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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) LEST-ər)[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 settlement in the East Midlands.

Quick facts: Leicester City of Leicester, Sovereign st...
Leicester
City of Leicester
Leicester landmarks: (clockwise from top-left) Jewry Wall, National Space Centre, Arch of Remembrance, Central Leicester, Curve theatre, Leicester Cathedral and Guildhall, Welford Road Stadium, Leicester Market
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 close to the eastern end of the National Forest.[5] It is situated to the north-east of Birmingham and Coventry, south of Nottingham and west of Peterborough.

The population size has increased by 38,800 (Increase 11.8%) from around 329,800 in 2011 to 368,600 in 2021.[6] The associated urban area is also the 11th most populous in England and the 13th most populous in the United Kingdom.[7]

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 is the home to football club Leicester City and rugby club Leicester Tigers.