Living in Leicester! What places to stay away from? And the desirable ones?

[foreman38]

Hello there. I have to decide where to move to, between Worcester and Leicester. I am now considering Leicester, because of the huge price gap (£300.00+ difference for a 4 bed house) between the 2 towns in terms of average renting prices.
Could you guys give me names of places around Leicester, in a 3-5 miles radius, the desirable and the ones to avoid?
Thanks

[Buenchico]

Here's a map of the council wards for Leicester:
http://www.saferleice...Inline&customSizeId=0

The lowest crime figures (which are often a good indicator of where the 'nice' places are) can, unsurprisingly, be found around the edges of the city. In order (with the lowest figures first), rates of crime are ranked as follows:

Beaumont Leys (NB: See note below)
Knighton
Rushey Mead
Thurncourt
Stoneygate
Spinney Hills / Evington (similar figures)
Belgrave / Coleman (similar figures)
Western Park
Humberstone & Hamilton
Latimer
Aylestone
Eyres Mansell
Charnwood
New Parks
Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields
Fosse / Freeman (similar figures)
Westcotes
Abbey
Castle

The fact that 'Beaumont Leys' tops the list might be a bit misleading. The council ward with that name includes smart suburban areas, as well as rural ones, which accounts for the low crime statistics. However if you tell a local that you're considering moving to 'Beaumont Leys' you might meet with surprise. That's because they'd assume that you were referring to the Beaumont Leys housing estate (which also lies within the ward), which many people would regard as one of Leicester's least desirable areas.

Chris

[VHG]

Why do you think house prices are so low in Leicester?

Could this be it (read Post World War 2 section)

http://en.wikipedia.o...ter#Post_World_War_II

[VHG]

I remember your original question

http://www.theanswerb...s/Question883410.html

House prices are much lower in Leicester than Worcester because Worcester is a realy NICE place to live, and Leicester isn't.

People want to move IN to Worcester and OUT of Leicester.

[Buenchico]

While I'd agree with VHG that Worcester is closer to what many people would recall 'nice', I'd also call it dull and boring.

Leicester is a vibrant, friendly, multicultural city, with one of the best markets anywhere in the country, plenty of other good shopping opportunities, loads of great bars and restaurants, the superb new Curve Theatre (where you can see the best of regional theatre and touring productions), loads of other cultural venues, an excellent public transport system, good road and rail links, . . .
(Er, I think you've got the idea. I love Leicester - it makes me feel alive. Worcester simply makes me wonder if life's really worth living).

Chris

[Scott]

Yes, Leicester have lower prices than Worcester you can search in this link:

http://www.zoopla.co....eicester/?q=Leicester

<a href="http://www.internationalrentals.com/">i
nternationalrentals</a>

[foreman38]

Thank you so much guys, I think I understand both VHG and Buenchico regarding Leicester. Whatever I decide, your comments will be taken into account. Thanks.

[Mosaic]

Isn't the answer simply that Leicester has lost its textiles industry very rapidly since the 1990s whereas Worcester got wrecked a long time ago so had less distance to fall?
I lived in Leicester in the 1970s - a very weird enclave it was too, believing it would never get hit by any recession any time soon. Well look now - it did. Hello Worcester?

[daffy654]

Beaumont Leys is full of prostitues and druggies, Braunstone is quite bad, Some parts of New Parks are quite bad too. Avoid those 3 estates as well as St.Peters/Highfields and the St Matthews estate.

Eyres Monsell (not mansell) is good, I lived there for years and went to high school there, Aylestone is slightly further out and is nice too. Belgrave area is predominantly Asian populated.

[foreman38]

Can I say, afterall, that the southern hemisphere of Leicester is the one to choose? Or should I say southwest? Or southeast?

[daffy654]

I would stay South or South East. The victoria Park area is lovely and has some big old Georgian and Victorian houses. The area caters to the Uni so is a nice area to live, it is also very green with lots of tree lined avenues and a lovely big park.