Serviced Apartments in Leicestershire

Discover the best activities and attractions Leicestershire has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park is a sprawling ancient deer park and nature reserve near Groby, famed for its dramatic rocky outcrops, free-roaming deer and the atmospheric ruins of Bradgate House (linked to the childhood of Lady Jane Grey). It’s popular for walking, wildlife watching and family days out, drawing visitors from across the region who support nearby cafes, pubs and accommodation. The park’s conservation work and volunteer programmes also provide local employment and educational opportunities, helping preserve important habitats and boost rural tourism in Leicestershire.

National Space Centre
The National Space Centre in Leicester is an interactive science attraction with striking architecture (including a tall rocket tower), immersive planetarium shows and hands-on exhibits about space exploration and astronomy. It’s a major draw for school groups, families and science tourists, raising awareness of STEM subjects and inspiring young people toward science and engineering careers. Economically, it generates jobs in education, hospitality and events, and brings visitors who spend in the city’s shops, hotels and restaurants.

King Richard III Visitor Centre
This purpose-built centre tells the story of the discovery, excavation and scientific identification of King Richard III’s remains, found beneath a Leicester car park in 2012, and places that story within the wider context of medieval Leicester. Its global media profile turned the city into an international archaeological and heritage destination, increasing cultural tourism and supporting local guides, museums and conservation specialists. The centre also strengthens Leicester’s identity as a place of living history and archaeology-led regeneration.

Highcross and Leicester Market
Highcross is the city’s main shopping centre offering major high-street and designer brands, a cinema and eateries, while the adjacent Leicester Market—one of the largest covered markets in Europe—hosts independent traders selling fresh produce, textiles and multicultural foods. Together they form a retail and culinary hub that attracts shoppers from across the Midlands, supporting hundreds of retail jobs and small businesses. The mix of big-name stores and vibrant market stalls highlights Leicester’s multicultural food scene and provides a valuable platform for local entrepreneurs.

Diwali on the Golden Mile (Belgrave Road)
Leicester’s Diwali celebrations, centered on the Golden Mile in Belgrave Road, are among the largest Diwali events outside India, featuring spectacular lights, street parades, live music, cultural performances and huge community gatherings. The festival showcases Leicester’s rich South Asian heritage, promotes community cohesion and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, providing a major boost to local retail, hospitality and cultural sectors. Its economic and social impact is significant—supporting local traders, raising the city’s cultural profile and reinforcing Leicester’s identity as a diverse, festival-friendly city.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Leicestershire, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail (East Midlands Railway & CrossCountry) - Frequent mainline services from Leicester, Loughborough, Market Harborough and other county stations on the Midland Main Line and regional routes, providing direct links to Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Birmingham, and regular services to London St Pancras and other long‑distance destinations.
- Local and regional buses (Arriva Midlands, Centrebus and other operators) - Extensive urban and interurban networks serving Leicester city and towns across the county, plus rural services; includes city routes, express corridors and integrated local timetables.
- National and regional coach services (National Express and others) - Long‑distance coach connections to major UK cities and airports, with stops in and around Leicester and links to East Midlands Airport.
- East Midlands Airport - Major regional airport located in North West Leicestershire offering domestic, European and seasonal international flights and multi‑modal ground access (road, coach and local bus links).
- Park & Ride and park-and-choose services - Out‑of‑town car parks served by frequent buses to the city centre, helping reduce congestion on approaches to Leicester.
- Community transport and on‑demand services - Volunteer and council‑run schemes, community minibuses and demand‑responsive services that support rural accessibility and trips for older or less mobile residents.

Major Highways
- M1 - Principal north–south motorway running along the county’s western edge, linking Leicestershire to London, the East Midlands and Yorkshire.
- M69 - Short motorway linking Leicester to Coventry and providing a direct connection toward the M6 and the West Midlands.
- M6 - Major trans‑regional motorway accessible via connecting routes (M69/M42), providing wider west/northwest links to Birmingham and the North West.
- A46 - Important trunk route forming part of Leicester’s orbital and east–west connections, linking the county to Newark, the Midlands and southwards routes.
- A6 - Historic north–south arterial road running through key towns such as Loughborough and connecting toward Derby/Nottingham corridors.
- A42 - Strategic dual carriageway link (to the west/northwest of the county) connecting the M1 corridor with the M42 and improving cross‑region freight and passenger movements.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle network and lanes - A mix of on‑road cycle lanes, segregated cycle tracks, shared‑use paths and traffic‑calmed streets in Leicester and larger towns, supplemented by greenway routes such as river/towpath trails (River Soar), Sustrans and local off‑road routes; active travel funding and city/county cycle strategies have expanded provision and improved signage, parking and connectivity in recent years.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Rail service and station investment - Ongoing operator investment and timetable enhancements on the Midland Main Line and regional routes, plus station accessibility and passenger facility upgrades aimed at boosting capacity and reliability.
- Bus priority and fleet decarbonisation programmes - Local authorities and operators implementing bus lanes, priority measures and trials/rollout of low‑emission or electric buses to improve journey times and reduce emissions.
- Active travel and cycling schemes - Government and local funding driving new cycle routes, secure bike parking, improved pedestrian crossings and schemes to make short trips safer and more attractive by bike or foot.
- Road corridor and junction upgrades - Targeted junction improvements, resurfacing and safety schemes on busy A‑roads and approaches to Leicester to reduce congestion and collision hotspots.
- East Midlands Gateway and freight connectivity - New logistics and rail‑freight interchange development near East Midlands Airport improving freight distribution efficiency and strengthening road‑rail freight links in the region.
- Electric vehicle infrastructure rollout - Expansion of public rapid chargers, on‑street residential charging pilots and workplace charge support across towns and near transport hubs to support EV uptake and longer‑distance EV travel.