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Transport, shopping, Covid-19 and mental health

Get help and information on getting around Leicester, where to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, how to access books and computers, mental health and Covid-19.

Transport

As Leicester is located in the Midlands, it has excellent transport links to the rest of the country, including London and other major cities.

Getting around Leicester is also easy, as the city is relatively compact. It has a network of good walking and cycling routes, and regular buses connect every part of the city – and towns further away.

Buses are the main transport into and around Leicester. Most services to areas within the city run from Haymarket Bus Station. Coaches to places further away run from St Margaret’s bus station. Find full information about Leicester’s bus routes.

If you are claiming universal credit you can buy bus tickets at half price using the travel aid pass.

Trains run from Leicester Railway Station in the city centre. You can catch a train direct to London in just over an hour, as well as Loughborough (10 minutes), Birmingham (1 hour), Nottingham (30 minutes) and Sheffield (1 hour). For train times go to nationalrail.co.uk.

Coaches run regular services to places all over the country. Find information about coaches.

If you have use of a bike, there is a network of cycle routes to help you get around, visit the Choose how you move website.

There are also e-bikes available to hire in lots of locations across the city centre. To use these, you will need to register through the Ride on Leicester website.

Shopping

You can find many small convenience stores and larger supermarkets in almost every area of the city, as well as many in the city centre.

For good value fresh fruit and vegetables, there is a large covered market in the city centre which is open every day of the week except Sundays. There is also a smaller market in Beaumont Leys in the northwest of the city.

The city centre’s main shopping centre is Highcross and features a number of department stores, clothes shops, places to buy electronics and a range of different places to eat. You can find out more at highcrossleicester.com

The city centre’s two main Post Offices are within WH Smiths on Gallowtree Gate, and within Highcross shopping centre. There are other smaller Post Offices across the city.

Libraries

There are 17 libraries in Leicester – all are free to join and use. Libraries offer books, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines to borrow, as well as free-to-use computers and wifi. The libraries also host regular storytelling and craft sessions for young children.

Mental health

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health issues, talk to your support worker or your doctor. They will be able to put you in touch with support services that can help – or just someone to talk to.

Alternatively, you can contact national charities Samaritans (samaritans.org) on 116 123 or Mind (mind.org.uk) on 0300 123 3393.

Covid-19

Most adults in the UK have received one or more doses of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) vaccine, as well as the booster.

If you have not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19, you can get a free vaccination. Anyone over 5 years old can be vaccinated. Once you are registered with a doctor you can book your vaccination or booster dose online.

If you aren’t yet registered with a doctor, you can visit a ‘walk-in’ vaccination centre.

If you have already had a Covid-19 vaccination elsewhere, speak to your doctor about which further doses you may need and when you should have them.

Covid-19 tests are not free unless you work in health or social care services. If you have symptoms of Covid-19 and would like a test you can buy them at a pharmacy.

If you have Covid-19 symptoms, or have tested positive, you should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days. Avoid meeting people at higher risk from Covid-19 for 10 days, especially if their immune system means they’re at higher risk of serious illness, even if they’ve had a Covid-19 vaccine.

It is not compulsory to wear a face covering but you are advised to wear one on buses, trains, in shops and busy indoor spaces where social distancing is difficult or not possible.

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