"One thing I love about Leicester is..."
Below are a just a selection of comments people have emailed - telling us one thing they love about Leicester - we'd love to know what yours is! To add your own, simply fill in the form here, or email: one@oneleicester.com
From time to time we'll post more of your coments and passions about Leicester.
Stephen
"One thing I love about Leicester is the market. It is a space in the city centre where people of all backgrounds come to find a bargain. It really exemplifies the city's cultural diversity and is quite an exciting place to be."
Sarah - Birstall
"Having my family here."
Christina
"The variety of people and experiences you can get in one small city-its a world at your doorstep!"
Helen
"The ability to be able to go a music session almost any night of the week!"
Rebecca
"I love that our city has a sense of community - it's like a global village."
Sarah
"There's just so much to do."
Colin Hyde - East Midlands Oral History Archive at the University of Leicester.
"The one thing I love about Leicester is its long history from Roman through Victorian to all the fascinating history within living memory, which is what we record at the Archive."
Raj Singh - Leicester
"I love the nightlife, especially Thursday's 'Supa Dupa' night at Liquid' nightclub. Because they play the latest and best bhangra music in the whole of England. Also I met my beautiful, adorable and hardworking girlfriend who studies at Leicester's DMU...Seema. X"
Jessica Baker - Leicester
"One thing I love about Leicester is - The men!"
Mandy Winkley - Eyres Monsell
"One thing I love about Leicester is how many activities there are for children in the school holidays."
Heather Smalley - Prospect Leicestershire
"I love the regeneration - how small changes can have such a large impact on how we feel about our home city. It was really liberating walking down the High Street when was pedestrianised through the Streets + Spaces initiative. It's become a really lovely and welcoming space in the city."
Chloe Malik - Hot Marketing, Leicester
"I love Queens Road - it has a great atmosphere and is a great place to work and socialise with excellent bars and restaurants, health food shops and a wicked deli!
Simon Calder - London, English travel writer, currently the travel editor for The Independent
"One thing I love about Leicester... is that it's now less than 70 minutes from London, meaning I can visit the National Space Centre, eat the Kerala Backwater cuisine at Kayal's and pay my respects to the father of travel, Thomas Cook, all in a fun day out."
James
"I love the forgotten beauty of Leicester; the way that everything is a work of art and yet nobody ever notices it! Every single building in the city centre tells the story of 2000 years of English history in a subtle and reserved manor -from Jewry Wall all the way up to the Highcross; everything tells the story of the country, in a most English fashion."
Chris Wardle, City Archaeologist
" It has to be the juxtaposition of that great slab of Roman masonry The Jewry Wall and the neighbouring Saxon church of St. Nicholas."
Tim Clark - Director KPW Architects, Leicester
“The history of the Roman Town”
Sonia Randell - Hinckley
"I Love the shopping, Highcross is wicked."
Sarah McGonigle - Leicester
"I Love the carnival, I think its brilliant, I always enjoy this."
Sherilyn Pereira - Leicester
"Shady Lane - When I was a child, my dad would drive us along there in the summer when the sun was cutting through the trees and at night so we could get 'spooked'! Happy memories."
Tessa Jowell – Minister for the Olympics
“The excitement and vibrancy that comes from Leicesters diversity”.
Keji Mustapha- De-Montfort University Law Student
‘’One thing I love about Leicester is…..New Walk. Its my favourite place here, as it combines quaint, old buildings with modern culture and tranquillity. The evening provides such a romantic setting when the lights are on and it looks beautiful no matter what time of day it is. Every city should have a New Walk’’.
David Weight - Leicester
“Narborough Road – the whole spirit of the area - the great community and especially the food!”
Austin Healey- Former Leicester Tigers and England Rugby Player
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..the Lanes. Shopping is my guilty pleasure. I find just wandering around the shops very relaxing and I’m a sucker for a good bargain. I’ve been in Leicester since 1996 and the transformation has been amazing. We used to eat at the same few places every night after training, these days there’s so much choice I’m glad I’m not on a strict diet anymore’’.
Rosemary Conley - C.B.E, D.L.
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..the people. I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve found Leicester folk to be friendly, helpful and generous. It’s a multi-faith, multi-cultural city where people work and live side by side in harmony. If only it could be the same elsewhere in the world!’’.
Michelle Ogden - Leicester
"One thing I love about Leicester...Abbey Park. It is a little oasis of calm just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the city. I spent many happy times there when I was a child and now my children love it too."
