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Leicester is well placed in the United kingdom giving easy access to the city from all part of the country. Leicester is within easy reach by air travel, trains or by bus. If you are travelling from a UK city it is easiest by train or coach.
The rail network is of essence to Leicester, and with the start of Eurostar international services from London St Pancras in November 2007 giving Leicester almost direct links to the continent, this growth is sure to continue.
Central Trains provide local services throughout the East Midlands, regional services to the West Midlands as well as East Anglia. Midland Mainline are the InterCity operator running 'fast' and 'semi-fast' services to and from London to northern England.
Rail routes run north-south through Leicester, going south to London St Pancras and north to Sheffield, Leeds and York along the route known as the Midland Main Line. Junctions north and south of the city connect other lines west towards Birmingham, and east towards Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
Leicester is 99 miles from London on the Midland Main Line, the fastest trains taking 1 hour and 8 minutes. Journeys to Sheffield take around 1 hour, Leeds and York are approximately a 2 hour journey. Birmingham can be reached in 46 minutes while Peterborough is 1 hour away.
There are four long and spacious platforms helping Leicester receive the accolade of "Highly Commended Large Station of the Year" in the 2005 National Rail Awards. Midland Mainline won "Train Operator of the Year" in 1999 and also in 2006.
Leicester Train Station - Well connected to the UK
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Passenger train operating companys (TOC) using the station include Midland Mainline, Central Trains and occasionally Virgin Trains along with a variety of rail-freight and Charter train companies.
Network Rail has plans afoot to re-develop the station incorporating the city council's plans for the surrounding area.
Motorways
Leicester is close to the heart of the M1 motorway at Junction 21, this section considered to be the busiest part in the country. The M69 motorway also starts near Leicester, and runs to the M6 Motorway and is contiguous with Coventry's eastern bypass.
Airport
East Midlands Airport is near to Castle Donington which is in North West Leicestershire. Served by low-cost international airlines, makes the city easily accessible from other parts of the world providing daily services to many principal European destinations such as Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin, and Amsterdam, internal flights to Edinburgh and Belfast and limited services to trans-continental destinations such as Barbados, Mexico, Sanford and Florida
Buses & coaches
An Arriva Midlands Dennis Dart in Leicester St. Margaret's Bus Station is the main interchange for coach services in Leicester, while local bus services are split between St. Margaret's and the Haymarket Bus Station.
Leicester - internal city transport bus services
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National Express operate long distance services.
Stagecoach Group operate a mixture of mid to long distance bus and coach services including Megabus.
Flight Link buses operate hourly during the day and two hourly at night to East Midlands Airport.
First Group are the parent company of First Leicester who operate mainly high frequency local bus routes.
Arriva Group are the parent company of Arriva Midlands who operate a mixture of local and rural bus services throughout Leicestershire.
Centrebus operate budget local services mainly between local authority estates.
National Cycle Network
Many of the country's National Cycle Network pass through Leicestershire. In Leicester City Centre you will find the Leicester Bike Park.
Driving to Leicester
FROM M1 (SOUTH) JUNCTION 21/M69 (NORTH END)
Follow A563 OUTER RING LEICESTER SOUTH/EAST for four miles to lights at junction with A50 NORTHAMPTON road. Turn LEFT, signposted A5199 CITY CENTRE, and follow the Welford Road for 1.4 miles to junction with University Road. In detail note following sequence along Welford Road: two sets of lights; dual-carriageway, with shops and filling stations; traffic lights, followed by playing fields on right. Then turn RIGHT at next lights into University Road.
FROM M1 (NORTH) JUNCTION 22/A50 BURTON
Inward-bound: at busy times drivers are strongly advised to follow the M1 Junction 21 (see above). Otherwise, follow A50 LEICESTER signs along dual-carriageway towards city centre. Near centre A50 signs now indicate NORTHAMPTON. Follow A50 NORTHAMPTON signs through one-way system. When A50 becomes a two-way road again, follow it uphill across railway and past cemetery on left. Turn LEFT at next lights into University Road. Outward-bound: from the University campus, turn RIGHT into University Road. Turn LEFT at first lights into Regent Road. Then follow M1 (NORTH) signs.
Related Links
 Leicester though the lens
National Express Coach Services
National Rail
Midland Mainline Website
Travel Line Public Transport Infomation
Arriva Bus
First Bus
East Midlands Airport
The Highway Agency
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