Travelling into Leicester City Centre?
Latest News: Bus and traffic changes
Bus | Park & Ride | Coach | Train | Bicycle | Car | Disabled Persons Travel
With Highcross Leicester having opened its doors for the first time Sept 4th and a revamped city centre to explore, you'll no doubt want to discover the new-look Leicester for yourself.
Travel here by bus, by bike, or by train – and if you’re driving in to town, make the most of our extensive park and ride services - which cost a driver and up to four passengers just £3.20 for parking and return travel.
If you have to come in by car, please use all of the city¹s multi-storey car parks and not just those at John Lewis, Highcross and the Haymarket. Lee Circle and Abbey Street are often relatively empty and you can park there all day for JUST £4
Here’s everything you’ll need to plan your journey:
Getting here by bus: All buses into the city, including the Park & Ride services, drop you within walking distance of the shops, with some stops directly outside the new John Lewis store.
Please note - from Monday 1st September some city centre bus stops will move full details here.
Major Leicester city centre buses and Leicestershire county bus routes are highlighted here**
For further information on bus services throughout Leicester and Leicestershire, including Park & Ride services, call the Travel Line on: 0871 200 22 33.
Whilst you are out and about in the city, why not visit one of the following, and pick up a detailed timetable?
First Bus Travel Shop
(near the Haymarket Shopping Centre)
5 Charles Street, Leicester
Timetable Enquiries: 0871 200 22 33
Arriva Travel Shop
St Margarets Bus Station
Gravel Street, Leicester
Customer Comments: 0844 800 44 11
Further information can be found here; www.leicester.gov.uk/publictransport
Getting here by Park & Ride: There are now increased Park & Ride services; including increased off-peak frequency, extra busses, temporary Park & Ride locations and late night services to make it easier for you to get in to the city. Plus, it only costs a driver and up to four passengers £3.20 for parking and return travel.
County Hall: Glenfield, LE3 8ZQ
- Saturday service from 13th September
Oadby Racecourse: Leicester, LE2 4AL
- Saturday service from 13th September
Meynell’s Gorse: Braunstone Crossroads, LE3 3LF
- Daily services Monday to Saturday, with the last bus leaving the city at 9pm
- A new regular Sunday service from 7th September
Further information including - maps, fares, pick up/drop off points and times: www.leicester.gov.uk/parkandride
Getting here by coach: St. Margaret’s Bus Station is a few minutes walk to the shops and Highcross Leicester. National Express offer national coach services to Leicester. London to Leicester takes just under 3 hours.
Ashby de la Zouch, Coalville, Kegworth, Market Harborough, Loughborough and East Midlands Airport are also served by National Express.
National Express: 08717 81 81 81 (between 08:00 - 20:00 calls cost a maximum of 7.91p a minute for BT customers. Mobile and other networks may vary)
Further information: www.nationalexpress.com, St Margaret’s Bus Station *
Getting here by train: Leicester Railway Station is ideally situated to start your day in Leicester City Centre. Based on the A6 London Road, you can walk straight out of the station and into the main shopping area of the city within 5 minutes.
For Rail enquiries contact:
- National Rail: 08457 48 49 50
- TrainTracker™: 0871 200 49 50
- TrainTracker™ Text - text “Leicester” to: 8 49 50
Visit Leicester by train, or for further information and a journey planner visit: *www.nationalrail.co.uk
Getting about by bicycle: The city centre is less than a 30 minute cycle ride from anywhere in Leicester. There are signed National Cycle Network Routes to and from the city centre. Follow NCN 6 routes from North & South. Follow NCN 63 from East & West.
Cycle Parking racks are provided within Highcross Leicester, on most city centre streets, public buildings, retail and entertainment centres. Over 200+ cycle racks are provided, now covered by CCTV. High security cycle parking is provided at both the Town Hall and Highcross Bike Park for £1 per day. There are 280 bicycle storage points around Highcross.
Further information: bike park
Get Cycling: Find out more about cycle training, bike maintenance, clubs and bike shops at;
For a free guide to cycling and using your bike see; *www.sustrans.org.uk
Getting here by car: If you have to come in by car, please use all of the city¹s multi-storey car parks and not just those at John Lewis, Highcross and the Haymarket. Lee Circle and Abbey Street are often relatively empty and you can park there all day for JUST £4
Get here: From the M1, Junction 21, or 22, provide good access to Leicester city centre. The M69 and M6 also offer easy access from Birmingham, Wales and the Southwest. Getting into the city couldn’t be easier, with over 9,500 parking spaces available in the city centre, and 500+ additional car parking spaces available at the Park & Rides.