Mandeep Kang - Leicester
"One thing I love about Leicester is ‘Leicester college’ – it offers an impressive line up of qualifications and courses for everyone. I've been learning english and I'm really enjoying it."
Shaun Knapp - Aylestone, Leicester
"Joe Orton. Forty years since his death, his plays are still funny, his writing is still clever and he is still an intriguing and fascinating character who grew up on the Saffron Lane Estate, just around the corner from me."
Rosie Hutton - Leicester
"The atmosphere - the mixture of cultures, arts and business is inspiring. With the new arts and business quarters, it feels like something big and exciting is happening here!"
Tiny Deol – Personal Fitness Trainer
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..our passion for sport. It’s a place where one of the most ethnically diverse communities come together to compete with all differences put aside. Communities, cultures and religions join forces and have fun. Leicestershire County Cricket Club feels like my home away from home and I’m so proud to be part of this truly amazing sporting team’’.
Alan ‘the Birch’ Birchenhall - MBE LCFC Club Ambassador
"Leicester City Football Club. I have been here 37 years now and the City has adopted me as one of its own. Back in the 70’s a lot of us used to travel out of town for a good night out but these days its all here. The City has changed so much over the last 30 years and it is a great place for our young people to grow up. Once the regeneration has finished we will have a premiership City then fingers crossed we’ll get a Premiership Club to match it’’.
Lee Penfold – East Midland & Great Britain Basketball Player
“In between training for East Midlands and Great Britain I really love going shopping. It helps me unwind and Leicester is brilliant for wasting an afternoon wandering around the shops. My club side and national team give me the opportunity to travel the world. On a trip to Shanghai I picked up a silver medal and led out the GB team in front of 80,000 people at the Special Olympic World Games. It was a fascinating place and I had a really good time but it doesn’t compare to a good days shopping in Leicester’’.
Fiona Barber
“Its diversity” Further comments: "I want a cleaner city, free from graffitti and dereliction."
Nia Reeves - Leicester
"The fact that it is so diverse”. Further comments: “I think more needs to be done to raise the profile of this website ... it's really good. Or to provide the information in a different format to those who don't have access to the internet.”
Marie Munsey-Statham - Markfield, Leicester
“The shops.”
Jayna Shaw - Rushey Mead, Leicester
“It's a lovely multicultural city.”
Nimisha Overton - Berkshire
“The regeneration of the dated and tired looking centre.”
Edmond Isaac MBE - East Midlands Trains Customer Service Officer
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..its people. I’ve been here for 60 years and the only time I’ve ever left the city was to collect my MBE from the queen. I’m proud to say I’ve never missed a day’s service in the 45 years I’ve worked at the station. It’s my second home and my customers make me so happy. I’ve never had a bad day in Leicester, which is why I believe ‘happiness within’ is the secret to good health. Keep happy, keep smiling’’.
Paul Nixon – Leicestershire County Cricket Club Captain & Special Olympics Ambassador
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..The Tigers. There’s a great deal of synergy between the rugby and cricket teams, we work pretty closely together at club and charity functions and all the lads get on well. In professional sport there’s nothing more pure than one on one battles in a team environment and here at The Tigers you’re guaranteed to see that kind of commitment and enthusiasm every time they step on this pitch, that’s inspiring to me and the reason I’ve been coming here for the last twenty years”.
Tom Clarke – Cleaner City Team
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..the Clock Tower. This is my patch and together with my team of 12, we’re responsible for keeping it clean and tidy. With new people visiting the city every day and the big regeneration plans, I want to make sure everyone goes home with a smile on their face. Little things like that make me feel I’ve done a good days work”.
Karl Brown – Community Sports Coach
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..its sporting pedigree and heritage. We have real passion for sport here and I love being part of it. Working in the community and coming to the St Matthews Centre allows me to share my vast basketball experience and bring out the best in people. I hope my passion can inspire others, whether its on or off the court”.
James
“Leicester Market - it's the best in Britain!”
Sandra Jones - Braunstone, Leicester
“The parks.”
Richard Isles - Oadby, Leicester
“Multiculturalism.”
Karla Davis
“The market in town & love the new Highcross.”
Puja Joshi - London
“The openness of the surroundings.”
