Leicester : book your hotel

Leicester is an exciting destination with lots of history and contemporary culture to discover, a great place to be whether you visit for business or pleasure.

Leicestershire is an East Midlands county with lots going on. As well as the attractions of Leicester city, it's well worth exploring the county as a whole when you visit. Whether you get to Leicester by car or train, exploring is easy, thanks to plenty of road and rail links connecting local towns, villages and rural areas.

Visit Belvoir Castle, a historic castle and stately home built after the Norman conquest of 1066. Enjoy traditional afternoon tea in opulent surroundings, stroll around the gardens and lakes on sunny days or take a tour and see the art and antique collections inside. The Engine Yard shopping village is a modern addition to Belvoir Castle, a unique retail center supporting independent and artisan craftspeople. Did we mention the four-acre adventure playground opening in summer 2022?

Bradgate Park is another exciting attraction in Leicestershire, an 850-acre public green space nestled among Charnwood Forest. It's the East Midlands' only medieval deer park! An area steeped in history with plenty for all ages to discover. See ancient oak trees, ruins and acres of almost untouched countryside. Bradgate Park is home to Old John Tower, one of Leicestershire's most famous landmarks at the highest point in the park. Why not walk to the peak for spectacular views of Leicestershire below?

Back to the city, there's plenty to see and do no matter your taste, from museums and galleries to historical landmarks and plenty of buzzing restaurants, pubs and bars. Sports fan? Be sure to catch a Leicester City FC game during your stay! Known for its local football team, beautiful historic cathedral and leading UK university, there are many things to see and do in Leicester. Fill your itinerary with unique experiences, explore the shopping and entertainment or dig into the city's history. Whatever way you spend your days, Leicester will leave a charming impression.

Whether you're visiting with little ones or an all-adult group, Leicester's National Space Center is fun for all ages. Explore six interactive galleries and the UK's most extensive planetarium at the award-winning Space Centre. Visitors can also see various permanent and temporary exhibitions at the centre. The 42-metre-high Rocket Tower is a local icon, home to real rockets, the Apollo Lunar Landar and pieces of rock from the moon! The semi-transparent tower was designed to house the National Space Center's most significant artifacts. The Space Center is also home to the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, where immersive shows are narrated by famous voices. Andy Serkis (famously Gollum from The Lord of The Rings ) tells the story in We Are Stars . Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley from Harry Potter ) voices We Are Aliens, and David Tennant ( Doctor Who) narrates We Are Astronomers .

The Leicester Museum and Art Gallery were one of the first museums in the UK, opened in 1849. Visitors today can expect diverse displays of science, history and art objects when exploring this free museum. Galleries include Ancient Egypt, Dinosaurs, Wild Space, Victorian Art, Arts & Crafts, Picasso Ceramics, The Attenborough Collection and Leicester's internationally-renowned German Expressionism collection – plenty to pack into an afternoon!

Leicester Guildhall is the oldest building still in use in Leicester today. The timber-framed gem started life as a meeting place and banquet hall in 1390, transforming throughout the next six centuries. In the 16th century, the Guildhall was a public performance space where William Shakespeare is rumoured to have acted. In 1632 it became the city library, making it the third-oldest in the country, then the city's town hall, courtroom, police station and jail. Leicester Guildhall acted as the town hall until the new building was commissioned in 1876. Today, Leicester Guildhall serves its old performative purpose, attracting live music and comedy shows, plus exhibitions from around the UK. It's also home to galleries telling stories of medieval Leicester, where visitors can step back in time and learn about the past.

Leicester City Football Club is the city's professional club, playing home matches at the King Power Stadium just south of the city centre. The stadium has been Leicester City's home since 2002, an excellent place to catch a Premier League game if you time your trip to Leicester right. If you can't make it to a game, why not enjoy a stadium tour instead? Head behind the scenes and walk in the footsteps of your Premier League heroes. Stadium tours take guests through the players' and directors' lounges, the players' entrance and the home and away changing rooms.

There are many great places to go shopping in Leicester, including several indoor shopping centres and streets studded with favourite brands and independents. Highcross Leicester is a sleek indoor shopping centre home to over 80 fashion and lifestyle brands. It's right in the middle of Leicester, so you won't need to worry about getting there and back if you're staying in the city's historic centre. Haymarket Shopping Centre is another favourite retail destination in Leicester. Find over 60 high street brands here, plus restaurants and cafés to keep you fuelled along the way. St Martin's Square is also worth visiting; this historic shopping square is lined with independent retailers and hosts regular street performances and events. At the same time, Silver Arcade is a Grade II-listed building in the city centre, with the ground floor playing host to unique independent retailers.