Is the City of Leicester a dump?

[Stadt]

58 minutes ago, Parafox said:

Our friend's son was randomly attacked on Horsefair Street in the early hours of Sunday morning.

 

He had a bleed on the brain as a result and had to have part of his skull removed to relieve the pressure.

 

He is now in ICU in an induced coma whilst they wait to see how he progresses.

 

So yes, right now the city of Leicester is a dump

 

14 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

I know the lad as well - just founded out this morning and shocked me greatly. I played 5-a-side footy with him regularly. 

Sorry to hear this chaps. Gutting.

[westernpark]

On 22/11/2025 at 00:22, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

I'm not an expert man so I don't necessarily have the answer there and I'll probably articulate this terribly. But it doesn't feel like there are any spaces / any amenities to drag a casual punter down there away from the city centre at the moment on the off chance. It's just pretty run of the mill housing and little else. There are opportunities for some really nice communal spaces by the canal for folk / families that might not live in the development, spruce up that towpath between North Bridge Lock and Abbey Park, but it doesn't feel like an exciting regeneration of what could be a really cool area with nods to it's past. Something like a (very) Diet Kelham Island is what I have in my mind's eye but maybe it's just not viable in Leicester. It just feels like they've had a bit of a sweep about and plonked some fine but unremarkable houses down.

 

Maybe it'll come in time and the area by proxy will get more of those amenities and feel a bit more like an extension of the city as people settle there. Can't remember if you were a PLANNER / architect by trade so keen to hear your thoughts tbh!

Sorry for late reply as you make some really good points but don’t want to talk too much about it for obvious reasons, that you have identified! If we ever bump into each other it would be a great conversation.

[Free Falling Foxes]

This could easily have gone into the 'Grind my gears' thread.

 

Travelling past an house locally and saw a fella walk up his drive and throw some litter down on the grass verge.

Bloody annoying anyway but - and this may be called out as irrelevant by some - the family who lives there do not have English as their first language and, no doubt, would be classed as bringing an economic benefit to the country by migrating here.

 

I've called out 'indigenous' people over littering, but it annoys me even more when foreign nationals do it.

Show some bloody respect for the place you now call home - when it suits.

 

Perhaps it should have gone into 'Grind my gears' after all?

 

Rant over.

Edited 5 December 2025 by Free Falling Foxes

[davieG]

Better than it used to be.

 

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent

 

Life Between the Walls

A mother and her children standing in a shared courtyard — a scene that once played out across Leicester’s slum areas.

One outdoor toilet. One tap. Open drains. Damp walls.

Yet these courtyards were also full of community spirit because people had no choice but to face life together.

Hardship and strength, side by side.

#LeicesterHistory #SlumHousing #LeicesterHeritage #WorkingClassLife #UrbanHistory

 

 

This scene could be from dozens of Leicester streets in the early 1900s.

Back-to-backs, leaking roofs, coal fires, hand-me-down clothes — and a family dog weaving between houses.

Four, six, even ten people in two rooms.

Little money. Little comfort.

But somehow — plenty of pride.

Slum clearances in the 60s and 70s changed everything, but the resilience of these families shaped Leicester’s character forever.

#LeicesterHistory #WorkingClassHeritage #BackToBacks #SlumLife #LeicesterStories

 

 

[SemperEadem]

Was great to see it really busy yesterday.

[brookfox]

3 hours ago, SemperEadem said:

Was great to see it really busy yesterday.

I thought that. Took my son in for a pint for his 18th and was expecting the usual grim sights. Instead, if you squinted slightly, I dare say it was almost buzzing and looked mildly nice!

[SemperEadem]

1 minute ago, brookfox said:

I thought that. Took my son in for a pint for his 18th and was expecting the usual grim sights. Instead, if you squinted slightly, I dare say it was almost buzzing and looked mildly nice!

Similar I took my 7 year old to see the Christmas markets, clock tower etc. It was nice.

[Wymsey]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93nedxrq7eo

 

[Grebfromgrebland]

12 hours ago, Wymsey said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93nedxrq7eo

 

Self storage weird concept where for many people it's used where they've overconsumed and over bought over their lives that they have to actually rent space to store it all.

 

In future societies will look at how we were just addicted to shopping and buying stuff and manufacturing stuff that we just simply did not need or use and just put in storage in lofts cupboards and additional out of house storage.

[kenny]

35 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

Self storage weird concept where for many people it's used where they've overconsumed and over bought over their lives that they have to actually rent space to store it all.

