Visit Leicester by Train
Find out about trains to Leicester, how to get great discounts on your travel, and top things to do when you get there
Welcome to Leicester
In 1936, Leicester was the second-richest city in Europe due to a thriving textile industry and, by the mid-20th century, it was said to “clothe the world”. It might be landlocked, but the Grand Union Canal, which links London to Birmingham, runs through the heart of the city, while the Golden Mile is packed full of great restaurants and its wonderful market, which has been trading for 700 years, opens 6 days a week.
Find out more about travelling to Leicester by train below, along with everything you need to know about the town. Discover all the best things to do and places to visit in Leicester – and don’t forget you can save money on your train travel with a Railcard.
By taking the train you are also helping to lower carbon emissions. And, if you require additional support when travelling, the Passenger Assist service can help you.
If you fancy travelling a bit further afield, you can also visit our Day Trips from Leicester by Train page.
How to get to Leicester by train
Leicester has 1 station:
Leicester: This is Leicester’s main station. There are regular direct trains to and from many destinations, including Nottingham, Birmingham, Sheffield, Cambridge, Loughborough and Derby. If you’re coming from or going to London St Pancras, there are direct services every day
You can plan your Leicester train journey, find the cheapest fares and book tickets online with our Journey Planner.
Fastest journey times to Leicester by train
From | To | Journey time from* |
---|---|---|
London | Leicester | 1 hr 3 min |
Nottingham | Leicester | 20 min |
Birmingham | Leicester | 48 min |
Manchester | Leicester | 1 hr 35 min |
Sheffield | Leicester | 52 min |
Liverpool | Leicester | 2 hr 27 min |
* Please note, some journeys will take longer and you may have to change trains
Attractions in Leicester
Visit the award-winning King Richard III Visitor Centre(external link, opens in a new tab) to discover the incredible story of how the King’s long-lost remains were discovered in a car park in the centre of Leicester in 2012
The National Space Centre(external link, opens in a new tab) is packed full of space objects including astronaut’s suits and it also boasts the UK’s largest planetarium for star gazers
Hire a kayak or paddle board, go indoor climbing or take a wellbeing walk with the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre (external link, opens in a new tab)
Free things to do in Leicester
Visit Belgrave Hall(external link, opens in a new tab), which was commissioned for a wealthy hosiery merchant in the early 18th century and later became the home of John Ellis, who helped introduce the railway to Leicester in 1833
Beneath an imposing 150-foot-tall chimney sits the lovingly restored Abbey Pumping Station(external link, opens in a new tab), built in the Victorian era to ensure clean water flowed through the expanding city
Explore Newarke Houses(external link, opens in a new tab), 2 adjoined historic houses built in 1511 and now a museum with an extensive collection of everyday items including toys from the 1500s to the present day
Richard III’s remains were reinterned at Leicester Cathedral(external link, opens in a new tab). Visit his tomb and marvel at the 220-foot-tall spire
Accessible Leicester
If you require assistance for any part of your rail journey, please visit our Passenger Assist page to find out more
To search or browse accessible attractions, restaurants, hotels and more, visit the AccessAble website(external link, opens in a new tab)
Theatre and shows in Leicester
See a show at the Curve Theatre(external link, opens in a new tab), which is unique in not having a backstage area, so audiences can watch actors moving from stage to dressing room
The Sue Townsend Theatre(external link, opens in a new tab), formerly the Phoenix, was renamed in 2015 to honour the Leicester-born writer, most famous for her fictional diaries of Adrian Mole
Choose between comedy, theatre, dance and music at the Y Theatre(external link, opens in a new tab), the oldest in the city
Music in Leicester
Find out all about the history of Leicester’s Musical Routes with Jo Whiley’s audio guide
Since it opened in 1913, De Montfort Hall(external link, opens in a new tab) has hosted the likes of The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald, Amy Winehouse and Adele
Catch a new band at The Shed(external link, opens in a new tab), located in the Cultural Quarter and open during the day for coffee and snacks
Visit Brick & Beam(external link, opens in a new tab) for new talent, improv jazz, hip hop, soul and R&B and a rooftop terrace bar
LGBTQIA+ Leicester
Every year, Leicester hosts its annual Pride Festival(external link, opens in a new tab)
Check out the burlesque and cabaret at the Peacock Lounge(external link, opens in a new tab), the city’s oldest theatre
Take an LGBTQIA+ walking tour of Leicester(external link, opens in a new tab) with author Troy Jenkinson
Leicester in film and TV
Leicester is a popular shooting location for many film and TV shows, including:
Stan & Ollie, starring Steve Coogan and John C Reilly, was partly filmed along the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire
Scenes from Journeyman, starring Paddy Considine and Jodie Whittaker, were filmed in Leicester
Amit Gupta’s film Jadoo is set in 2 brothers’ rival restaurants in Belgrave Road
An episode of the TV series Most Haunted took place in the Guild Hall
Find out more about Leicester
Go to the Visit Leicester website(external link, opens in a new tab).
Get 1/3 off train fares with a Railcard
Save up to 1/3 off your trips when you travel by train with a Railcard
From children to seniors, over 20 million people in Great Britain can save with a Railcard. See which one is right for you
Buy yours today for just £35 and you’ll make the cost back in 1 or 2 trips!
Journey times and offers are correct at time of publication but subject to change.
Belgrave Hall image credit: © Kerem Cetindamar
Curve image credit: © Beth Walsh Photography
Leicester Pride image credit: © by domfell is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Great Central Railway image credit: © by martin 65 is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0
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