Belgrave Road (The Golden Mile), Leicester

Belgrave Road, commonly known as The Golden Mile, is one of Leicester’s most vibrant and culturally rich areas, located just northeast of the city center. Part of the ancient Roman Fosse Way, this thoroughfare is famed for its Indian restaurants, sari shops, jewelers, and spectacular annual Diwali celebrations, the largest outside of India.

Despite the common misconception that its name originates from the many shops selling Indian gold jewelry, The Golden Mile was actually named in the late 1960s and early 1970s due to the rapid succession of yellow-amber traffic lights that appeared along the road. The name Belgrave Road itself comes from Belgrave, the first village reached by the Fosse Way as it left medieval Leicester.

Originally constructed as part of the Roman route between Lincoln and Exeter, Belgrave Road is among the straightest roads in the western Roman empire. It passes through Leicester’s old town, continuing as Narborough Road on the other side of the River Soar.

The architectural landscape of the Golden Mile was shaped in the 19th and 20th centuries, but it was in the 1970s that the area became particularly associated with Leicester’s growing Sikh and Hindu communities. Today, the street is often described as "the closest that Britain comes to an Indian bazaar", drawing visitors for its authentic Indian cuisine, traditional textiles, and intricate jewelry.

The Golden Mile is also famed for its seasonal lights, illuminating the area for both Diwali and Christmas celebrations. Leicester’s Diwali festivities, centered on this road, attract thousands of people each year, making it one of the most significant cultural events in the UK. The area’s distinct charm even made its way onto the big screen, serving as a filming location for the British-Indian film Jadoo.

Whether for a shopping spree, a feast of Indian delicacies, or a dazzling festival experience, the Golden Mile remains a key cultural and historical landmark in Leicester.