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Last updated:Today at 04:54
Train companies affected:National Rail

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

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

Theatre and shows in Leicester

Music in Leicester

LGBTQIA+ Leicester

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).

Plan Your Journey

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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