In my last post, I started my countdown of the top 6 reasons why I love being a student in Leicester. Here, in reverse order, is the conclusion to that countdown, beginning with reason number 4:
- Food
If you’re a student, it’s unlikely that you’ll get a chance to eat out very often. Fortunately, Leicester caters for all budgets as well as tastes. One advantage of living in such a multicultural city is that there are few places in the UK that offer such a wider of cuisine. Don’t believe me? Then take a few minutes to explore the Trip Advisor page: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g186334-Leicester_Leicestershire_England.html
My personal favourite cheap place to eat in Leicester is Buffet Mania. Located in the city centre and open daily 10-5, it offers an all you can eat buffet for £5. This includes Italian, English, Indian, Chinese dishes amongst others and offers food suitable for starter, main course and dessert. It’s a real bargain!
- Shopping
Speaking of bargains leads us nicely to shopping! Have to admit, I’m not a fan of shopping and wouldn’t be even if I had money. But if shopping is the leisure activity for you then there’s a fantastic chance you’ll love Leicester. The highlight is undoubtedly the renowned Highcross Centre. Check out further details at this link: https://www.highcrossleicester.com/
Away from Highcross, you still have the Haymarket Shopping Centre, Fosse Park (only 30 mins away by bus) and the world famous Leicester Market. Further details of the latter at this link: http://www.leicestermarket.co.uk/
- Travel
Want to attend a university which isn’t too far north or too far south in a city with good transport links to the rest of the UK? The University of Leicester offers exactly that.
Whether you drive or travel by public transport, Leicester is conveniently placed near the middle of England. For those that travel by train, East Midlands Trains can get you to London in little over an hour or north to Sheffield and Nottingham in less than that. Cross Country Trains, can, via Birmingham New Street, connect you to most parts of the UK.
For those of you happy reading or working on assignments on a coach, there are some real bargains to be had, especially when booking far in advance. With National Express and Megabus running services both North and South, prices rarely get high unless you book at the last minute. £5 or less fares to London are often available.
- Sport
It’s little wonder Leicester was named the UK’s Greatest Sporting City for 2016 in the aftermath of Leicester City’s historic Premier League triumph. But while a visit to the King Power stadium is an absolute must for any Leicester student regardless of who they normally support, Leicester has so much more to offer sports fans than just football.
For those who prefer faster, more intense sports, there’s speedway, Leicester Riders basketball, and of course, the world-famous Leicester Tigers. With the Welford Road stadium a ten minute walk from campus and tickets for around a tenner from the students union, a minimum of one Tigers match is a must for any sports fan. For those that like watching sport in a more sentry and leisurely atmosphere, there’s the nearby Leicestershire Cricket Club and Leicester Racecourse. The latter hosts more than thirty meetings a year.
More details about sport in Leicester can be found at the following link: https://www.visitleicester.info/see-and-do/sports-and-recreation
I hope that these two blogs have given a fair account that the city of Leicester has something for everyone. There’s an argument to say that the University of Leicester would still be worth attending if the city of Leicester was a word that rhymes with ‘bit goal’. But while Leicester may lack the glamour of bigger cities or the beauty of historic towns, there’s enough for everyone to find something to enjoy away from studying
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