Transport in and around Leicester

Getting to and from Leicester:CentreBus - Leicester which operates services
The main railway station in Leicester is located onspecifically along the main arterial routes and around
London Road, which is some way from the cityLeicester City. As mentioned above, the main bus
centre. There are two main railway services passingstation in Leicester is the St Margarets bus station.
through Leicester. Central Trains, operatingApart from at the main railway and bus stations,
east-west, whose City Links service running betweenthere are numerous taxi ranks around the city from
Norwich and Liverpool passes through Leicester, andwhich you can use one of the city's Hackney cabs.
Midland Mainline, operating north-south, which providesAlternatively, there are plenty of private hire taxi
the train service linking with the capital city offirms you can phone to use. The most central taxi
England, St Pancras station in London. The principlerank to the city centre is at Humberstone gate to
Midland Mainline service running through Leicester isthe east of the Clock Tower.
Sheffield - London. Despite being away from the cityAs with any major city, Leicester city roads can
centre the railway station has good links into the citybecome very congested, especially during the rush
centre from the public transport buses and taxis. Ifhours. Congestion is not helped by the veritable maze
you fancy a bit of nostalgia there is also the Greatof 'one-way' streets encountered in the city centre,
Central Railway that runs a steam train servicewhich to anyone driving around the city for the first
between Leicester North and Loughborough Central.time, become as annoying as they are difficult to
(NB. Leicester North station is not used by othernavigate. To get around the city centre there is no
national railway companies.)single ring road. The A594 to the north of the city
National Express coach services linking Leicester toprovides half of a ring road, but to the south there is
other nationwide cities run from the St Margaretsonly a collection of roads that allow you to get
Bus Station to the north of the city centre off thearound, as opposed to directing you around on a ring
A594 on Gravel Street. The bus station is also usedroad. Within the city all the major shopping areas are
by Stage Coach services and the local bus routewell served for car parking with a variety of long and
operators. In January 2006 an extensiveshort stay car parks. Bulletins regarding congestion
refurbishment programme for the bus station wasand parking are regularly broadcast by local radio
begun.stations.
There is no Leicester airport as such. Leicester doesBeing a largely flat city Leicester lends itself well to
have an aerodrome suitable for small/light aircraft andanyone wishing to cycle in or through it. With over 60
helicopters but has no facilities for larger aircraft. Themiles of sign-posted cycle-ways and plans for a
main airport that is nearest to Leicester is Nottinghamnetwork of safer on and off road cycle lanes,
East Midlands, which is about 20 miles (30km) away,Leicester is probably one of the more forward
a short journey north up the M1 motorway. Alsothinking cities regarding the use of cycles as a means
nearby are Birmingham, Luton and Coventry airports.of local and environmentally friendly transport.
SkyLink runs a direct coach service linking LeicesterThe River Soar runs through Leicester on its way to
and East Midlands airport.join the River Trent to the north. It is a small river
Major road routes for Leicester are maintained byand is really only navigable by small/pleasure boats.
the Highways Agency. The main road route toHowever, the Grand Union Canal also runs through
Leicester from the south or north is the M1, the firstLeicester and was, in its day, a major transport route
motorway to be built in England and now linkingcarrying goods north and south. The Grand Union
London and Leeds. The M69 provides a direct link tocanal and the River Soar meet in the south of
the M6 motorway heading west to Birmingham andLeicester in a suburb called Ayleston. Today the canal
then north as far as Carlisle. Heading east, the mainis part of the popular tourist industry in canal-barge
routes are by the A6 which links up with the A14 toholidays. Although not yet started Leicester has
Cambridge and A47 that heads out to Peterborough.ambitious plans to re-develop its waterside area.
Travel in and around Leicester:General enquiries regarding public transport in
The main local public transport bus services inLeicester are directed by Leicester City Council to
Leicester are operated by Arriva (Fox County) andTravel Line UK, alternatively 'phone 08706082608.
First Leicester companies. There is also the