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