Parafox Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 You can see this story in LM today, Weds 11th But it made me wonder what, if anything could or does make this City "vibrant". TBH I can't really think of much to praise. Please don't bog this down with LCFC propaganda, ta! And, alongside this, has anyone taken the open-top bus tour of leicester? What was it like?
Wymsey Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 Only places I go to if I am even in Leicester are the Highcross, Fosse Park and the Walker's Stadium. Other places in Leicester are a complete miserable and depressing.
Fosse Boy Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 Leicester tends to be quick to do itself down. Not really anywhere better or worse than most other cities of its size in England but there's enough to see, do and be proud of. Even a sunny, leafy stroll down New Walk each morning makes me feel proud to be born in the city. My tune usually changes when I get in view of the council offices mind.
lcfcadam Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 Belgrave Road Summer Sundae music festival Largest annual comedy festival in the UK New Walk Two historical (and relatively successful sporting teams) Two universities Biggest outdoor covered market in Europe Spectacular new shopping / entertainment development Boutique / independent shopping in Silver Arcade / St Martins Square National Space Centre Largest Caribbean Carnival outside London Brand new, state of the art, multi million pound theatre Historic DeMontfort Hall
marko Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 I guess there's a few places that wouldn't be so bad if you're a visitor such as the Space Centre, Guildhall, Jewry Wall, Abbey Park, Cathedral and the isn't the market the biggest in europe? plus some of the regenerated bits like the High Cross, Curve and Phoenix Square. Two decent universities. Then not far from Leicester you've got Bradgate, Swithland, Beacon Hill.
dave the caveman Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 The Lonely Planet likes Leicester for its multicultural aspect. The last one I read pretty much said that it's a disgusting city to look at and there's basically nothing going on, but the presence of large numbers of ethnic minorities and their associated culture which gives the city a fairly unique flavour, especially during diwali, when it is indeed vibrant.
Webbo Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 The Lonely Planet likes Leicester for its multicultural aspect. The last one I read pretty much said that it's a disgusting city to look at and there's basically nothing going on, but the presence of large numbers of ethnic minorities and their associated culture which gives the city a fairly unique flavour, especially during diwali, when it is indeed vibrant. In other words it doesn't want to be seen as racist.
ScouseFox Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 I like it when I'm there. Not sure it's vibrant as such, but it's a bit different than here. Everything here's quite same-y. And there's a massive lack of Indian restaurants here. Also, probably Leicestershire rather than Leicester, but the fact you can get from shops in town and restaurants etc. to country pubs in about 10 minutes is well weird to someone not from Leicester. You have to drive for about 45 minutes at least to find some decent countryside around here. All the little villages around there are well nice.
dave the caveman Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 In other words it doesn't want to be seen as racist. Maybe, but then maybe they were just being honest. The multicultural aspect probably is quite interesting from the point of view of a tourist, and it is an ugly city. Lonely Planet tend to be quite straight and good at summing things up in my experience.
ajthefox Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 Belgrave Road Summer Sundae music festival Largest annual comedy festival in the UK New Walk Two historical (and relatively successful sporting teams) Two universities Biggest outdoor covered market in Europe Spectacular new shopping / entertainment development Boutique / independent shopping in Silver Arcade / St Martins Square National Space Centre Largest Caribbean Carnival outside London Brand new, state of the art, multi million pound theatre Historic DeMontfort Hall Really? Spectacular? That aside, although I'm quick to put Leicester down as quite grim, I suppose apart from the biggest Cities is does offer a lot and has just as if not more to offer than Derby, Nottingham, Coventry and other cities of similar size. What I think it's lacking though is some nice open public space in the centre. Sheffield has the Peace Gardens, the Winter Gardens, that bit infront of the Crucible and Devonshire green all slap bang in the city centre and in the summer it just makes the city such a nice place to be. Not to mention the greeting from the train station and the fountains outside City hall as you walk through. I'm still very proud of being from Leicester and I love it because it's home, but I don't think it's that good/nice a place to be in.
MPH Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 I think it depends in what context you view leicester as being vibrant.. Looking from the inside out you become numb to what is good about a city.. you view it from your daily monotonous life. get up, go to school/work/ go home eat watch telly go to bed get up and repeat cycle. But when you consider Coventry is 25 miles down the road you just thank God you were not born in that awful place and, yes, alongside the likes of that dump you can see some character in the city.
lcfcadam Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 Really? Spectacular? Well it looks quite spectacular for a development in a city of this size. Though I'm well aware that pretty much everything inside it is just the same old generic stuff with slightly tarted-up shop-fronts...
