Student Accommodation

Leicester

The Universities

There are two magnificent and highly rated universities in Leicester. Both De Montfort University and the University of Leicester are located close to our luxury student accommodation in Leicester, and both have a tranquil and calm feel, set in great green spaces to sit and relax, to catch up with friends and, when the weather is nice, to study. You can reach both universities from your apartment on foot, or via easy-to-use public transport. They are also both conveniently placed for students to explore and enjoy the city, with its many cafés, bars and restaurants. Leicester is one of the most popular destinations for students due to the fact that it has such highly regarded educational establishments in the heart of the city, and on top of that, Loughborough University is only around twenty minutes away by train.

University of Leicester

The University of Leicester is highly regarded as an institution that prides itself on quality research and innovation. It was here, after all, that DNA fingerprinting was invented. It is also the place where the remains of Richard III were discovered and identified. With this in mind, students at the University of Leicester can expect to receive the highest standard of teaching and have some of the finest research and educational facilities to lean on during their studies.

De Montfort University

De Montfort University is located in a glorious part of town. A gentle stroll down the leafy Edwardian promenade of New Walk brings you towards the campus, where medieval buildings including the Magazine Gateway, Leicester Castle and the tranquil riverside Castle Gardens surround the university. It is a truly stunning place to study. De Montfort has also spent money investing in a magnificent sports centre to ensure that it has the very best facilities for its students to take advantage of, whether on a casual basis or to aid with elite performance in the BUCS leagues or towards becoming professional athletes in the future. De Montfort is organised into three faculties: Technology, Arts and Culture; Business and Law; and Health and Life Sciences.

Leicester, as a student city, is a truly wonderful experience. With over 60,000 students living in the city, spread between the two city universities and Loughborough just outside the city boundaries, it is no wonder that many students decide to stay on after completing their courses. Your luxury student accommodation in Leicester will go a long way to convincing you that you are in the right place.

Treat Yourself

Moving to a new city as a student can be hard work, especially if you are not used to cooking meals at home for just yourself. It is nice to know that even though you have a fantastic kitchen with all the latest appliances at your luxury student accommodation in Leicester, there is plenty of tasty food to be found in this vibrant city. Whether you are looking for a breakfast and a cup of coffee before university, a light lunchtime snack, or a big meal with friends, there is plenty of choice to suit all taste buds, including some of the best Indian restaurants in the whole of the UK.

As a student, you will soon learn how to live effectively on a budget, but this should not prevent you from seeking out some delicious food. There are some fine examples of student-friendly prices in food establishments in Leicester, so we have picked out a few for you to delve into when you arrive.

Jones Café Bistro

Jones Café Bistro on Queens Road serves up some of the best value for money food in the entire city for students. During the day they have some fantastic prices for breakfast, as well as jacket potatoes, deli sandwiches, salads and cakes to buy at lunch. Head back in the evening for some incredibly good pasta dishes and a whole lot more.

Phoenix

Phoenix is another firm favourite. This independent arts space and cinema also has an incredible café bar on-site, with a large menu that ranges from brunch deals right through to healthy salads and hearty dishes. The specials board is always worth a look too. For vegetarians, Good Earth is an institution in the Midlands. Leicester’s oldest vegetarian café and restaurant, it has been tucked away on a side street just off Granby Street since 1965, offering unpretentious, home-cooked vegetarian and vegan food in a pleasantly old-fashioned atmosphere.

The Fish and The Chip Shop

A popular place on the student food map in Leicester is The Fish and The Chip Shop. Here, you come to sit down and eat some of the best fish and chips around. There is even a student discount available, so it is well worth bringing your university ID. Happy hour each day is home to some surprising and inventive cocktails to enjoy whilst you wait for your fish supper.

The Golden Mile

The name of the game for many people in Leicester, though, is the quality of the curry houses. The Golden Mile on Belgrave Road is the place to be, and with the wide range of options and bring your own bottle curry houses, it is a pretty cheap place to eat as a student. There is also a range of all-you-can-eat Indian buffet restaurants on the Golden Mile and Narborough Road to head to if you fancy a curry.

