Leicestershire is a county in the East Midlands made up of one city (Leicester), and many towns and villages including Market Harborough, Melton Mowbray and Loughborough. It’s one of the fastest growing counties in England with a population of over 700,000 – and it’s popular for its diverse food scene, arts and culture, and heritage.
Key summary
- Leicester is the only city in Leicestershire, best known for its diversity, authentic cuisine, cultural events and arts scene.
- Miller Homes’ Meadowbrook Chase development is based in Woodthorpe, which is a small village surrounded by picturesque countryside and a seven-minute drive to the town of Loughborough.
- Leicestershire is well-connected with cities like Nottingham, Derby and London a short train ride away.
What we’ll cover
Is Leicestershire a good place to live?
Cost of living
Best areas in Leicestershire
Things to do in Leicestershire
Public transport
New homes in Leicestershire
Is Leicestershire a good place to live?
Leicestershire is a good place to live, with a mix of scenic rural areas and bustling city life. The city of Leicester is the ultimate destination for foodies, with lots of restaurants serving authentic cuisines from around the world, and shopping centres including Highcross and Fosse Park. There are also plenty of green, scenic spaces including Abbey Park and Bradgate Park – an 830-acre medieval deer park.
Leicester is home to two universities: University of Leicester and De Montfort University, as well as museums, galleries, theatres and more.
Outside of Leicester, there are many towns and small villages, which are ideal for buyers who want more of a relaxed lifestyle. Woodthorpe village is surrounded by picturesque countryside, while Market Harborough is a historic market town (more on this below).
Leicestershire is a well-connected county, neighbouring Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. From the city, it’s around a 20-minute train ride to Nottingham and Derby, Birmingham (48 minutes) and London (one hour), perfect if you commute to work or are planning a day out.
Cost of living in Leicestershire
Leicester is an affordable city with the cost of living 28.6% lower compared to London and purchasing power 15.8% higher. Average utility bills cost just over £240 per month and the average house price in April 2025 was £227,000.
Some areas of Leicestershire are more expensive to live in such as Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray, with average house prices £355,000 and £280,000, respectively.
Best areas to live in Leicestershire
As the only city, Leicester is one of the best areas to live in Leicestershire. It’s famous for Leicester Cathedral, where you’ll find the tomb of Richard III; the National Space Centre – the UK’s largest planetarium; the Annual Diwali celebration, which remains the largest Diwali event outside of India; and King Power Stadium, home to Leicester City Football Club.
Other great areas in Leicestershire include:
Market Harborough
Market Harborough is a historic town based in Leicestershire and is popular for its ever-changing array of markets. There is an indoor market with a history dating back 800 years, which hosts workshops and a range of traders, as well as a popular monthly farmers market.
You can take a walk or cycle by the six-mile scenic canal, rent a boat or go fishing. Visitors can also check out Harborough Museum to find out more about the town's history and see displays like Hallaton Treasure.
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray, or the ‘rural capital of food’, is best known for its famous Melton Mowbray Pork Pie and Stilton Cheese, which was sold from the Bell Inn pub back in the 18th century. It’s a classic English town, surrounded by pretty countryside and villages – the ideal place to settle down if you want a relaxed lifestyle or for nature lovers who can take a stroll around Melton Country Park. However, it is one of the most expensive areas to live in Leicestershire.
Loughborough
Loughborough is another market town based in Leicestershire, best known for Loughborough University, which has ranked top 10 in the UK for a decade. In addition to its postgraduate and undergraduate courses, it’s highly renowned for its sports facilities, which are used by professional athletes. It holds the accolade of the ‘Sports university of the year’.
Loughborough is a short 30-minute drive to Leicester but it has its own amenities including two shopping centres, restaurants, bars, cafes and more. Buyers can check out our Meadowbrook Chase development (based in Woodthorpe) for new homes.
Woodthorpe
Woodthorpe is a small village in Leicestershire, surrounded by scenic countryside and greenery. It has a tight-knit community and is a short 20-minute drive to Leicester and seven-minute drive to Loughborough, where you can access all of your amenities. Miller Homes’ Meadowbrook Chase development is based in Woodthorpe.
Countesthorpe
Countesthorpe is a quieter village in Leicestershire with a population of around 7,000. It’s a 25-minute drive to Leicester but it also has its own country park, golf centre, restaurants and other amenities, so you don’t need to travel far. There is also an academy and primary school.
Countesthope is home to our Willowbrook Rise development. You can easily join the M1 to drive down to other cities for work or leisure and East Midlands Airport, which is a short 30-minute drive.
Things to do in Leicestershire
Leicestershire is the perfect place for art enthusiasts, adventurists, history buffs and more. Some popular attractions include:
- National Space Centre
- Leicester Cathedral
- Curve Theatre
- New Walk Museum
- Attenborough Arts Centre
- King Richard III Visitor Centre
There are also cinemas, escape rooms, arcades and bowling, as well as high street retailers, designer fashion brands and independent boutiques across the county.
Dining
Leicester is a food destination with plenty of restaurants, markets and festivals including Leicester Food Festival, which is held annually in August. It’s a popular city for Asian food, with the ‘Golden Mile’ (a street of Asian restaurants and shops), and London Road, just outside the station, which has Turkish and South Asian restaurants and cafes.
Green spaces
From rural areas to stunning parks, you’ll never be short on green spaces in Leicestershire. Some of the most popular parks include Abbey Park, Victoria Park and Bradgate Park, but there are also smaller farms across the county – and an alpaca park in Melton Mowbray. There are family-friendly spaces with kids areas, as well as walking and cycling paths.
Public transport
Leicestershire is really well connected – join the M1 by car to reach other major cities or get the train with East Midlands Railway or Cross Country. There is a bus network, which connects the towns and city, and Uber/Bolt operate in the area.
New homes in Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a great county to put down roots – it has award-winning universities, schools, arts and culture, green spaces, authentic restaurants and so much more. So whether you’re looking to settle down into retirement, a working professional or raising a family, check out these new homes in Leicestershire: