
Leicester has a long history extending into ancient times, it was the site of the Roman town of Ratae Corieltauvorum, which was later captured by the Anglo-Saxons, and then by the Vikings who made it one of the Five Boroughs of the Danelaw. Leicester became an important town during the Middle Ages, and then an important industrial and commercial centre in the Victorian age, eventually gaining city status in 1919. Since the mid-20th century, immigration from countries of the British Commonwealth has seen Leicester become an ethnically diverse city, and one of the largest urban centres of the Midlands.
Leicester is at the intersection of two railway lines: the Midland Main Line and the Birmingham to London Stansted Airport line. It is also at the confluence of the M1/M69 motorways and the A6/A46 trunk routes. Leicester Cathedral is home to the tomb of King Richard III who was reburied in the cathedral in 2015 after being discovered nearby in the foundations of the lost Greyfriars chapel, more than 500 years after his death. In sporting terms, Leicester is the home to football club Leicester City and rugby club Leicester Tigers.