Leicester
Things to do in Leicester, Leicestershire
Photo © Phil Hargreaves, Google Maps
Leicester sits low in a shallow river valley, its city centre built up along flat, easily walkable streets that give way surprisingly quickly to green space. You don't have to travel far to trade pavements for open ground, and that contrast between built-up city and rolling Leicestershire countryside is a big part of what shapes a visit here. To the north-west, Bradgate Park breaks the pattern properly, with rocky outcrops and ancient parkland that feel a world away from the shopping streets and student quarters closer in.
There's plenty to fill the days beyond the park itself. Families gravitate towards places like Petite Street Play Village, Goldhill Adventure Playground, and Windmill Farm Park, while Pumpkin Picking at Redhouse Farm gives a proper taste of the farmland that rings the city. Those after something more active can try Shooters Range Leicester or Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, and the Leicester Mystery Treasure Trail is a good way to see the city centre itself with a bit of purpose.
Between the flat, easy-to-navigate centre and the higher, rockier ground out at Bradgate, Leicester offers a good base for exploring both city life and the Leicestershire countryside on its doorstep.
Where to stay in Leicester(49)
All hotels in Leicester →About staying in Leicester
Most visitors base themselves in the city itself, where a wide spread of hotels and guest houses covers every budget, from straightforward options like Aaron Lodge Guest House and Abinger Guest House to the more polished Belmont Hotel and Aparthotel Adagio Leicester. Out towards Oadby and Blaby, places like Best Western Leicester Oadby and Blaby Westfield House Hotel suit anyone wanting a quieter edge to the city with easy access back in. For something different, Tetuan House offers self-catering, and if you'd rather be under canvas, Mallory Meadows, Dads Cave Camping, and Stoughton Grange all put you closer to the surrounding countryside than a city-centre stay would.
Abinger Guest House
175 Hinckley Road, Leicester
Badgers Mount Hotel
6 Station Road, Leicester
Bell Gate House
156 Belgrave Gate, Leicester
Best Western Leicester Oadby
Glen Rise, Leicester
Campbells Guest House
17-19 Westleigh Road, Leicester
Castle Hotel by Chef & Brewer Collection
Main Street, Leicester
Castle Park Hotel
12 Millstone Lane, Leicester
Comfort Guest House
20 Saxby Street, Leicester
Things to Do in Leicester(41)
All attractions in Leicester →
Where to Eat in Leicester(669)
All restaurants in Leicester →About eating out in Leicester
Eating out is one of Leicester's real strengths, and the sheer number of restaurants across the city reflects how many different communities call it home. Peri Peri and piri piri spots such as Pepe's Piri Piri and Peri Peri Flames sit alongside cafes like Brew And Buns Cafe, Brown's Cafe And Bistro, and Bru Coffee, while Norayn and Ninety Six Degrees add further variety to a food scene that ranges well beyond the obvious.
Attractions Near Leicester
All attractions in Leicester →Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Leicester.
3 mi
Parklands Leisure Centre
Oadby · ⭐ 3.7
3 mi
Beanies Soft Play & Cafe
Anstey · ⭐ 4.3
4 mi
Wacky Warehouse - Two Steeples
Wigston · ⭐ 4.2
6 mi
Wistow Maze
Wistow · ⭐ 4.6
7 mi
Tropical Birdland
Desford · ⭐ 4.7
8 mi
Witham Villa Riding Centre
Broughton Astley · ⭐ 4.5
8 mi
Charnwood Forest Leicestershire
Loughborough · ⭐ 4.1
8 mi
Charnwood Museum
Loughborough · ⭐ 4.1
Camping in Leicester(3)
All campsites in Leicester →Stoughton Grange
Cossiwild Camping
⭐ 4.9 · from £27/night
Purple Badger Camping and Fishing Lakes
⭐ 4.7 · from £25/night
Charnwood Acres Caravan Park
⭐ 4.1
Fox’s Furrow
⭐ 4.8 · from £25/night
Broome Island
⭐ 4.8
Meadow Farm Marina And Caravan Park
⭐ 4.5
Coplow Caravans Certificated Location
⭐ 4.9 · from £15/night
Self-Catering Cottages in Leicester(1)
All cottages in Leicester →Tetuan House
6 bed · sleeps 10 · from £1,476
The Bradgate Escape
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £507
Pear Tree Cottage
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £777
The Coach House
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £523
Nibelheim
6 bed · sleeps 11 · from £1,476
Stop in the Sticks
2 cottages · from £503
Coplow Cabins
2 cottages · from £403
Hilltop Apartment 9
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £283
Common questions about Leicester
How many campsites are there in Leicester?
We list 3 campsites in and around Leicester, of which 1 take tents and 2 offer glamping.
How many holiday cottages are there in Leicester?
We list 1 self-catering cottages in and around Leicester.
Can I take a dog to a holiday cottage in Leicester?
Yes — 1 of the 1 Leicester cottages we list allow pets.
Are there large holiday cottages in Leicester for groups?
Yes — the largest cottage we list in Leicester sleeps 10.
Where can I stay in Leicester?
We list 49 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Leicester.
What is there to do in Leicester?
We list 41 attractions and things to do in and around Leicester.
Where can I eat in Leicester?
We list 669 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Leicester.
Staycation ideas for Leicester
Leicester Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat
A practical Leicester staycation guide: where to stay, the King Richard III Visitor Centre, Bradgate Park and the city's parks, where to eat, a two-day plan and day trips across the Midlands.
Nottingham Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat
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Rainy Day Staycations: Best UK Breaks for Bad Weather
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