leicester? what is it like?

[hellywellywo]

My family and are uprooting to leicester.  I have a good few months to get used to this idea.  But I do not know leicester and having only ever lived in rural areas I feel extremely apprehensive as we will be living in a housing association house and would like any info you can give me as to the kind of areas that should be avoided to live in.  (We are caucasion and do not mind living with any race or religion, but my hubby is leaving the army and in todays world there may be high emotions towards our family).  We would also love some info on schools (any).  Local rugby clubs. Good pubs and great days out for the family.  Horsde riding and good cycle routes.  I know this is a large list but any help or information is greatly appreciated.  thanx a lot.  LOL ;)

[sunflower68]

helly we sometimes make a trip up especially to have a bit of a wander around Leicester Forest.  My kids love it, it's always busy.  Very pretty and a bit hilly. Plenty joggers and bikers too.

[mullein1]

its still fairly rural with the outskirts of leicester made up of little villages..their is a large asian area but its directly in the city of leicester and it seems to be made up of terraced houses shops and asian banks..i think their is an area called highfields which isnt wonderfull ..so try to get something out of the main city in a surrounding village..being in the army isnt going to be an issue at all..my daughter lives near leicester so i visit occasionally..its a very clean city you dont see all the graffitti and rubbish like you do here in the west midlands..and the people say please and thank you and are not as shabby dressed as they are where i live..their is a regular farmers market in leicester and the market itself is brilliant..their are many farm parks and entertainments for children in the surrounding areas..if you live in one of the small villages like silby or syston they have trains to leicester..or nottingham or coventry so you will get around okay..we are also ex raf and we unfortunately are stuck where we are as my other half commited himself to a job for 21 years so we still have 3 years to go before we escape..well 33 months now to be exact..their are lots of forest areas around leicester so you will have loads to do..dont accept the first thing they offer you if you dont like the look of the place..and try for a small village with lots of ammenities.. 

[indian]

Welcome to Leicester! It's not a bad place to live in! Which area will you be living in? The best areas are Oadby, Knighton, North Evington. The ones to avoid are Braunstone, New Parks, Eyres Monsell. Highfields isn't as bad as people make out but it's not the best either.

There's Leicester airfield where you can go go-karting and stuff. The dry dock is a lovely little pub in the shape of a boat.

There's the Meridian which has a cinema and lots of places to eat. Most places in town do nice food.

Go on to www.touchleicester.com if you want to find specific things.

Don't worry about peoples attitudes towards your hubby, I doubt it'll bother anyone.

Good luck with the move! x

[mullein1]

hellywellywo...just as an after thought as you know we are ex raf and my daughter was 10 when we left..and she spent most of her childhood within the security of the raf camp..well you dont say how old your children are but make them understand that people are not the same as on raf camps..and you cant leave doors and windows open like you can within the security of the camp..as you dont know who is next door or accross the road on the camps you allways know everyone..and its a bit of a shock to come out and realise you have to be more switched on..hope you enjoy it at leicester..