 

In future societies will look at how we were just addicted to shopping and buying stuff and manufacturing stuff that we just simply did not need or use and just put in storage in lofts cupboards and additional out of house storage.

Amazing when you move house though.

 

Lots of micro businesses use them as well.

[Grebfromgrebland]

Yes they do and it clearly has it uses but how many actually empty them once they've moved house. 

 

Unfortunately for those who rent and move house frequently they end up just keeping stuff in storage permanently.

[Bellend Sebastian]

The weather didn't help, but it all felt a bit bleak when I went into the centre today, given it's only a week until Christmas.

 

Was chatting to my mate who has a business there and he reckons the loss of the M&S has had a big, big impact, which was always the fear that would happen when they went

 

 

[Grebfromgrebland]

Losing M&S was massive. That's less and less reason to go into town shopping. 

[SemperEadem]

2 hours ago, Bellend Sebastian said:

The weather didn't help, but it all felt a bit bleak when I went into the centre today, given it's only a week until Christmas.

 

Was chatting to my mate who has a business there and he reckons the loss of the M&S has had a big, big impact, which was always the fear that would happen when they went

 

 

Losing John Lewis did the same in Sheffield.

[Bellend Sebastian]

3 hours ago, SemperEadem said:

Losing John Lewis did the same in Sheffield.

It's a shame isn't it? 

 

I mean you can't force them to stay but you know the effect it's going to have.

 

I was at University in Sheffield in the mid 90s and the centre was feeling the effects of Meadowhall opening, which was counterbalanced a bit by the tram. No idea what it's like these days, never really been back

[Dreadnought]

3 hours ago, SemperEadem said:

Losing John Lewis did the same in Sheffield.

John Lewis in Leicester is looking very run down. I have heard they are there rent free as if they go, High Cross couldn’t survive after the loss of Debenhams. The place has so many empty units as it is. 

[SemperEadem]

13 minutes ago, Dreadnought said:

John Lewis in Leicester is looking very run down. I have heard they are there rent free as if they go, High Cross couldn’t survive after the loss of Debenhams. The place has so many empty units as it is. 

Id not been to High Cross for a few years until the other week, stark how many units were empty.

[PAULCFC]

12 minutes ago, Dreadnought said:

John Lewis in Leicester is looking very run down. I have heard they are there rent free as if they go, High Cross couldn’t survive after the loss of Debenhams. The place has so many empty units as it is. Trip

Same all over the country....i'm lucky to live in a town where there are a load of indipendent shops,but if you need anything big or go on a "Shopping Trip"(Can't think of anything worse!) Then it's the Metro Centre in Gateshead.....such a soulless place!

[UniFox21]

2 hours ago, SemperEadem said:

Id not been to High Cross for a few years until the other week, stark how many units were empty.

Sad isn't it, just a continuing spiral of the city centre becoming less and less appealing to visit

[danny.]

I genuinely don’t know how it can compete with online. Fosse park at least you just park up for free and you’re there and even then I’d probably just buy online over going there 9/10 times. 

[kenny]

21 minutes ago, danny. said:

I genuinely don’t know how it can compete with online. Fosse park at least you just park up for free and you’re there and even then I’d probably just buy online over going there 9/10 times. 

I'd start with having stock.

 

Next up, I'd employ staff that make the stock available instead of showing you the website on a tablet and telling you to order online.

[Lionator]

A lot of these issues aren’t just Leicester issues, the country is economically on its arse. The only cities I can think of that are thriving are Manchester and Liverpool and they have different transport systems and urban layouts. 

Edited 19 December 2025 by Lionator

[JonnyBoy]

What has happened to Leicester? Out on queens road for a few beers for work Christmas party,  decide to get taxi into town. Walk out of taxi, scraps left right and centre and massive police presence so now in taxi on way home.

 

hideous. 

[Heathrow fox]

1 minute ago, JonnyBoy said:

What has happened to Leicester? Out on queens road for a few beers for work Christmas party,  decide to get taxi into town. Walk out of taxi, scraps left right and centre and massive police presence so now in taxi on way home.

 

hideous. 

The last Friday before Xmas is always a bit tasty.That’s why it’s called mad Friday.

[UniFox21]

On 19/12/2025 at 05:39, Lionator said:

A lot of these issues aren’t just Leicester issues, the country is economically on its arse. The only cities I can think of that are thriving are Manchester and Liverpool and they have different transport systems and urban layouts. 

Both have mayors campaigning for the city and ensuring it's transport etc is as easy to use as possible. Whilst he is a prat, Burnham has done some brilliant things with the Bee network transport system.