Mark Selby – Professional Snooker Player
“One thing I love about Leicester is…..just how welcoming and multi-cultural the city is. Its just a really friendly place and being brought up and learning my trade here makes me proud to be part of it. I enjoy coming back and supporting the New Parks Boys Club, as this is where it all started for me. I cant imagine leaving Leicester – its where I call home!.
Jayant Mistry - Inclusive Sports Development Officer
“One thing I love about Leicester is simple... coming home. I’ve played In tennis tournaments all over the world, won 68 International career titles, been the British number one and ranked in the top ten in the world in Wheelchair Tennis. Its because of this I’ve been lucky enough to travel and see some amazing sights but nothing will beat coming home to Leicester”.
Sonjay Solanki
“The multi-cultural community which has its diverse variety of cultured back-grounded people.”
Jane McGhee - Leicester
“The diverse entertainment.”
Joe Follows - Leicester
“Engelburt Humperdink.” Further comments: “Finally its brilliant having 1 website which has everything listed. It used to be so hard finding out what Leicester had to offer.”
Paul Suter
“The soil – it’s great for growing my new potatoes.”
Mark Youd
“Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, there’s loads to do for families, schools youth groups etc.”
Laura Bridges - Shepshed
“The Music - there is always music coming out of Leicester; loads of music events that people can get involved with and a completely eclectic mix. There is every kind of music on offer in Leicester. Keep up the good work.”
Zoe Colquhoun - Leicester
"One thing I love about Leicester is strolling down New Walk."
Rowan Roenisch - The Victorian Society, Leicester
“The Victorian and Edwardian architecture.”
Lauren Kirkman - Leicester
“The one thing I love about Leicester is how there is always events and things you can do no matter who you are and where you are in Leicester.”
Further comments: “I feel that the One Leicester brand is a up-lifting, contiually progressive project full of activities and delvelopment currently changing Leicesters aperrance today. I love how there is always something for everyone across Leicester with the dance festivals, childrens activities and also the peformances throughout the year. It is a new raising ambition and event Leicester has made and still making that has transformed Leicesters apperance and view to people in the world today.
Peter J Faye - FPC Ltd., Kibworth Beauchamp
“The way that differences are viewed as opportunities and not barriers. If everyone "brings something to the party" and is keen to share, then we all gain!”
Further comments: “I think the whole One Leicester concept can provide a very positive input to the development of the city. New buildings and infrastructure are all very well, but they will not provide benefit without the support and pride of the citizens, who are after all, what make or break a community. To focus on the views and attitudes of people is equally if not more effective, both in terms of costs and benefits.”
Stephen Dukes - Leicester
“One thing I love about Leicester is the market. It is a space in the city centre where people of all backgrounds come to find a bargain. It really exemplifies the city's cultural diversity and is quite an exciting place to be.”
Further comments: “Hopefully the one Leicester brand will open the eyes of people across the country who still see Leicester as a dull Midlands city, and show them that Leicester is changing and becoming a diverse cosmopolitan city.”
Dave Thomas - Ellesmere College
“The great variety of high quality sport at ALL levels.”
Kimberly Morrell - Worcestershire, Bromsgrove
“The Showcase cinema and the Curve.”
Aditi Yadav - Mumbai, India
“I loved the dance Festival – there were so many different dance styles on one platform.”
Irene Kszyk - L.C.C Leicester
“The centre of the city and its physical spaces.”
Anna Hyams
“The Leicester Panthers.”
Tess Booth - Project Manager One Leicester
"Abbey Park – it's a beautiful destination in the heart of the city, a place that evokes many lovely childhood memories."
Claire Hadjipetrou - The Wooden Toy Company, Billesdon, Leicestershire
“The fab Indian restaurants and clothes shops.”
Ambasa Bandele - X.DM Limited, Leicester
“Its ethnic diversity and the fact that you can hear a myriad different tongues in the space of twenty paces. Being fascinated in trying to work out where these languages originate makes you think less parochially. The world's a big family and it's all here, in Leicester.”
Keith Cooper - Northlight Images, Leicester
“The food.”
Yaseen Jakhura - Leicester City Council
“Is the warm welcome one recieves when entering the city.”
Nicky Lee - Reading
“That it’s striving to be better!”
George Wilson - Western Park, Leicester
“The Great Oak Tree in Western Park.”
Further comments: “I am passionate about this city. I have lived here most of my life and love the vitality and diversity of its buildings and people. I find it fascinating and very moving meeting people who have come from abroad and made Leicester their home. They are carrying on a tradition started by the Romans and their contribution helps to give Leicester a character and variety that is totally different from any other British city.”
