City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[davieG]

 

All About Great Britain
 ·
The Fosse Way was established in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD as a vital 230-mile artery linking Exeter to Lincoln, following the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43.

Originally named from the Latin fossa, meaning "ditch," the route likely functioned as a defensive earthwork and the western frontier of Roman control before its conversion into a major road.

A 1903 cross-section at Radstock in Somerset revealed the meticulous layered construction of the surface, preserving the structural integrity of the ancient engineering.

Evidence of heavy historical traffic remains visible in the upper layers, where distinct ruts from centuries of cart wheels are etched into the stone.

Today, the road remains one of the most famous examples of Roman surveying, renowned for its remarkably straight path across the English landscape.

[Stadt]

On 23/04/2026 at 05:36, Warks_Mackem said:

I’m always on the lookout for nice walks, especially around historical sites. I live not too far away from Bosworth Battlefield so I’ve been round there a fair few times.

 

If anyone has any other recommendations for Leicestershire or North Warwickshire I’d be really grateful.

Maybe a bit far away for you to attempt it all but stretches of this might appeal - I’m 70% of the way through 

 

https://www.lfa.org.uk/leicestershireround

[davieG]

Rail Thing - REAL Trainspotting (1945-1968)  · 

Roger Gregory 

Patriot No. 45522 "Prestatyn" 14B Kentish Town on the up Palatine express at Leicester Midland. Wonderful shot who ever took it!

 

Birdcage Walk far right a hang out for train spotters 

[Parafox]

On 23/04/2026 at 05:36, Warks_Mackem said:

I’m always on the lookout for nice walks, especially around historical sites. I live not too far away from Bosworth Battlefield so I’ve been round there a fair few times.

 

If anyone has any other recommendations for Leicestershire or North Warwickshire I’d be really grateful.

 

On 26/04/2026 at 19:03, Parafox said:

I'm not sure how far you'd travel but Wall, just north of Tamworth is a quiet, small Roman ruins site and has a walking route beyond the site itself.

Also just remembered Moira Furnace, 

 

https://www.moirafurnace.org/

[davieG]

'Huge win' for Leicestershire as works begins on major Toyota centre
Developers said the project represents a 'significant investment' in regional employment

News
Samuel Kalantzis Reporter
06:00, 02 May 2026

Work has officially began for the construction of a major £31.5m Toyota centre in Leicestershire.

Amphion Construction, won the contract to deliver the next-generation Fleet Management Centre for Toyota Material Handling UK (TMHUK) at Old Dalby Business Park, in Melton.

The construction team, which has more than 300 employees, will develop the purpose-built 175,000 sq ft facility over the next 12 months.

 

The multi-million pound site will reportedly showcase modern production and workshop areas, sustainable office accommodation, extensive indoor and outdoor storage, and a secure yard.

Stewart Bowen, chairman of Amphion Group, said completion was targeted for early next year, subject to planning approval.

He said TMHUK currently processes more than 12,000 trucks per year at its existing Old Dalby site, and the upgraded facility is expected to support the continued growth of the company’s refurbished truck operations.

According to Mr Bowen, the new centre is a "huge win" for Leicestershire's employment scene.

He said: "The contract was a huge win for the West Midlands, the Black Country and for Leicestershire.

"For this project, Amphion will have between 60 and 70 team members on site at any one time, supported by its integrated supply chain and in-house manufacturing divisions.

"For Leicestershire and the wider Midlands, the project represents another significant investment in regional employment, advanced manufacturing and long-term economic growth."

[davieG]

New plans unveiled for former Leicestershire Hilton hotel - including Starbucks café
Plans include a gym and swimming pool

Tess Rushin Local Democracy Reporter
19:03, 01 May 2026

New plans have emerged for a former Leicestershire hotel which closed at the end of December last year.

The Hilton Leicester, near Fosse Park, was shut permanently by the previous owner Hilton Hotel and Resorts Group on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

The closure also marked the end for the LivingWell Health Club, leaving gym members searching for a new venue.

Now, new owners Village Hotel Group have submitted comprehensive plans to redevelop the site – which is located close to Everards Meadows, Meridian Leisure and Business parks and junction 21 of the M1/M69 – to Blaby District Council (BDC).

 

The building, which is described as containing 180 guest bedrooms, restaurant and bar areas, conference and meeting spaces, leisure and wellness facilities, including gym and swimming pool, will undergo what is described as a "comprehensive refurbishment" if plans are approved.

