Hidden Gems in Leicester That’ll Leave You Amazed

Leicester is an interesting city in the East Midlands of England, which has a rich history, culture, and modern vibrant life. Despite the presence of several famous Leicester landmarks like the King Richard III Visitor Centre and the National Space Centre, there is a group of hidden gems that you cannot afford to visit.

The most interesting thing about Leicester is that it manages to build a blending of both the old and the new. Every turn will feature the remnants of its Roman, medieval, and industrial history, mixed with colorful art, world cuisine, and multicultural communities. It is a city in which the past speaks through paved sidewalks, local creativity flourishes in the old factories now galleries, and serene green areas provide an act of relief in between the noise of the city. Be it you are a culture lover, a history buff or a person who just came to see the beauty in the unexpected places, the lesser-known places of Leicester will not leave you indifferent and will likely be something to look forward to.

It is one of the cities, which include a surprise in every turn and there is always something to be discovered. This location is composed of ancient churches, serene gardens, diverse colored quarters, thrilling museums, and so forth to make one have an exciting journey.

In the process, here is a list of just a few of the hidden gems in Leicester that will open your mind.

1. St. Mary de Castro Church

St. Mary de Castro Church, which is also situated close to the Castle Gardens is an ancient gem that was built in the 12th century. It is a good and well-constructed architectural structure with a tranquil atmosphere which takes you back to the past. This church is a witness to its historical significance, having countless carvings and colorful stained-glass windows painted with biblical scenes and medieval decoration.

Inside, the vibe is sacred and unchanged with time as the sun rays pass through the windows creating a kaleidoscope of colours on the stone flooring. There is a connection of the church to numerous historic events, one of them being the possible marriage of Geoffrey Chaucer, an author of The Canterbury Tales. It was named after its location, St. Mary of the Castle, showing how central this church was to the life of the ancient castle complex of Leicester.

It is a still used place of worship and community today usually with choir performances and heritage events. To lovers of hidden history, St. Mary de Castro can provide an insight into the spiritual and architectural development of Leicester.

2. Belgrave Hall and Gardens

Belgrave Hall and Gardens is a tranquil place in the heart of the city traffic in the Belgrave district. The property is originally a family home created in the 18 th century but it is a brilliant example of Georgian architectural beauty with impeccable arrangement of gardens.

The beautiful exterior of the Hall, its symmetrical windows and traditional proportions send you back in time to the era of elegance and well-bred. The period rooms within are beautifully maintained, with their old pieces of furniture, ornaments and how the rich families of Leicester lived in their domestic setting during the Georgian and Victorian times. The rooms are stories, with the grand drawing rooms where the high society held their splendid parties, and the small servant quarters where the real life behind the curtain is expressed.

The gardens, in the meantime, are an oasis of tranquillity. They have manicured lawns, colorful flowerbeds and old trees to give the best location to take an afternoon walk or have some quiet time of reflection. Belgrave Hall also has seasonal activities like open air theatre performance, historical reenactment and garden fair, which are carried out throughout the year. It is a place where the time can be slowed down, and one can breathe, stroll around and recall the genteel history of Leicester.

3. Clarendon Park

The Clarendon Park neighborhood is the bohemian core of Leicester – a vibrant district which demonstrates the creative and multicultural spirit of the city. It is where art collides with daily life and where independent enterprises coexist with wood lined residential streets.

Whenever you walk by the Queens Road of Clarendon Park, you will encounter a curious blend of old fashioned boutiques, second-hand bookstores, vegan cafes, and handcrafted bakeries. The ambiance of this place is quite easy to cool but friendly to all students, artists, or locals. You can feel the warmth of the community spirit in Leicester whether you are having a hand roasted coffee at a local cafe, browsing through a hand made jewelry stand at one of the community pop-up events or attending one of the community pop-up events.

It is also home to artistic flavour – there are also murals, music events and creative workshops that are common here. Clarendon Park is the contemporary image of the city; it is diverse, inclusive and constantly changing. It is the place that one has to visit to get the rhythm of modern Leicester outside the tourist trap.

4. The Guildhall

Guildhall is one of the most interesting buildings in Leicester and belongs to the category of the oldest ones, which was constructed in the 14th century, and it is situated close to Leicester Cathedral. Throughout its history it has been used in a variety of ways – a courtroom and town hall, a library, and currently it serves as an intriguing museum that can bring anyone close to the history of the city of medieval times.

You pass through the timber-framed doorway, and enter the world of oak and leaded windows, and reverberating chambers. One is especially impressive, the Great Hall, with its dark interiors, and its historical exhibits, which tell the history of the civic and cultural life of Leicester in the past. It is possible to assume that medieval authorities might have held this place where they could talk about royal orders or citizens meeting some important matters.

The Guildhall is also rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Leicester, which makes the place attractive with some mysteriousness. Regularly, ghost tours and heritage evenings are organized, during which the visitors will be able to visit the atmospheric corridors during the candlelight. The Guildhall has something to catch the eye of a history enthusiast or a supernatural enthusiast and the experience that will stick in your mind even after you have gone.

5. New Walk Museum and Art Gallery

New Walk Museum and Art Gallery is not technically secret, but it is usually lost in the presence of the other big sites in Leicester, and this is what makes it one of the most underestimated sites in the city. Located in the scenic New Walk promenade, this museum is a museum of art, science, and history together as a family-friendly location.

Indoors, you can explore the stands that cover the continents and centuries in the form of Egyptian mummies, old artifacts, and new paintings and interactivity. It has many favorite spots amongst them the Dinosaur Gallery where the Rutland Dinosaur skeleton is found and it is of great interest to children as well as adults.

The cultural diversity of Leicester is also represented in the museum since the museum has rotating art exhibitions illustrating a diversity of local and international artists. The natural history galleries also make interesting visits, and include taxidermy and geological exhibits that show the abundance of the local biology.

There is something even more charming in New Walk itself, independent of its exhibits; the Georgian walk, with its foliage, leading to the museum, is one of the few walks of this kind in the United Kingdom, in which foot traffic alone is permitted. It is the best place to take a pleasant walk on a sunny day and then immerse into the artistic side of Leicester.

The Hidden Soul of Discover Leicester

The beauty of Leicester is in its layers, in that it is a city with its head held high and its very most interesting secrets hidden in the most secret places. These secret streets lead to the old churches and the contemporary design districts and gardens and museums full of wonder reveal the spirit of the city.

Traveling past Leicester lies and major attractions, one will discover that Leicester is a destination of opposites; old and young, traditional and daring, peaceful and full of life. The next time you go, get out of the rut since most of the best things in Leicester are where few will see.