More Places

Other places to explore and enjoy for food in Leicester include Grounded Kitchen (Korean-inspired cuisine), 200 Degrees (coffee, sandwiches and cake), and Northern Cobbler (a coffee roaster and lifestyle shop on Queens Road that also serves excellent food).

Nights Out

In such a big student city as Leicester, there was bound to be a good selection of nightlife to choose from. With 60,000 students to cater to, the city’s bars and clubs have certainly stepped up to the plate. Over the past few years, there have been plenty of new bars and student-specific club nights that have made the city an even more attractive proposition for students. Whether you are looking for comedy, live music, hip-hop, theatre, cheesy pop, or alternative music, Leicester has it all. More importantly, Leicester is one of those cities that has a community feel to it, and it is one of the safest nights out you will find anywhere in the UK. In fact, in many pubs, bars, and clubs throughout the city, there is a genuine mix of students and locals getting along very well. With our luxury student accommodation in Leicester being pretty central, you will be able to head out later without missing a thing, and come home without the need for a taxi fare.

Mosh

Mosh is one of the biggest student nights on the weekly calendar for a night out in Leicester. It runs as an alternative club night every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For years now, it has been the place to be for the alternative student, with three floors of fun to be found. You can sing along to indie anthems, find the DJ with the dance and drum and bass classics, or dance the night away to chart hits.

Club Republic

Another big student favourite is Club Republic, which has an impressive selection of four different rooms and ten bars to explore. There truly is something for every taste here, and this is also the venue for a wide range of student-friendly club nights each week.

Live Entertainment

If live performance is more your thing, there are some pretty amazing smaller venues in the city, including The Big Difference, which hosts both local and national artists from the world of music and comedy, and always draws a packed audience. Firebug offers something a little different, with a great selection of food and a superb live performance space. The upstairs venue is home to live music, fun club nights and even immersive cinema events. Other live music venues include The Shed, Leicester’s longest-running live music venue, which has been open since 1994 and remains a core part of the city’s music scene, and The Soundhouse. Both venues have seen a whole host of bands and artists come through the doors over the years. The Shed is where Sergio Pizzorno and Tom Meighan, who went on to form Kasabian, played early gigs in their previous band. The Soundhouse is also host to a regular open mic night, so if you fancy yourself as the next big thing, head on down and put your name on the list!

Staying Fit And Healthy

A bustling and passionate city, Leicester certainly takes that approach to its love of sport. There is so much sport to both take part in and watch in this city, and from your luxury Leicester student accommodation, you will be able to find exactly what you want from your sporting life within either a short walk or from the readily available public transport options.

Football

Football is king for many people in Leicester, and the city has a deep and passionate relationship with Leicester City Football Club. The Premier League title win in 2016 was one of the most cherished sporting miracles ever witnessed, and it was that year that Leicester was also awarded the title of the UK’s Greatest Sporting City. Whatever league the Foxes are playing in, the King Power Stadium is easily reached from your student accommodation in Leicester, and the matchday atmosphere in the city is always something to experience.

Other Sports

Leicester is not all about football alone, with the Leicester Tigers one of the most successful rugby union teams around, playing their home matches at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. There are loads of good sports teams in the city, with a basketball team, a speedway outfit and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. Leicester Racecourse can be found on the outskirts of the city and is home to over 30 race meetings every year, including the popular Ladies Day. The racecourse is a National Hunt and flat venue, and also doubles up as a great place for events and private functions. For those of you who love cycling, there is even some elite cycling to be found in Leicester with the annual Leicester Castle Classic every summer.

Sports Clubs

At both De Montfort University and the University of Leicester, you will find plenty of sports clubs and teams to join if you wish. De Montfort has a recently built sports centre that is aimed at helping create elite athletes, as well as providing everyday support to those looking to stay fit, play team and individual sports, and just to have some fun!

