| Leicester is on the main route north from London, | | | | and First Leicester companies. There is also the |
| passing through the midlands. As such it is well | | | | CentreBus - Leicester which operates services |
| served by both road and rail links. | | | | specifically along the main arterial routes and |
| Getting to and from Leicester: | | | | around Leicester City. As mentioned above, the |
| The main railway station in Leicester is located on | | | | main bus station in Leicester is the St Margarets |
| London Road, which is some way from the city | | | | bus station. |
| centre. There are two main railway services | | | | Apart from at the main railway and bus stations, |
| passing through Leicester. Central Trains, operating | | | | there are numerous taxi ranks around the city |
| east-west, whose City Links service running | | | | from which you can use one of the city's |
| between Norwich and Liverpool passes through | | | | Hackney cabs. Alternatively, there are plenty of |
| Leicester, and Midland Mainline, operating | | | | private hire taxi firms you can phone to use. The |
| north-south, which provides the train service | | | | most central taxi rank to the city centre is at |
| linking with the capital city of England, St Pancras | | | | Humberstone gate to the east of the Clock |
| station in London. The principle Midland Mainline | | | | Tower. |
| service running through Leicester is Sheffield - | | | | As with any major city, Leicester city roads can |
| London. Despite being away from the city centre | | | | become very congested, especially during the |
| the railway station has good links into the city | | | | rush hours. Congestion is not helped by the |
| centre from the public transport buses and taxis. | | | | veritable maze of 'one-way' streets encountered |
| If you fancy a bit of nostalgia there is also the | | | | in the city centre, which to anyone driving around |
| Great Central Railway that runs a steam train | | | | the city for the first time, become as annoying as |
| service between Leicester North and | | | | they are difficult to navigate. To get around the |
| Loughborough Central. (NB. Leicester North station | | | | city centre there is no single ring road. The A594 |
| is not used by other national railway companies.) | | | | to the north of the city provides half of a ring |
| National Express coach services linking Leicester | | | | road, but to the south there is only a collection of |
| to other nationwide cities run from the St | | | | roads that allow you to get around, as opposed |
| Margarets Bus Station to the north of the city | | | | to directing you around on a ring road. Within the |
| centre off the A594 on Gravel Street. The bus | | | | city all the major shopping areas are well served |
| station is also used by Stage Coach services and | | | | for car parking with a variety of long and short |
| the local bus route operators. In January 2006 an | | | | stay car parks. Bulletins regarding congestion and |
| extensive refurbishment programme for the bus | | | | parking are regularly broadcast by local radio |
| station was begun. | | | | stations. |
| There is no Leicester airport as such. Leicester | | | | Being a largely flat city Leicester lends itself well |
| does have an aerodrome suitable for small/light | | | | to anyone wishing to cycle in or through it. With |
| aircraft and helicopters but has no facilities for | | | | over 60 miles of sign-posted cycle-ways and |
| larger aircraft. The main airport that is nearest to | | | | plans for a network of safer on and off road |
| Leicester is Nottingham East Midlands, which is | | | | cycle lanes, Leicester is probably one of the more |
| about 20 miles (30km) away, a short journey | | | | forward thinking cities regarding the use of cycles |
| north up the M1 motorway. Also nearby are | | | | as a means of local and environmentally friendly |
| Birmingham, Luton and Coventry airports. SkyLink | | | | transport. |
| runs a direct coach service linking Leicester and | | | | The River Soar runs through Leicester on its way |
| East Midlands airport. | | | | to join the River Trent to the north. It is a small |
| Major road routes for Leicester are maintained by | | | | river and is really only navigable by small/pleasure |
| the Highways Agency. The main road route to | | | | boats. However, the Grand Union Canal also runs |
| Leicester from the south or north is the M1, the | | | | through Leicester and was, in its day, a major |
| first motorway to be built in England and now | | | | transport route carrying goods north and south. |
| linking London and Leeds. The M69 provides a | | | | The Grand Union canal and the River Soar meet |
| direct link to the M6 motorway heading west to | | | | in the south of Leicester in a suburb called |
| Birmingham and then north as far as Carlisle. | | | | Ayleston. Today the canal is part of the popular |
| Heading east, the main routes are by the A6 | | | | tourist industry in canal-barge holidays. Although |
| which links up with the A14 to Cambridge and | | | | not yet started Leicester has ambitious plans to |
| A47 that heads out to Peterborough. | | | | re-develop its waterside area. |
| Travel in and around Leicester: | | | | General enquiries regarding public transport in |
| The main local public transport bus services in | | | | Leicester are directed by Leicester City Council to |
| Leicester are operated by Arriva (Fox County) | | | | Travel Line UK, alternatively 'phone 08706082608. |