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Leicester

City and unitary authority area in England / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Leicester (/ˈlɛstər/ (Loudspeaker.svglisten) LES-tər)[4] is a city, unitary authority area, unparished area and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands. Its population was 368,600 in 2021, increased by 38,800 (Increase 11.8%) from around 329,800 in 2011.[5] The greater Leicester urban area had a population of 559,017 in 2021, making it the 11th most populous in England,[6] and the 13th most populous in the United Kingdom.

Quick facts: Leicester City of Leicester, Sovereign st...
Leicester
City of Leicester
Leicester_Clock_Tower_wide_view.jpg
National_Space_Centre%2C_Leicester.jpg
Leicester_Cathedral_panorama_%28small_crop%29.jpg
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Flag of Leicester
Coat of arms of Leicester
Shown within Leicestershire
Shown within Leicestershire
Leicester is located in the East Midlands
Leicester
Leicester
Location within the East Midlands
Leicester is located in the United Kingdom
Leicester
Leicester
Location within the United Kingdom
Leicester is located in Europe
Leicester
Leicester
Location within Europe
Coordinates: 52°38′04″N 1°07′55″W
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionEast Midlands
Ceremonial countyLeicestershire
FoundedAD c. 47 as Ratae Corieltauvorum
City status restored1919
Administrative headquartersLeicester Town Hall
Government
  TypeUnitary authority
  BodyLeicester City Council
  LeadershipMayor and cabinet
  ExecutiveLabour Party
  Lord MayorGeorge Cole
  City MayorPeter Soulsby (Lab)
Area
  City28.3 sq mi (73.3 km2)
  Urban
87 sq mi (225 km2)
  Metro
290 sq mi (750 km2)
Elevation
205 ft (62.5 m)
Population
 (2021[1])
  City368,600
  Density12,000/sq mi (4,500/km2)
  Urban
508,916[2]
  Urban density5,900/sq mi (2,260/km2)
  Metro
836,484[3]
  Metro density3,070/sq mi (1,185/km2)
  Ethnicity (2021)
  • 43.4% Asian
  • 40.9% White
  • 7.8% Black
  • 4.1% Other
  • 3.8% Mixed
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
  Summer (DST)UTC+1 (British Summer Time)
Postcode areas
Dialling codes0116
ISO 3166-2GB-LCE
ONS code00FN (ONS)
E06000016 (GSS)
OS grid referenceSK584044
NUTS 3UKF21
Primary airportEast Midlands Airport (Outside of Leicester)
Councillors54
MPs
Websiteleicester.gov.uk
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The city lies on the River Soar and is approximately 90 miles (140 km) north-northwest of London, 33 miles (53 km) east-northeast of Birmingham and 21 miles (34 km) northeast of Coventry. Nottingham and Derby lie around 21 miles to the north and northwest respectively, whilst Peterborough is located 37 miles (60 km) to the east. Leicester is close to the eastern end of the National Forest.[7]

Leicester has a long history extending into ancient times, it was the site of the Roman town of Ratae Corieltauvorum, which was later captured by the Anglo-Saxons, and then by the Vikings who made it one of the Five Boroughs of the Danelaw. Leicester became an important town during the Middle Ages, and then an important industrial and commercial centre in the Victorian age, eventually gaining city status in 1919. Since the mid-20th century, immigration from countries of the British Commonwealth has seen Leicester become an ethnically diverse city, and one of the largest urban centres of the Midlands.

Leicester is at the intersection of two railway lines: the Midland Main Line and the Birmingham to London Stansted Airport line. It is also at the confluence of the M1/M69 motorways and the A6/A46 trunk routes. Leicester Cathedral is home to the tomb of King Richard III who was reburied in the cathedral in 2015 after being discovered nearby in the foundations of the lost Greyfriars chapel, more than 500 years after his death. In sporting terms, Leicester is the home to football club Leicester City and rugby club Leicester Tigers.