If you're looking for a UK city that's somewhat intimate enough to explore on foot, yet big enough to discover new avenues and back street alleys, Leicester City in the East Midlands is the ideal place to visit.
I was stationed in Leicester for an extended period on the canals, and the weather was clement so I decided to go for a wander around the old town of Leicester.
As I turned the corner from the High Street, I spotted a limo, and instantly I knew that love was in the air, as I have a great adoration for vintage cars. I also guessed that there might have been the joining of two souls in progression, who was about to take a ride as Mr & Mrs for the first time.
The scene was serene and I could not resist stopping to get a few shots, especially since I was on nothing but an aimless wander.
I headed off as the limo and bridal party drove away, but Leicester is a small town, so it was no surprise that I kept seeing them on all the little side streets surrounding the town centre.
I've roamed the streets of Leicester on numerous occasions, yet I'm always mesmerized by the old buildings that give the city so much character.
I try to see as many of the old streets and buildings around Leicester, as there are excessive sightings of scaffolding everywhere. This is an indication that change is coming, or that some renovation of buildings is in progress.
I always feel charmed when I walk down old streets. I imagine all the history and different generations that have been down the same roads. I sometimes wonder how would my story fit into theirs.
Is that such a weird thing?
Do you ever look at old houses or old buildings and wonder how many different lives have shared a part of them?
I do, and I also imagine how different construction was in those olden days and the adversities the workers might have faced to achieve all in the intricate designs and details.
Unfortunately, Leicester is a booming city with large universities, and knocking down the older structure and replacing them with modern student accommodation is a prevalent practice so I try my best to freeze these memories in time.
Leicester City has a gritty vibe to it, and in the town centre you'll notice an eclectic mix of people, and there is an edge to it that urges you on to explore.
There are many departmental shops and a huge shopping mall with a buzzing crowd.
The clock tower where there's always a clown act of some sort, from religious fanatics to Michael Jackson impersonators...
High Steet
Many boaters like to pop into the town to the Leicester Market because it's a vibrant market that's open every day. Leicester held the record for the largest covered market in Europe, but unfortunately, things and times have changed and so has the market. There's still a wide range of haberdashery, gadgets, household items, and fruit and veg vendors, who have got to be some of the most jovial and hilarious bunch on the planet.
Vendors say the most comical things to entice customers to buy their cheap discount bowls, and vendors are jolly but prefer if customers do not attempt to switch goods around that have already been weighed and displayed.
As I roamed the streets popping in and out of shops, I made time for people-watching, as it's always a highlight of my time around the city.
Leicester is a cafe central with a wide array of cuisines to choose from, with al fresco dining all around. There are charming tea houses, coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants for every clientele.
There's even some gaudiness... Hmmm, I wonder what takes place inside?
Two to three hours of roaming and stopping for a quick meal is a great way to pass time and see a section of the UK that holds much history, personality, and some mystery.
I hope you've found this little city as fascinating as I will eternally be about it. I spend my days nipping in an out, and I am always buzzing with excitement to do so:)))
Thanks for stopping by!
All images are my own mobile shots
