Leicestershire

Leicestershire in the Midlands is a landlocked county surrounded by the counties of Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

Leicestershire has a population of just over 1,000,000 people. The county town is the city of Leicester – the main area of population, with other large towns at Loughborough, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Coalville and Hinkley.

The landscape of Leicestershire benefits from being part of the new National Forest, a number of rivers including the River Soar, River Avon and River Welland and the beauty of the Vale of Belvoir

Leicestershire’s boundaries have remained largely consistent since the Domesday records.

The history of Leicestershire is reflected in the mixture of industries in the county. Farming remains important, as does the food and drink industry with a number of producers and brand based in the county. The battle of Bosworth Field saw the triumph of the Red over the White Rose and the first Tudor on the throne of England.

Engineering was also a dominant industry – and the largest bell in England, produced for St. Pauls cathedral was cast in the county. Many cathedrals, abbeys and houses have had their stained glass and lead roof works manufactured in the county. Engineering continues today with the county home to the likes of Triumph motorcycles and Noble sportscars.

Leicestershire is easily accessible by road – the M1 running through the county and the A6 connecting the county to the A14.

The county is well served by train with a journey from London to Leicester taking just over an hour.
Visitors from further afield can use the East Midlands airport.