Leicester Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Leicester

Leicester is one of the oldest cities in England, whose history goes back almost two millennia. The Romans arrived in the area around 47 AD, during their conquest of southern Britain. Following the Saxon invasion, Leicester was then captured by Danish Vikings, in the 9th century.

The settlement was first documented in the early 10th century, under the name Ligeraceaster. At the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066, the town, then known as Ledecestre, was quite thriving. William the Conqueror's Domesday Book recorded it as having 322 houses and six churches, with a population of between 1,500 and 2,000. Medieval Leicester lay within the old Roman walls which followed the lines of today's Soar Lane, Sanvey Gate, Church Gate, Gallowtree Gate, Horsefair Street and Bath Lane.

The name Leicester comes from Old English and derives from Latin “Legorensis civitatis”. The former word is the name of a people, the Ligore, who came from the river Ligor (now the River Soar). The second element of the name is the Old English word ceaster which means "fort, fortification, town" (borrowed from Latin castrum).

In the 12th-13th centuries Leicester underwent a development boom, and in the 14th century saw its prestige further enhanced. The timber-framed Leicester Guildhall (once acted as the town hall) dates from that period. At the end of the War of the Roses (mid-to-late 15th century), King Richard III met his end at the Battle of Bosworth Field near the town, and was buried in Leicester's Greyfriars Church. The burial site, demolished in 1538, was discovered in 2012 and is now covered by King Richard III Visitor Centre.

During the Industrial era, particularly throughout the reign of Queen Victoria, Leicester had prospered greatly. Between 1861 and 1901, its population had increased three-fold, to exceed 210,000, with the living conditions also generally improved.

Leicester was finally recognized as a city in 1919 for its contribution to the British WWI effort. In 1927, Leicester became a cathedral city upon the consecration of St Martin's Church as Leicester Cathedral. The years after WWII, particularly from the 1960s onwards, brought many social and economic challenges to the city, as well as further expansion.

To check out Leicester's major attractions worthy of attention, take this self-guided walk and learn more about the past and present of this city in its variety!