Leicester - any info appreciated!

NicolaJP_2

Hi guys,

On Friday I accepted a graduate position at my current companies HO. Very exciting but means moving from sunny ol' Middlesbrough to Leicester!


Can't lie - I know NOTHING about the place. I'm heading down on Wednesday to check out some places (contacting agencies tomorrow and Tuesday) I've rented during Uni but this is my first time on my billy Todd!

I'm aiming to live in LE1 (within the ring road) so I have easy access to buses for work (Braunstone) and thinking being in the city centre will make life easier to get used to the area.

Does anyone have any advice about areas etc? I'm only looking to spend £450-75 PCM so I know I'm not going to be able to be too choosy.

To be honest, any information will be greatly appreciated!

:huh:

MissTeach

I would say to avoid Highfields, which is the area behind the train station. I work there and have to say that I wouldn't want to live in the area!

Looking at your price range, I think you're really only going to get a studio apartment or flat in the LE1 area. (Although there aren't really any houses in the city centre anyway.)

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-31555237.html That one has a pool! Seems fairly central, but looks quite small.

There are lots of flats/apartments in and around Rutland Street, which is in the cultural quarter, near to the Curve theatre and Athena (which is an old cinema, but is now used as function place, for balls and events) Really close to bus routes and cafes, bars etc.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-22040109.html
I think this one looks quite nice and is quite a good location in terms of being only a short walk to town for buses.

If you're going to be working in Braunstone, I wonder whether you'd be better looking somewhere off of Narborough Road. You'd probably get a house for the same sort of money. I'd avoid Braunstone itself though. Quite rough.

Bluemeanie_2

Hello,
I am from Leicester(shire) and went to Teesside uni! Where abouts in Braunstone is the head office? Meridian? I wouldn't necessary live in the city centre. Braunstone is very close to the city centre and has Fosse park and the meridian nearby. Plus brilliant transport links to the motorways etc. Are you looking to make friends in the area?

snaffs

Agree with MissTeach that you would probably be better looking along Narborough Road, depending on exactly where you will be working, and certainly avoid living in Braunstone
Also definitely avoid ever going anywhere near Highfields

Madjock

If you do go along Narborough Road and have a car, ask about parking as it is a nightmare if you are NOT in the area covered by the residents' only parking scheme, I know, I live just the wrong side of Upperton Road. I would also recommend Narborough Road if work is in Braunstone. It depends which part of Braunstone, if it's Meridian, look along the length of Narb Road, if it's Sunningdale Road area, look close to Hinckley Road. There's a largish Polish/East European population along Narb Road now, a lot of bars and takeaways/restaurants, a lot of student flats being built, a good doctors' surgery at Merridale Medical Centre, and Fosse Park and the M1 just up the road. You should find a half decent flat for your money in the West End (Narborough Road area). Don't be suckered by a letting agent sending you to Tudor Road and telling you it's the West End, it isn't, and it's not so nice down there either.

Hump

As others have said a lot depends which business park your company is based on. Some of the business parks are quite poorly served by public transport, especially early evening onwards. If you're going to run a car then avoid being within the inner ring road - Leicester is not known for being 'car friendly'.

Avoid anything in the area bounded by A563(outer ring road)/A47 Hinckley Road/ railway line to the junction of Braunstone Avenue (at the Valence Road junction)/ Braunstone Avenue/ Fulhurst Avenue/ A5460 Narborough Road) (centred on Braunstone Park) - unless you want to live on a massive council estate. Some local lettings agents get tempted to call this area 'the West End' - the 'West End' is an area of majority privately rented accommodation favoured by students and others on a low income - this area is more centred on Westcotes Drive/ Fosse Road South.

Finally Braunstone Town itself is a 'town' just outside of Leicester in Leicestershire proper - no city life to speak of, but usually well regarded and close to 2 of the business parks (Meridian & Grove Park)

ognum

The Braustone estate used some time ago (I'm not sure about now) to be pretty rough. In my job I and coleagues used to visit people living there, one had the wheels removed from her car while in the house, another had large nails pressed against the tyres so as she drove off all four tyres deflated!

The police used to visit in teams, this may of course all have changed now!