Leicester

A historic city in the East Midlands.

As the Roman Empire expanded to include Britain in AD 43, so too did Roman history begin at Leicester. The Roman history of Leicester is evident in local roads and monuments around the city.

The Romans remained in Leicestershire for over four centuries and, although the history of Leicester remains heavily intertwined with that of Roman history, it was not until AD 179 when soldiers returned to their homes after campaigning against the Scots and Picts.

Leicester became a borough governed by an alderman and two bailiffs in 1085, and history shows that the city was a local centre for commerce. Prior to his death in 1085 William I granted Leicester its charter as an independent borough; this allowed Leicester to elect its own officials and gave it autonomy and independence from feudal laws and taxes.

Visitor Attractions in Leicester

Leicester has many unique visitor attractions on offer, both historic and modern. The first attraction is perhaps Leicester Cathedral, which is the seat of the Bishop of Leicester. The history of the building reflects history itself as it was built in 1070 on an older Saxon church site that had been used by Christians since around 670 AD.

The history ofthe cathedral is reflected in its history as the history of the city; history shows that, like Leicester itself, it was attacked and damaged by fire. Once repaired after each fire, history repeats itself again with further damage due to natural disasters such as storms and lightning strikes.

The National Space Centre is another modern visitor attraction for those visiting Leicester. It is centred around Leicester’s history in astronomy and space, which today is reflected in the use of satellites to capture information on weather patterns. The centre features historic artefacts such as the Apollo 10 capsule that carried astronauts into orbit, alongside exhibits on modern history.

Created: 30  October  2021  Edited: 29  November  2023