Leicester

Leicester (pronounced {{IPA|}}) is a city in the English East Midlands, on the River Soar. It is the traditional county town of Leicestershire, and since 1997 has been a self-governing unitary authority. It lies on the edge of the National Forest. In 2002 the population of the city proper was estimated at 283,578, with 330,574 living in the urban area. Technically is is the most populous city in the East Midlands, but Nottingham's urban area is much larger.

General information

The city is next to the M1 motorway, and is on the Midland Main Line between London and Sheffield. High-speed trains operated by Midland Mainline can reach London in just over an hour. It is also served by rail lines to Birmingham via Nuneaton, and to Peterborough.

Related Topics:
M1 motorway - Midland Main Line - London - Sheffield - Midland Mainline - Birmingham - Nuneaton - Peterborough

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Major industries in Leicester today include food processing, hosiery, footwear, knitwear, engineering, electronics, printing and plastics.

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The city centre is mainly Victorian with some later developments, which have usually been integrated in smoothly. The heart of the city centre is the Clock Tower, which is at the intersection of five routes into the city - High Street, Churchgate, Belgrave Gate, Humberstone Gate, and Gallowtree Gate. Today the latter two are pedestrianised, and vehicles are restricted on the others.

Related Topics:
City centre - Victorian

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The city centre is home to the Haymarket and the Shires shopping centres, both of which face the clock tower. Leicester Market, Europe's largest covered market, is nearby.

Related Topics:
The Haymarket - The Shires - Leicester Market

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The historic core of the City lies slightly to the west, and monuments here include the Castle, the Anglican cathedral of St Martin, the mediaeval churches of St Mary de Castro and St Nicholas, the Guildhall and the Jewry Wall.

Related Topics:
Anglican - Cathedral - St Martin - Guildhall - Jewry Wall

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It is set to become a major city with many developments on the horizon implemented by the Leicester Regeneration Company including a major theatre designed by Rafael Viñoly.

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In 1990 Leicester was designated the UK's first Environment City, and won the European Sustainable City Award in 1996.

Related Topics:
1990 - UK - Environment City - 1996

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Leicester has a large multi-ethnic population, mainly from the Indian subcontinent. There are many Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras and Muslim mosques around the city, mostly converted from existing buildings. The only Jain Temple in the western world is near the city centre (The Jain Centre). The area around Belgrave Road is known as the Golden Mile, and contains many Indian restaurants, jewellery shops, and other shops catering to the large Asian community in the neighbourhood. Many people travel to the area specifically for the restaurants, which serve authentic Indian cuisine. The annual Diwali celebrations are also held here and at the nearby Abbey Park, and are the biggest outside of India.

Related Topics:
Hindu - Temples - Sikh - Gurdwaras - Muslim - Mosques - Jain - Indian cuisine - Diwali - Abbey Park - India

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There are also many of Afro-Caribbean descent (mainly from Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat and Jamaica), the community being centred around Highfields to the southeast of the city centre, and Leicester plays host to the second-largest Caribbean Carnival in the UK after Notting Hill.

Related Topics:
Antigua & Barbuda - Montserrat - Jamaica - Highfields - Notting Hill

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