Wymsey Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 Belgrave Road Biggest outdoor covered market in Europe Historic DeMontfort Hall Wouldn't class these at desirable to go to. Belgrave Road = Lots of incidents lately (fights) Leicester Market = Not brilliant as it used to be. There were plans by the council a year or so ago to knock it down and redevelop area. De Montfort Hall = In financial difficulty + most shows now seem to consist of rather unknown people, rather than more famous/well known ones.
lcfcadam Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 Wouldn't class these at desirable to go to. Belgrave Road = Lots of incidents lately (fights) Leicester Market = Not brilliant as it used to be. There were plans by the council a year or so ago to knock it down and redevelop area. De Montfort Hall = In financial difficulty + most shows now seem to consist of rather unknown people, rather than more famous/well known ones. Mmm, shame if twats are giving Belgrave Road a bad name because it is, in my opinion, the home of some of the best Indian shops and restaurants in this country. And when lit up during Diwali it looks absolutely stonking. Regardless of the market's current slightly run down state, it would be a travesty if this historic feature of the city was ever lost in future regeneration. And if DeMontfort Hall had half decent management then there would be absolutely no problem at all, it has everything needed to be a top concert venue if run correctly. I'm not trying to suggest that Leicester is some magnificent gem hidden away in the Midlands of England, but I resent people saying it has nothing / little to offer. And in terms of its aesthetic appearance to outsiders, well it's nothing bad at all when compared to genuine shitholes like Derby, Coventry, Hull, Middlesborough, Stoke etc
SOCCERROO FOX Posted 11 May 2011 Posted 11 May 2011 I've read a lot of Lonely Planet guides and they very very rarely talk a city down. The do tend to highlight the places to be careful of within that city but i've read thru the England Lonely planet guide and it reall doesn't give much info about Leicestershire at all really. Being a tourist and spending time 1 week in Leicester and 2 weeks in Blaby/Whetstone. I can confirm Leicestershire really isn't very vibrant but there is some quaint villages around and some nice parks around the place. Foxton Locks was a nice place to kill a few hours. The City Centre it self is decent enough only really if you love a drink and a bit of a shop, there is also some nice places to go and have a feed. I would probably have a bit better opinion of Leicester if i went during the summer months as i've only been there in October and the first time in January where the people and places seem as bleak as the weather.
Thracian Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 Leicester's a cracking City with lot's going on although I'm not sure that message gets over so well nowadays. People don't read the Mercury as they used to - circulation is in the 50,000's a night compared to 180,000 in the 60s and Radio Leicester is so much wind and piss most of the time. I suppose it depends what people want from a City. It'll never be London but take time to find out and there's a whole lot going on.
Christoph Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 Good thing about Leicester is everything is so close together, especially the city centre which is like one big shopping centre while other places the shopping is way spread out.
Dickie Greenleaf Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 Biggest outdoor covered market in Europe I swear every city in the UK claims this Largest Caribbean Carnival outside London http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_West_Indian_Carnival http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Caribbean_Carnival
lcfcadam Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 I swear every city in the UK claims this From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Market , and quoted in various other sources: It is the largest outdoor covered market in Europe. ------------------------------------------------ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_West_Indian_Carnival http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_Caribbean_Carnival From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester#Culture : The city hosts an annual Pride Parade (Leicester Pride), a Caribbean Carnival (the largest in the UK outside London), the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India and the largest comedy festival in the UK Leicester Comedy Festival. Can't blame me for conflicting facts on Wikipedia.
Dr The Singh Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 Meh, Leicester is Ok, nothing great.......vibrant????........at imes, the diwali and some other shit that goes on including EDL marches make it interesting!! But seriously even Phagwara pisses on Leicester, especially for vibrance!!!
vandamman Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 I think the highcross development is pretty good, more so at night and is a good little retreat from the city centre itself with nice restaurants even alfresco dining, don't get more continental than that! I think Leicester has its moments, St Martins square could be a nice wee shopping area if it was spruced a bit more and the town hall is a nice area, not that I ever go there! In terms of nightlife the city has a good mix of clubs/pubs/bars etc Republic is quite impressive I would say. But in comparison to other cities such Bristol and their development Cabot Circus, I don't think it compares. But thats cause i live here...
accessory Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 I was in Bristol city centre last week. It seemed fairly grim and functional to me. Leicester has a lot going for it, not that you'd know that from the local tabloid (printed in Derby!) which seems to delight in talking us down at every opportunity.
iBleedLeicesterColours Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 Just standard. Not bad for a city of its size crime wise. Can't stand the amount of ****** and the bloody preachers around clock tower though .
Fosse Boy Posted 12 May 2011 Posted 12 May 2011 I was in Bristol city centre last week. It seemed fairly grim and functional to me. Leicester has a lot going for it, not that you'd know that from the local tabloid (printed in Derby!) which seems to delight in talking us down at every opportunity. How do you mean exactly? The Merc may be many things but its hardly oppresive in the way it views its readership.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.