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14/10/19
Local insights

Everything you need to know about living in Leicester

You might not associate green space with a major city in the East Midlands.

But Leicester’s prestigious title as the UK’s first European Sustainable City means buyers in the city get exactly that – not to mention great homes and superb access to pretty much the entire country.

Living in Leicester

You can’t get more central than Leicester.

Right in the middle of England, the city provides buyers with superb commuting options east, west, north and south.

But while Leicester is a hotspot for commuters, buyers are also drawn in by attractive property prices, great schools, high employment and some superb higher education institutes.

Let’s go into more detail about this amazing city…

Houses for sale in Leicester

Leicester’s affordable property prices make it an attractive option for a huge range of buyers, investors and renters.

With an average property price of £216,845*, Leicester comes in well below the UK national average of £229,431.

Period property lovers can potentially pick up a mid-terrace Victorian home for less than £200,000*, depending on size, while a host of modern, contemporary apartments and flats can be picked up for around £150,000*.

Many Leicester city centre buildings have been converted into residential homes, with industrial properties and offices now popular loft-style flats for sale.

Further afield, suburbs like Little Stretton, Evington, Aylestone and Knighton Fields offer buyers a variety of modern and period houses, as well as some flats.

Renting in Leicester

Renters in Leicester are also well looked after with a wide variety of properties available for young professionals, students and families.

A one or two-bedroom city centre flat will set you back between £570 and £840**, while larger family homes are available for £809 (three bedrooms) and £1,116** (four bedrooms) on average.

Average monthly rent: £847**

Leicester transport links

Whether you’re a train traveller, or prefer the roads, Leicester’s location in the centre of the country makes it a great choice for commuters.

Train services from Leicester to Sheffield (60 mins), Nottingham (30 mins) and Birmingham (50 mins) run regularly.

Services to London St Pancras, meanwhile, also take just under an hour – making a daily London commute a real possibility for many buyers.

On the roads, the M1 motorway connects Leicester with London to the south and Sheffield and Leeds in the north. The M1 also links well with the M40 to the West Midlands and the M6 to the north west.

Schools in Leicester

As well as two superb universities in De Montfort and the University of Leicester, the city also boasts 13 primary schools and six secondaries rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Among the best are:

  • Whitehall Primary School
  • Brocks Hill Primary School
  • Ash Field Academy
  • Babington Academy
  • Charnwood Primary School
  • Highfields Primary School
  • Parks Primary School

Shopping in Leicester

Leicester’s main shopping centre is Highcross, which houses more than 100 shops and features brands like:

  • AllSaints
  • Apple
  • Boss
  • Clarins
  • Jack & Jones
  • JD Sports
  • John Lewis
  • Lacoste
  • Swarovski

Highcross also features a 12-screen cinema and dozens of restaurants and cafes.

The Haymarket shopping centre is also nearby, alongside Leicester’s city centre shops and coffee houses.

Eating out in Leicester

If you love a Sunday roast, head north west to Reece’s on Leicester Road in nearby Groby.

As well as a traditional roast that tastes “like your nan cooked it” according to a review on Trip Advisor, Reece’s also do a popular cooked breakfast.

If you like your dinners with a little spice, try Lilu Cuisine on Highcross Street, which offers a unique and contemporary Indian dining experience in a superb setting.

For a post dinner drink, meanwhile, 33 Cank Street is ideal, offering an array of cocktails and music in a classy environment.

Things to do in Leicester

Being surrounded by sport sort of comes with the territory in Leicester, given the city’s recent successes.

And those successes didn’t come any better than Leicester City’s 5000-1 Premier League title win in 2016, so get along to the King Power Stadium to take in a game if you can.

For motorsport fans, Leicester Lions speedway club rides in the city, while rugby lovers can take in Premiership action at Leicester Tigers.

The city also plays host to several festivals throughout the year, including the Leicester Caribbean Carnival and the Summer Food & Drink Festival.

Things to do with the kids

Stop number one to keep the children entertained is Leicester’s National Space Centre.

With six galleries and a domed planetarium, the attraction is always a winner for the little ones.

In the summer months, take a trip to Gorse Hill City Farm, right in the heart of Leicester, where the kids can mingle with the animals and have a run around in the play area.

Alternatively, Wistow Maze, just south of Leicester, is a great way to spend an afternoon attempting to break out of eight acres of twisting and turning mazes.

Estate agents in Leicester

Martin & Co has been selling, letting and managing great homes in Leicester since 2003 and our managing director Marianne Pendred has more than 20 years of experience in the industry.

Our office is on Narborough Road in the city centre, so please do pop in to meet the team, who will delighted to help you on the next stage of your property journey.

Alternatively, contact us via our website or give us a call on 0116 2044920.

*Data from Rightmove

**Data from Zoopla

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