Mimi Mustapha - Leicester
“I love how quaint this city is... the diversification and the cosmopolitan nature it has acquired in recent times.”
Gillian Lee
“The parks and the green space.” Further comments: “Please don't let anyone build over them the green areas of Leicester are fabulous. Also like the increasing bike friendliness.”
Julie Nisbett - The City of Leicester College
“Learning from my neighbours.”
Jean Denyer, MBE - Leicester City Council, Leicester
“The committement it shows to helping vulnerable people of any age or race.”
Suzanne Clarke - LiveAd Mobile. Coalville, Leicestershire
“The culture, its people and its diversity.”
James Bowie - Belmont Hotel
“I love New Walk, our beautiful tree lined walkway leading you right into the heart of this exciting, evolving city."
Further comments: “It’s wonderful to see so much excitement and enthusiasm for the place we live. For too long Leicester has struggled to shed its industrial image and demonstrate its true dynamic & cosmoplitan aspirations.”
Micheal Cooke - Leicester City Council
“The bars and restaurants in Braunstone Gate and Narborough Road. The City is a manageable size which generates friendliness.”
Dennis Fisher - Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Ltd. New Parks, Leicester
“The fantastic events: from museums to special events, there's always some thing interesting going on some where.”
Elaine Jocob - Campanile Hotel, Leicester
“The cities diverse culture.”
Ben Ravilious - Ultimateweb Ltd, Aylestone, Leicester
“The varied history of the place - where else can you see a Roman bath house, a Saxon church and a Sikh museum within a 100 yards of each other?”
Malcolm Watson - Cosby Leicestershire
“The history of my home city.“
Dean Eldridge - Soar Media Ltd, Leicester
“The depth and diversity of sports on offer to the public, both in a participating and viewing sense.”
Geoff Rowe - Leicester Comedy Festival
“Leicester Comedy Festival.”
Minal Brahmbhatt - Leicester City Council
"The People, culture, diversity and mixture of Sports, Cuisines and Leisure times with lots to do for old and young."
Clare Hudson - Creative Leicestershire
“I love the range of cultural things to do...the Festivals.. the venues...the food...the well-known ones and the more bohemian, organic events and venues which are springing up.”
Mariam Glover - Leicester
“The diversity - It's great to find a city so highly multicultural and diverse, yet still british. I couldn't live else where in the UK.”
Sophia Choudhry
“The rich, multi-cultural society here.” Furthjer comments: “I made Leicester my home just over 3 yrs ago after 5 yrs 'up north' but originally from London. I love Leicester, its in the middle for me, not just geographically, but not as slow as up north and not as crazy as down south. Also, the mix of cultures is just right. “
Charlotte Kirby – Bristol
“The canals create a scenic map of the city and there is alot of buzz in the city.”
Samina Gul – Bedford
“It’s muti-cultural shopping experience, a wide variety of choices for shopping such as the Asian shops, nice shopping centres and the market.”
Olga Glushkovskaya – Kazakhstan
“Here modern meets history and every nationality brings and adds something unique to the city.”
Mayur Padhian – London
“The Food – The various flavours from various places throughout the world.”
Rebecca Pye – Leicester
“Bradgate Park … Beautiful park, lots of wildlife."
Sabiha Bhoiat – Leicester
“It is forever changing and developing, more people are aware of the city and it is being recognised more and more …”
Lewis North – Braunstone, Leicester
“The people here are really friendly here. Even to strangers.”
Muksuh Mistry - Belgave, Leicester
“There is as a strong sense of community and a good social network.”
Chris O’Reilly - Leicester
“The new shops brought in many new visitors to the city.”
Sonia Randell - Hinckley
“I love the shopping. Highcross is wicked.”
Laura Burt – Glenfield
“I love the student life – lots of great nights at local bars.”
Fred Schultz - Braunstone, Leicester
“The city is a lot more pedestrianised now – carry on the good work!”
Rachael Ball - Glenfield, Leicester
“The restaurants are very good especially because of the different cultures here.”
Jayne Lindsay - Leicester
“There’s a really comfortable mix of cultural diversity in the city”
Find out what the Kasabian competition entrants love about Leicester
Now tell us one thing you love about Leicester! To add your own, simply fill in the form here, or email: one@oneleicester.com
From time to time we'll post more of your coments and passions about Leicester.
