Leicester Staycation Guide: Where to Stay, What to Do and Where to Eat

Leicester is one of England's oldest cities, with Roman remains, a medieval cathedral and the story of King Richard III, whose remains were found under a city car park and reburied in the cathedral. It is also one of the most diverse cities in the country, with a food scene to match, and open countryside is only a short drive away at Bradgate Park. It makes a good-value, less crowded alternative to the better-known historic cities.

Why Leicester works for a staycation

Leicester is central, easy to reach by rail and road, and the city centre is compact enough to walk. Two nights covers the Richard III story, the cathedral quarter and a day out in the countryside. Add a third to explore nearby cities such as Nottingham or Warwick. It works well for families too; see our family staycations guide for more ideas.

Where to stay in Leicester

City centre

Belmont Hotel is a 74-room hotel on De Montfort Square, known for afternoon tea, with free parking. Novotel Leicester is close to Highcross and the cathedral, rated 4.5, and voco Leicester is on Welford Road within walking distance of bars and restaurants. Holiday Inn Leicester on St Nicholas Circle welcomes dogs.

Pubs and country houses

Winstanley House is a country-house hotel on Hinckley Road, rated 4.5 from over 1,100 Google reviews. The Star Inn 1744 is a pub with rooms on The Green, and Badgers Mount Hotel is a small 19-room hotel with its own restaurant. See the full list on the Leicester hotels page.

Things to do in Leicester

The King Richard III Visitor Centre is the best place to start. It tells the story of the king's life, his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 and the rediscovery of his grave, which you can view on site. Leicester Cathedral, where he was reburied in 2015, is just across the road.

The city has several large parks. Abbey Park has river walks and flower displays laid out around the ruins of an Augustinian abbey, and Victoria Park is known for its war memorial arch.

Just outside the city, Bradgate Park is the highlight. It covers 830 acres of rocky outcrops, woodland and open ground with herds of deer, and includes the ruins of Bradgate House, traditionally known as the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey. It is rated 4.8 from over 12,000 Google reviews. Nearby, Stoneywell is an Arts and Crafts cottage with its original furniture, shown by guided tour.

For families, Windmill Farm Park has animals and outdoor play, and Treetop Golf Leicester offers indoor jungle-themed crazy golf at Highcross. The National Space Centre is another popular family day out. More ideas are on the Leicester attractions page.

Where to eat

Leicester is known for South Asian food, particularly around Belgrave Road, often called the Golden Mile. In the centre, Shrimp and Co is a seafood restaurant rated 4.8 from over 4,500 Google reviews, and Konak serves Turkish grills. Tamatanga and Pho are good for a relaxed meal. For an evening show, Curve theatre stages home-produced and touring productions. See the Leicester restaurants page for more.

A two-day plan

Day one

Spend the morning at the King Richard III Visitor Centre and the cathedral, then explore the old town lanes. After lunch, walk through Abbey Park and finish with dinner on the Golden Mile or a show at Curve.

Day two

Drive out to Bradgate Park for a morning walk among the deer, then visit Stoneywell. With children, spend the afternoon at Windmill Farm Park instead.

Day trips from Leicester

Nottingham has its castle and caves, and Loughborough is a short trip north. To the west, Warwick has one of England's best-known medieval castles, and Stratford-upon-Avon is Shakespeare's birthplace. Coventry and Birmingham offer museums, galleries and shopping.

Camping near Leicester

Mallory Meadows has glamping cabins with self-catering kitchens near Leicester. Towards Rutland, Greendale Farm Caravan and Camping near Oakham has a pool and accepts dogs, and Rutland Rural Retreats has dog-friendly glamping pods. Browse camping near Leicester or cottages in Leicester for more.

Practical tips

The city centre is walkable, and the station is a short walk from the cathedral quarter. You will need a car or bus for Bradgate Park and Stoneywell. Leicester works well as a rail-based break; see our guides to staycations without a car and UK city breaks without flying.