Follow the simple car park zone signs to find a space at one of the city’s many car parks. All of the multi-storey car parks in the city centre are extremely well sign-posted and have up to date real time availability clearly shown, so if your first choice is full, carry on to the next car park with spaces.
You can also get updates from the traffic bulletins on BBC Radio Leicester - 104.9FM
City Centre Car Parking Zones - if you are travelling into Leicester city centre from the...
- North of Leicestershire (A6, A607) - follow 'North Zone' car parking signs for Abbey Street* (LE1 3UA), Haymarket (LE1 3XJ) and Lee Circle* (LE1 3RE) car parks. (*park all day for JUST £4!)
- East of Leicestershire or Rutland (A47) - follow 'East Zone' car parking signs for East Street (LE1 6NB), Rutland Centre (LE1 1TQ) and Lee Circle (LE1 3RE) car parks
- South of Leicestershire (A6, A5199, A426) - follow 'South Zone' car parking signs for East Street (LE1 6NB), Newarke Street (LE1 5SP), Welford Road (LE2 7AD) and Rutland Centre (LE1 1TQ) Car Parks
- West of Leicestershire (A47) follow 'West Zone' car parking signs for Highcross John Lewis Car Park, Highcross Rooftop (LE1 4FQ) and St.Nicholas Circle (LE1 4LF) car parks.
For directions directly to the new Highcross John Lewis Car Park (capacity of 2,000 cars), please use LE1 4QJ when using a Satellite Navigation system. *Highcross John Lewis car park tariffs
If you arrive and find this car park full, please use the relevant information for each of the city centre car parks listed below to find your way to others:
Car Park Name | Address | Post Code | Tel Number |
Rutland Centre | 56 Halford Street (MSCP) | LE1 1TQ | 0116 262 5861 |
East Street | East Street (MSCP) | LE1 6NB | 0116 262 7624 |
Abbey Street (off Belgrave Gate/Garden St) | Abbey Street (MSCP) | LE1 3UA | 0116 253 2331 |
Lee Circle | Lee Street (MSCP) | LE1 3RE | 0845 050 7080 |
St Nicholas Circle | St Nicholas Circle (MSCP) | LE1 4LF | 0116 262 7624 |
Haymarket Car Park | Off Charles Street | LE1 3XJ | 0116 254 3837 |
Welford Road | Welford Road (MSCP) | LE2 7AD | 0845 050 7080 |
Newarke Street Car Park (Phoenix) | Newark Street (MSCP) | LE1 5SP | 0116 254 3837 |
Highcross Roof Top (previously The Shires) | Shires Lane | LE1 4FQ | 0116 242 8644 |
Highcross John Lewis | Off Vaughan Way (MSCP) | LE1 4QJ | 0116 242 8644 |
(MSCP = Multi-Story Car Park)
For a route planner click here: http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp *
Please note: Car parking charges vary according to time, season and car park.
Free motorcycle parking is also available on Horsefair Street, Bowling Green Street and Abbey Street in the city centre - Click here for details.
Disabled Persons Travel Helpline: 08717 81 81 79. A textphone is provided for customers who are deaf or hard of hearing on: 0121 45 50 086
Shopmobility: A free loan service providing scooters, powerchairs and wheelchairs. Available to anyone with a walking disability who wishes to visit the city centre.
- Shopmobility Highcross: (situated next to scenic lifts in Highcross)
- open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm. Saturday from 9.30am to 3.30pm
- tel: (0116) 253 2596 or email, shopmobility@leicester.gov.uk
- Shopmobility Haymarket (situated in Haymarket Bus Station)
- open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4pm. Saturday from 9.30am to 3.30pm
- tel: (0116) 253 7125, email: shopmobility@leicester.gov.uk
Further information on Shopmobility
Further information on disabled access in the city centre
Other useful traffic & travel links:
- leicester.gov.uk/traffic - bus services, car parks, jam cams, traffic & roadworks information
- This week's road works in and around Leicester
- leicester.elgin.gov.uk - detailed information about roadworks in and around Leicester
- AA Roadwatch*
- highways.gov.uk*
- dft.gov.uk*
- transportdirect.info* - The first complete transport journey planner for Great Britain
- BBC Leicester website* up-to-date travel information
Shopping in Leicester:
* Highcross Leicester (Opened 4th September 2008)
** Maps supplied courtesy of Highcross Leicester *www.highcrossleicester.com
* Leicester City Council is not responsible for the content or services provided by external websites