Outdoor Sports

Leicester is also a city that is blessed with many outdoor spaces and parks, which make for fun exploration if you enjoy running, cycling or hiking. Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre offers affordable sessions for those looking for a bit more of a thrill from their sporting endeavours, including a zip-line, archery, climbing and canoeing, to name just a few. It is the perfect outdoor activity centre for thrill seekers.

Where To Shop

When you first move into our stunning Leicester student accommodation, you will see that you have made the right choice with the quality of furnishings and space afforded to you. It is important, though, that you quickly get to grips with your surroundings and find the shopping outlets that will help you settle in quickly. You will need to find the local shops and supermarkets to help you fill the ample cupboard space in your amazing new kitchen, but you will also want to know where is best to head to find the brand names you know and love on the high street, and where to go to dig a bit deeper and find some independent gems.

Leicester Market

Leicester Market has a genuine claim to fame as the largest outdoor covered market in Europe. Currently operating from a temporary home on Green Dragon Square while a major redevelopment of its historic site is under way, it retains all the character and variety that has made it one of the city’s most beloved landmarks for over 700 years. You will still find a fantastic range of fresh produce, street food, clothing, jewellery and much more, with the monthly Farmers Market also a great place to source local produce of the highest quality.

Shopping Centres

If you are looking for high street brand names, you do not have to go very far from your student accommodation in Leicester. Haymarket is a shopping centre in the heart of the city that is home to a number of staples including TK Maxx and Primark. Highcross is the largest shopping centre in town, home to many a big-name store, a range of familiar coffee shops and restaurants, and even a multiplex cinema and a gym.

Independent Stores

There are loads of independent stores in Leicester too, with quirky boutiques for clothes, crafts, music and much more, especially in the lanes area of the city centre. The Wardrobe in the Royal Arcade is one such place, offering retro items, vintage flannel shirts, Fred Perry polos, and 60s dresses. Above Ground, also in the Royal Arcade, was formerly known as Pink Pigeon and carries an excellent collection of vintage and designer clothing, from leather jackets and band tees to premium streetwear. If you are looking for vintage cool to replenish your wardrobe and fashion a whole new image during your first time living away from home, the Leicester independent scene provides ample opportunity.

Go Explore!

Leicester is an extremely friendly and vibrant city where there is always a smile to be found, laughter to be had, and events and attractions to explore. There are many popular events throughout the year and you will be able to enjoy as many as you like from the comfortable surroundings of your luxury Leicester student accommodation in the heart of the city.

Art And History

There are some really interesting spaces in the city, with The National Space Centre a big favourite for tourists and locals alike. The New Walk Museum and Art Gallery is another big hit for those looking to explore some culture on a day out around town. A really interesting event that transforms the city is Bring the Paint, a street art festival held each spring that turns Leicester into one of the most impressive open air galleries in the UK. You will find huge murals all over town, representing communities and artists from around the world that make the city as vibrant and interesting as it is.

Parks

If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle for a few hours there are some fantastic green spaces and parks to explore with a casual walk. Abbey Park is just a stone’s throw from the centre and is a really calm and inviting area to relax with friends, sit and get a suntan or read a book. Bradgate Park is a little further away but offers sumptuous views of the local countryside and beautiful wildlife.

Live Entertainment

The Curve Theatre is a place to catch some live drama, while touring bands often play De Montfort Hall. If street food is your thing, keep an eye out for Leicester’s fantastic range of food festivals throughout the year, including the Leicester Food Festival in Abbey Park each summer, with a whole variety of cuisines, live music, comedy and more across the weekend. It is the perfect way to spend a warm summer’s day.

Festivals

Other festivals that run throughout the year include the Leicester Comedy Festival, where you can see some of the finest comedians in the country. Leicester is often seen as a stop off before comedians head to the Edinburgh Festival, so expect to see some amazing performers as they work out their sets for later in the year. It is a line-up that is always worth checking out.

Aside from those big events, the Christmas Markets and Festive Ice Rink are always a big draw in the winter months, while you can take a tour of Leicester City Football Club and the King Power Stadium if you are interested in sports. Whatever you are interested in, this city is home to an interesting array of events and attractions to explore from your luxury student accommodation in Leicester.