Leicester is a cosmopolitan and culturally diverse city with close to 300,000 inhabitants. During term time, 12% of the city’s population are students and Leicester has a really young and vibrant feel to its social scene.
A recent poll commissioned by NME named Leicester as one of the top five Universities for a social life and we have to agree. But that’s not all the city has to offer, the sheer variety of food on offer is testament to Leicester’s cultural variety and the Leicester Lanes are a shopper’s dream.
Read what Leicester’s students have to say about their second home...
If indie anthems, Brit-pop and rock are your bag, here are some suggestions of cool places in Leicester you will just love.
Firebug
Millstone Lane, Leicester
Tel: 0116 255 1228
Chilled out bar, lots of indie/rock lovers hang out there. Good cheap bar food, late night opening and live bands.
The Orange Tree
99 High St, Leicester
Tel: 0116 223 5256
My particular fave, lots of beaten up old sofas and mismatched furniture give this bar a shabby chic feel. Bar staff are always friendly, music is cool, and the food is soooo good. Get to be a regular, and enjoy invitations to BBQ’s, parties, quizzes etc. Plus this bar is only a 30 second scamper away from Mosh Nightclub.
Mosh Nightclub
37 St. Nicholas Place, Leicester
Tel: 0116 248 9241
Few different nights catering to different tastes, but largely an indie/rock hang out. Big student customer base, but again very laid back appeal means that anyone can go there and feel part of the crowd.
Weavers
54 King Street, Leicester
Tel: 0116 254 0004
Weavers isn’t the most obvious student choice but I think it’s a beautiful venue that’s tucked away from some of the more garish city bars. The club is a converted row of weaver’s cottages and the inside is like a little maze with nooks and crannies everywhere. House is the main musical focus and the crowd are suitably glam but the student night still offers some good drinks promotions. One for the more discerning student crowd.
Lucy Davies
Maiyango
19-21 St. Nicholas Place, Leicester
Tel: 0116 251 8898
Maiyangos' restaurant comes highly recommended. The bar area is actually one of my favourite places because of its long and tasty cocktail menu and the chilled-out surroundings. The décor theme is global with a sort of Far East / Mediterranean / South American feel. There’s nothing better than curling up on the cushions with your friends and gossiping over a Cosmopolitan (or something more exotic). You can even get one of their 'mixologists' to mix your cocktails for you at your table.
Emma Clewlow
Noodle Bar
1 St Nicholas Place, Leicester
Tel: 0116 262 9029
The Noodle Bar is perfect for students - cheap but tasty Chinese food and massive portions. Great for a shoestring budget.
Ian Andrews
Leicester Lanes
My advice for Freshers would be to sidestep the big shopping centres and high street stores and head to the Leicester Lanes. This little maze of streets and arcades around St. Martin’s Square is full of small independents, whether you’re looking for clothes, furniture, jewellery or music. Some of the shops are exclusive and expensive but not all – spend an afternoon browsing round (and probably getting lost until you find your bearings) and you are bound to fall in love with the place.
Josie Pestell
Leicester Comedy Festival
Leicester has loads of carnivals that take place throughout the year and they are all exceptional. My favourite has to be the Comedy Festival, which is the longest running in the country. What better way to spend your time than indulging in some belly laughs. It’s the perfect antidote to the stress of coursework and exams.
Dan Gibson
Old John @ Bradgate Park
Newtown Linford, Leicester
I love visiting Bradgate Park on a warm day. It has been there since the 15th Century and on top of the highest hill sits ‘Old John’, which is a sort of tower. The view from there on a clear day is breathtaking and well worth the climb. Elsewhere in the park you’ll find the River Lin, plenty of open parkland and even some deer.
Josie Pestell
