Luggage storage Leicester

About Leicester

If you’re going to visit Leicester, the first thing you need to know is how to pronounce it. It’s pronounced Lester, like the person’s name. Situated in the East Midlands approximately 100 miles north of London, it makes a great place to stop on a journey from the capital to more northerly cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, or Edinburgh.

The population of around 350,000 people, Leicester is the biggest city in the East Midlands and the 13th biggest in the UK as a whole. Leicester was once the site of a Roman fortification, and an Iron Age village before that, making it one of the oldest towns in the UK.

In the medieval period, the Earls of Leicester became increasingly powerful, with King Henry IV being descended from the family. With the coming of the industrial age, Leicester grew in importance thanks to the many coal mines in the area. Factories and mills sprang up, and the population of the town soared along with many other cities in the Midlands. Following the First World War, Leicester was considered the 2nd richest city in Europe thanks to its thriving industries.

The 2nd half of the 20th century saw many of Leicester's industries decline as they moved overseas to find cheaper labor costs. However, the central location of the town and its excellent transportation links meant Leicester was able to reinvent itself as a distribution center. Also, Leicester received many immigrants from around the world during the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It is now one of Britain's most multicultural cities, with an especially high Indian and Asian population.

Things to do in Leicester

Although Leicester doesn’t get nearly the amount of visitors some other British cities do, that’s not because of a lack of attractions. In fact, Leicester has some great things to do, especially for a town its size. Whatever you like to do on vacation, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by all that Leicester has to offer.

• Travel the galaxy without leaving Leicester at the National Space Center. This unique attraction is home to the UK's largest planetarium and is also a museum of objects related to space travel and exploration. Interactive exhibits help kids and adults alike get a better understanding of the science behind space travel and what the future may hold for this exciting field of knowledge.
• Peer into Leicester's distant past at the Jewry Wall Museum. The Jewry Wall itself is part of the ruins of Leicester's old Roman bathhouse, is one of the most substantial pieces of Roman construction still standing in the UK. The museum holds artifacts from the Iron Age, Roman Leicester, and the medieval period, and explains the origins of the city and its important place in early British history.
• Visit the final resting place of one of England’s most notorious kings at Leicester Cathedral. Home to the tomb of Richard the 3rd, this grand church dates back to 1086 and has been the spiritual heart of the city for a thousand years.
• Learn more about the last English king to die in battle at the Richard the 3rd Visitor Center. This much-maligned monarch died in battle near Leicester in 1485. His body was lost until 2015, when it was discovered underneath a car park in Leicester. DNA testing revealed the king's identity, and he was buried in the cathedral in the first royal funeral since 1972.

Transit options in Leicester

• Although Leicester doesn't have an airport of its own, it is close to East Midlands Airport, which offers flights to many European destinations. It is also close to Birmingham International Airport, a larger airport that flies to destinations around the world. Both airports can be reached from Leicester by train or bus.
• Leicester’s main train station lies just to the east of the city center. Trains can be boarded here destinations throughout the UK and beyond.
• Leicester is served by a number of different bus companies offering everything from city routes to long-distance travel. The Haymarket bus station is the main terminus in the city where most bus routes end up.

Luggage storage in Leicester

As a smaller city, many of Leicester's top attractions are quite close to each other. You can easily spend a day wandering the city center and seeing much of what makes Leicester worth visiting. The best way to do that is to drop off any heavy bags you may have at a Bounce luggage storage in Leicester. That way, you'll be able to travel light as you explore this underrated town, knowing that your belongings will be safely looked after until you return to pick them up.

Activities and attractions near Leicester

• Leicester City Football Club: Experience the excitement of one of the world's greatest sporting leagues, soccer's English Premier League, by catching a home game of Leicester City football club. After long years playing in the lower leagues, Leicester City had the unlikeliest successful Premier League campaign in 2016, beating 5000-1 odds in the process. The club remains one of the league's best teams, and Leicester fans are known for their unrivaled passion. If you can get tickets for a home game, it's an experience not to be missed.
• National Forest: See the wilder side of England just outside Leicester at the National Forest. This forest was created just 25 years ago to reclaim the industrial landscape of the Midlands and return it to a more natural state. Incorporating existing remnants of more ancient forests, the National Forest is a great place for hiking and picnicking that feels a long way from the nearby city. Make sure to leave heavy bags at a luggage storage service in Leicester before heading to the forest for your trip.
• Ashby de la Zouch: Visit atmospheric castle ruins at Ashby de la Zouch. Just 30 minutes outside Leicester, this castle dates back to 1473. Intentionally damaged to prevent it from being used for rebellion in 1648, enough of the castle remains to offer a perfect place for photos. Made famous by the novel Ivanhoe, the castle occupies a two-acre park that makes a great place to stretch your legs.