Village Hotel Group said the hotel would be rebranded as a Village Hotel, with the refurbishment "enhancing the leisure offer of the hotel whilst also bringing the wider guest experience up to present day standards".

An overall description of the works includes the demolition of the existing covered, roofed entrance structure – known as a Porte Cochere and replacing it with a new 'goal post framed' entrance. A glazed link corridor will also be built, alongside a single storey gym studio space extension.

Refurbishment of existing areas, additional associated plant and machinery, access and landscaping are also included in the plans. The number of parking spaces will reduce from 224 to 212.

Plans note the gym wing extension will provide additional space for fitness and studio use, "improving the quality and capacity of the hotel's wellness offer", while the new courtyard corridor will create a direct and accessible route from the hotel's main entrance and reception to the swimming pool area.

The refurbishment and proposed gym extension is expected to create new space in the former meeting and event area, and a large open‐plan gym alongside changing facilities.

Documents note the foyer will be reconfigured "to deliver a more welcoming and efficient arrival sequence". As part of this enhancement, a new Starbucks café is proposed in the front‐of‐house space, with two reception desks for both hotel and leisure offers.

The existing restaurant and kitchen will be fully refurbished, and the majority of the back‐of‐house areas and all 180 guestrooms will be retained in their current layout but fully refurbished.

Plans state the swimming pool facilities and hot tub will be retained with the pool undergoing "targeted renovation to modernise finishes and enhance the wellbeing offer".

Consultation on the plans is open until Tuesday, May 19. A decision is expected by Friday, June 19.

[Free Falling Foxes]

 

[davieG]

[Rob1742]

7 hours ago, davieG said:

Seen this photo before. Not sure when this area was butchered, but not sure what the planners were thinking when they ruined this area 

[davieG]

10 minutes ago, Rob1742 said:

Seen this photo before. Not sure when this area was butchered, but not sure what the planners were thinking when they ruined this area 

They wanted to build an inner ring road. They even messed up the section at the station as the new Waterloo Way was planned to go behind the station. Mind you they never did sort the outer ring road at Oadby. So much damage to complete two ring roads and neither ended up great v

[Rob1742]

10 hours ago, davieG said:

They wanted to build an inner ring road. They even messed up the section at the station as the new Waterloo Way was planned to go behind the station. Mind you they never did sort the outer ring road at Oadby. So much damage to complete two ring roads and neither ended up great v

I saw recently that the outer ring road at Oadby still has the land there, that was set aside for it.

 

Basically down the side of Asda.

 

Interesting to see what they were intending to do.

[Grebfromgrebland]

Leicester seems to be so screwed up by the town planners that it looks irreparable.

[davieG]

47 minutes ago, Rob1742 said:

I saw recently that the outer ring road at Oadby still has the land there, that was set aside for it.

 

Basically down the side of Asda.

 

Interesting to see what they were intending to do.

I can't see it ever being completed I believe those living near there have been assured it's not going ahead but councils and circumstances change.

 

It's hard for councils to get money for new roads with the emphasis on public transport, although Leicester still misses out on trains and trams and walking.

[davieG]

Roman museum falls short of visitor number target
The Jewry Wall Roman museum behind a black sign  

Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said the museum was "a long-term" project

ByDan Martin
Leicester political reporter

Leicester's new £16.8m Roman museum has fallen short of its visitor target, according to latest figures.

Leicester City Council opened Jewry Wall Museum in July following a four-year revamp of an older museum in the former Vaughan College building in St Nicholas Circle.

The authority set a target of getting 31,578 people through the doors by the end of March.

However, it has told the BBC that 26,647 people had visited the attraction by 16 April.

Leicester mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he believed the museum would succeed in the longer run.

"It's a long project and it's about looking to the future and bringing visitors to Leicester," he said.

"Certainly, whenever I have been there, there has been quite a busy crowd of people just going 'wow' at what has been created."

The museum stands next to the landmark Jewry Wall itself, the remains of a bathhouse that served the old Roman city, known as Ratae, from about AD 160.

Work on the creation of the new museum began in 2021, but was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the original contractor going bust.

An opposition councillor said the museum's business plan was not sustainable

Green Party city councillor Patrick Kitterick said: "The figures show what most people could see.

"The museum's business plan was over-optimistic for its number of visitors, given that the most interesting feature, the Jewry Wall, can be seen for free from the roadside.

"We need to come together and work out what the future of the museum looks like because the current business plan isn't working.

"We need to have an honest debate about how we take it forward."

Soulsby compared the museum to the National Space Centre, which opened in Leicester in 2001.

