Online Information for Backpackers about Leicester!

The city of Leicester is currently undergoing a major face-lift and plans to unveil the ‘New Leicester City’ are currently set for early Autumn 2008. This summer is the prelude then, to Leicester’s cultural revolution. June, July and August are packed to the rafters with musical entertainment and cultural celebrations.

The flamboyance begins with ‘Leicester Pride’ (June/July), a typically colourful celebration of gay culture, culminating with the Pride Parade marching through the city centre. The festival includes plenty of live music, comedy and cabaret with oodles of food and drink to keep you energized. The Pride Festival is swiftly followed by ‘Summer Sundae’ in August. This relatively new music festival can compete with the UK’s best. It is set in the beautiful grounds of De Montford Hall and offers top class music from around the globe.

Sufficiently quenched with live music and flamboyant festivities, but your heart still burns for something more? No worries! See knights in armour hurtling across a field toward each other in the Battle of Bosworth Re-Enactment (August). What more could you ask for?

by Luke Bell

Things to do:

• Leicester Castle & The Great Hall: Probably built around 1070 either by William the Conqueror or by Hugh de Grandsmesnil, the first Norman lord or castellan of Leicester. The Great Hall and the Church of St. Mary de Castro were the largest buildings in the castle.
• Leicester Cathedral: 900 years ago the Normans began to build the original church. It was rebuilt and enlarged over the years. When in 1927 Leicester had its own Bishop again, St. Martin’s was hallowed as Leicester Cathedral.
• Leicester Market: Home to the largest covered market in Europe Leicester Market is located in the heart of the city centre. Traders first came to the city with the Romans and the current market has been on the same site for 700 years. Open Monday - Saturday, 7am-6pm.