Getting Around Leicester: A Visitor's Guide
Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands and a convenient base for exploring the region. It sits at the intersection of two railway lines and at the confluence of the M1 and M69 motorways, which makes it well connected both to the rest of the UK and to its own surrounding towns. For most visitors, the city centre itself is compact enough to explore on foot, with buses, trains and taxis filling in the gaps.
Walking
The simplest way to see Leicester is on foot. Most of the city's sights are within walking distance of one another, so a visitor based centrally can cover the main attractions without needing any transport at all. This makes walking the default option for daytime sightseeing, with other modes reserved for reaching the station, the airport, or places further out.
Rail
Leicester's railway station sits on London Road, just southeast of the city centre and within easy reach on foot. It has ticket offices and machines, toilets and a cafe, and step-free access to all platforms.
The city lies at the crossing point of two lines. The Midland Main Line links Leicester with London St Pancras to the south and continues north to Derby, Chesterfield and Sheffield. A slower alternative route from St Pancras also serves Leicester via Luton Airport, Kettering and Market Harborough, continuing to East Midlands Parkway and Nottingham. From the west, trains from Birmingham New Street connect via Nuneaton and Hinckley. There is also a direct service from Stansted Airport, which runs via Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough, Stamford, Oakham and Melton Mowbray.
For a visitor, the practical upshot is that Leicester can be reached directly from London, Birmingham and Stansted Airport without changing trains, and that the station is close enough to the centre that you can walk to your accommodation on arrival.
Buses and Coaches
Leicester's bus station is St Margaret's, on the north side of the city centre on Gravel Street. As the county hub, the city draws bus services from towns across Leicestershire and beyond, so it is a useful arrival point if you are coming from elsewhere in the region.
Long-distance coaches also serve the city. National Express runs from London Victoria, with some services continuing to Loughborough and Derby, and a longer route connects Glasgow with Birmingham via Edinburgh, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Nottingham. Flixbus competes on the London route. Regional bus links include services from Coventry, Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray, Nuneaton and Loughborough, as well as from smaller towns such as East Goscote, Kibworth, Lutterworth, Narborough, Ratby, South Wigston, Swadlincote and Thurmaston.
Within the city, First Bus Leicester operates a number of city routes, while Arriva and Centrebus run services further out. An important practical point for visitors: most tickets are not interchangeable between these companies, so if you plan to switch operators you may need to buy separate tickets. A day ticket covering all buses is available, and can be bought on the bus itself.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
A dozen taxi firms operate in the city centre, so hailing a cab or booking one by phone is straightforward. This is a useful option for late evenings, for carrying luggage, or for journeys that do not line up neatly with bus routes.
Cycling and Two Wheels
Cycling in Leicester is mostly on-road rather than on dedicated paths. Two signed Sustrans routes pass through the area: Route 6 crosses the city north–south, and Route 63 heads northwest toward Charnwood Forest. If you are cycling into the centre, a secure bike park operates daily next to the Town Hall on Horsefair Street. For those on motorbikes, free motorcycle parking is available on Abbey Street and behind the Town Hall.
Park & Ride
Drivers visiting the city can use Park & Ride services, which run Monday to Saturday. They are located west of the city at Meynells Gorse off the A47, north at Birstall on the A6, and south at Enderby by the M1. These are a sensible way to avoid central parking if you are arriving by car.
Getting In from the Airport
Leicester does not have its own airport, so visitors fly into one of the surrounding airports and continue by train or bus.
- Birmingham Airport (BHX) is usually the best choice because of its wide range of global flights. From the airport, take the train to Birmingham New Street and change there for Leicester.
- East Midlands Airport (EMA) is slightly closer to Leicester, though it mainly handles flights from western Europe. A bus runs from the airport to Leicester.
- London airports generally require travelling via central London first, but from Stansted or Luton you can take a direct train instead. Stansted in particular has a direct rail service to Leicester.
Whichever airport you choose, the pattern is the same: either a direct train or bus to Leicester, or a connection through a major hub such as Birmingham New Street or central London.