"I remember the early days when the space centre opened," he said.

"People said it was failing, that it would never work.

"Last time they counted there were 300,000 visitors a year."

[Grebfromgrebland]

That's barely enough promotion of the Jewry Wall museum, Space Center or even Richard the third stuff.

 

If they want visitors they have to push these things constantly.

[davieG]

God or bad depends on your perspective especially with all those car parks closing.

 

Dan Martin, Leicester political reporter and Sonia Kataria, Leicester

A new car equipped with a CCTV camera has caught more than 1,500 drivers parking illegally after patrolling Leicester for a month.

The city council introduced the enforcement vehicle, equipped with a number plate recognition camera, on 1 April to help tackle illegal and dangerous parking.

It has been monitoring red routes, zigzag markings outside schools and bus stop clearways, and drivers breaking the rules are automatically issued with a £70 fixed penalty notice.

Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for transport and environment, said the car had been sent to areas where "there are persistent issues but no current fixed camera enforcement".

Leicester City Council said in its first four weeks, the CCTV car's patrols had resulted in 1,475 penalties being issued for illegal parking on red routes in London Road, Gravel Street and Abbey Lane.

A further 34 penalties have been issued for illegal parking close to school gates outside eight city schools.

'Effective deterrent'
The vehicle, which has initially cost £57,000 to buy and equip, will be funded from the income generated from penalties.

Whittle said: "We know that camera enforcement and fines can be a very effective deterrent.

"In its first few weeks, the CCTV enforcement car has caught hundreds of motorists flouting parking rules.

"They will now face a fine, but more importantly receive a strong message that illegal and dangerous parking will not go unpunished.

"We are confident that the new CCTV enforcement will be an effective tool to clamp down on dangerous and inconsiderate parking, especially in areas where there are lots of children and busy traffic."

The council previously used a similar vehicle, which it leased from Nottingham City Council between August and December 2019.

It patrolled city streets, enforcing double yellow lines and school gate restrictions, which resulted in more than 100 fines being issued to drivers.

[davieG]

 

Before the Car Wash.

[Trav Le Bleu]

 

[Otis]

On 08/05/2026 at 22:46, Trav Le Bleu said:

 

Pretty sure this video is already on this thread page.

[Trav Le Bleu]

13 minutes ago, Otis said:

Pretty sure this video is already on this thread page.

So it is. Actually on this page

 

[SemperEadem]

Graff HQ have open type jam family day on at the end of the month.

[kenny]

 

47 independent businesses at LCB this weekend. All the events here are great and very family friendly.

[Free Falling Foxes]

Another fly over by this fella.

[davieG]

LEICESTER LOCAL NEWS: NEW LORD MAYOR SWORN IN FOR LEICESTER

Leicester has officially welcomed a new Lord Mayor following a ceremony at the city’s Town Hall on Thursday evening.

Councillor Kulwinder Singh Johal, who has represented Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields since 2015, was formally sworn in as Leicester’s first citizen during a meeting of full council.

During the ceremony, the new Lord Mayor pledged to serve Leicester with “openness, respect and humility” throughout his year in office.

Cllr Singh Johal has announced he will support two Leicester charities during his mayoral year:

Midland Langar Seva Society – helping tackle homelessness and food insecurity

Leicester Hospitals Charity – supporting diabetes and kidney care research and treatment

Speaking after taking office, he described becoming Lord Mayor as a “true honour” and said he hoped residents across Leicester would support the charities during the year ahead.

Before entering politics, Cllr Singh Johal worked for 25 years at Leicester foundry Russell Castings Ltd. He has also spent many years volunteering in the community and helping develop local sports and charity organisations across the city.

The role of Leicester’s Lord Mayor dates back more than 800 years, with the title officially elevated from “Mayor” to “Lord Mayor” in 1928.

 

[Free Falling Foxes]

I would like to wish the new Lord Mayor well for his term in office. He seems to be a very community spirited man and this honour is well placed.

Here comes the but.....

 

Although the nominated charities are deserving, much needed and serve across the communities, there is the enivitable Asian leaning.

Kidney disease is 5 times more prevalent in Asian communities, diabetes too, far more common.

The food charity is also Asian based.

 

I have noticed this 'leaning' towards needs within their own communities far greater amongst Asians than other groups.

 

In theory, the wider community hopefully will benefit too but, to me at least, it does demonstrate that we still have a heck of a way to go for a truly less inwardly looking mindset and to look at a more colour/culture blind and truly all inclusive philanthropy.

Edited 16 May by Free Falling Foxes