The city of Leicester is the county town of Leicestershire and is situated in the East Midlands, on the River Soar. Leicester is home to 329,000 people.

Leicester’s history dates back to the Iron Age - as the Romans found a pre-existing settlement when they came to the area in 47 AD.

More recently, during the Industrial Revolution the Grand Union Canal linked Leicester with Birmingham and London, making it an attractive place for manufacturing, and leading to rapid population growth. The Cooperative Boot and Shoe Company were a major employer, and there were numerous engineering firms in the city.

In 1936 the League of Nations said Leicester was the 2nd richest city in Europe, and during the 20th century it became an attractive destination for immigrants to the UK from around the world.

Today, engineering continues to be a mainstay of Leicester’s economy, and the Walker’s crisps factory at Beaumont Leys is the largest crisp factory in the world.

Leicester hit the headlines in the 21st century when the remains of King Richard III were discovered under a carpark in the city. The King Richard III Visitor Centre is a great place to go to find out more about this fascinating detective story.