Guide To Leicester By Bike. Discover A Terrific City Break.

In his Guide to Leicester by bike, Rupert Parker gets on two wheels and discovers Romans, Richard III and Space Rockets

Leicester is not one of those places that immediately springs to mind for a city break. It’s in that vague area of the Midlands where you might pass on the train on the way to somewhere else. However once the remains of King Richard III were discovered under a council car park and featured in a movie, it sounded like a place I had to visit.

And delving more, I discover it has more than 2,000 years of layered history including both Roman and Richard III Museums, one of the most vibrant cultural streets in Britain with great Asian food and The International Space Centre

It’s also nice and compact, perfect for exploring by e-bike along the city’s many cycle trails. As well as dedicated tracks besides roads, they take you along old railway lines and through an extensive network of canals and rivers

Leicester was ranked as one of the top 100 cities in Europe 2025 and, unlike many of its UK counterparts, the centre feels very much alive and includes a thriving local market. Forget empty storefronts and charity shops, this is a place where you can easily spend time window shopping and people watching.

King Richard III

Leicester’s global fame surged in 2012 with one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in modern British history: the remains of King Richard III were found beneath a city centre car park.

The king, who died at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, had long been thought lost to history. Yet DNA testing confirmed that a skeleton discovered at the site of the former Greyfriars church was indeed his. I start at the King Richard III Visitor Centre which now stands on that very spot. It offers a compelling, interactive journey through medieval intrigue, warfare, and the science behind the discovery.

Inside, visitors can stand above the original grave site and explore the myths and realities surrounding one of England’s most controversial monarchs. It’s a rare opportunity to see history rewritten in real time – and to witness how a quiet Midlands city became the focus of worldwide attention.

Just nearby is Leicester Cathedral, where Richard III was reinterred in 2015. The cathedral itself is a peaceful and elegant space, blending medieval origins with modern design elements. The king’s tomb, carved from Swaledale fossil stone, is both simple and striking, offering a reflective contrast to the dramatic story of his life and rediscovery.

Roman Leicester

Long before Leicester became a modern multicultural city, it was known as Ratae Corieltauvorum, an important Roman settlement. Its legacy is still visible today at the remarkable Jewry Wall, one of the largest surviving pieces of Roman masonry in Britain.

Standing over nine metres high, this imposing wall once formed part of a grand public bath complex built around AD 160. Visitors today can wander among the excavated foundations of the baths and imagine a time when Leicester was a bustling Roman town complete with forum, temples, and heated bathing rooms.

The adjacent museum, recently reopened after major renovation, uses immersive multimedia to tell the story of Roman Leicester. It’s set around the remains of a 2nd-century Roman bathhouse and a 10 minute film sets the scene. The museum features over 130 Roman artefacts discovered in the area.

The Golden Mile

If Leicester’s past is rooted in Rome and medieval England, its present is unmistakably global. Nowhere is this more evident than along the Golden Mile, a vibrant stretch of Belgrave Road that offers one of the most immersive cultural experiences in the UK.

Famed for having the highest concentration of gold jewellery shops in Europe, the Golden Mile dazzles visitors with its shimmering storefronts, colourful sari boutiques, and enticing aromas of Asian cuisine. It has often been described as Britain’s closest equivalent to an Indian bazaar- and that feels entirely accurate as you wander past sweet shops, spice merchants, and vegetarian restaurants.

Leicester is the current England Curry Capital and hopes to retain its title later this year. I enjoy an excellent lunch at Mirch Masala which has been serving bold, authentic Indian flavours with a fully vegetarian and vegan menu for over 30 years. It champions the vibrant tastes of India’s roadside cuisine, from chaat and dosas to rich, spice-led curries.

Outdoor Adventures

Leicester isn’t just about history and culture, it also offers plenty for those seeking fresh air and activity. On the outskirts of the city lies the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, a hub for adventure set along a scenic stretch of the River Soar

Here, visitors can try kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, and even rafting, making it an ideal destination for families, groups, or solo travellers looking to break up a city trip with something more active. I take a river trip on double canoe, led by manager Stuart Fraser.

Dry land activities include archery and axe throwing, and there’s also a popular high ropes course. Within a short distance, you can move from Roman ruins and medieval history to splashing through rapids or gliding across calm water.

Reaching for the Stars

Leicester’s story doesn’t end on Earth. The city is also home to the National Space Centre, one of the UK’s leading science and education attractions. Recognisable by its futuristic rocket tower, the centre offers interactive galleries, real spacecraft, and the UK’s largest planetarium

Immersive exhibitions explore everything from the origins of the universe to the future of space travel. This is my last stop in the city and unfortunately I don’t have time for a simulated space mission. Instead, I mount my e-bike, turn the switch and boldly go back to the train station.