Went for a walk round Leicester city centre early this morning. Well, what's left of it. Thanks to the City Council's pedestrianisation/anti-car/no-parking policies, it's a pale shadow of its 20th century self.
Debenham's, House of Fraser and Fenwick's all went before Covid, leaving John Lewis the only big store in town. Once posh places like Market Street and Belvoir Street had more empty shops than full before Covid and now even their charity shops are going.
It must be a very quiet place at night, because a lot of restaurants have gone, too. Still, we can rejoice in the appearance of a few Boris Bikes.
Sad, really. I used to quite like the place
It is a strange take on the modern world to blame the death of the high street on anti-car policies. What about the rise of online shopping, amongst other things?
I am more familiar with Birmingham, and the pro-car road building in the 60's and 70's resulted in a urban snarl, which thankfully has been partially rectified over the last couple of decades.
Many European cities have limited or no cars in them but are still thriving so...Originally Posted by Tinker
I was there last week. High cross had so many closed stores. The outdoor market was a sorry sight.
On the flip side, go to Fosse Park and it’s absolutely rammed.
Be thankful that you still have the Sewage Museum.
Leicester was a magical place almost in the 50s and early 60s, wonderful shops, museums, clubs, pubs etc etc but these days its not even a shadow of the place it was, VERY sad.
If you talk to any local councillor you will find that they are under pressure to upgrade and modernise town or city centres, usually with the cost running into billions but they have a problem on their hands.
The reality is that it will be wasted money because hardly any retailer wants to pay the high charges that a town centre incurs and they know that online is still making even more inroads into retail purchases. Even out of town centres with free parking and low cost petrol stations are now feeling the pinch.
No one wants to live in the town centre above a empty shop and the only growth area is restaurants and bars.
It's going to soon be a case that we will live in a town without a town centre.
Fair point. But Leicester's tiny compared to Brum and its road system's OK. It's just that there's not enough parking now in the city itself.
As for online shopping, you're right again, of course, but people don't online shop for lunch or dinner with friends and Leicester's restaurants are dying.
Yep, you're right. But people live in European cities. The urban population of most British cities is tiny in comparison.
I agree.
Most shopping centres are past their sell by date with streets full of charity shops, betting shops, board ups etc I can't remember the last time I went into town.
Apart from specialist stores most personal shopping is a thing of the past IMO.
Cheers,
Neil.
Leicester's urban district councils are making the pinch tighter. Their out of town car parks aren't free now. (I pay £50 a year to food shop.)
Blaby District council have announced village parking is going up from 30 to 70p in October.
It’s the final nail in the coffin for the place.
I’ve travelled from Newmarket to Leicester three times in the last couple of years to buy watches from Pragnells. Like a lot of town centres it looked a bit past its best but I liked the place.
I go there a fair bit,John Lewis is good they have a few good watch shops there are a lot of good curry houses and some good pubs new walk is nice went to the museum a month ago foss park is horrid went there a while ago and I had to queue for an hour from the m1 to get there then an hours queue back, I can’t think of a city centre I’ve visited in the last few years that doesn’t look a dump now.
I really like the lumbers shop, also like Leicester on a whole
My sister in law visited us from Australia last month, she was originally from Leicester but emigrated to OZ 30 + years ago, she has been back a few times over the years, she couldent believe how filthy it was in the area of the clock tower and how run down in general it felt.
High Cross killed Belvoir street and Market Street. Lumbers had to move just to keep trade. I have no desire to live in/near Leicester now despite being brought up there. Though tbf there are some lovely villages in the countryside.
You should visit Sheffield…
Well, the evidence in Leicester is that you're right.
I'd have to agree. Having spent 45 years of my life there, it's nice to return to see some family and friends, but certainly not to live.
My wife is from near Sheffield.
She calls it an ugly picture in a beautiful frame…
I grew up in and around Leicester in the 70s and 80s, lots of fond memories but like a lot of city’s it’s a shadow of its former self.
There are still nuggets of gold there, but it’s rare.
I was sitting outside boots up from the clock tower eating a sandwich and it stank it has all been re paved but the bin lorries drive up and down it with all the crap dribbling out of the back it all needs power washing and disinfecting not a nice welcome
Logic and common sense say you're right, of course. Leicester's out-of-town 'Fosse Park' - with parking for 3,100 cars - is very popular, though.
Been to Fosse Park this afternoon and for midweek still so busy, lots of shops/food outlets and free parking.
Can't remember when I last needed to go to the city centre and pay for parking, and online shopping is killing the traditional shops.
Outside of affluent hotspots, seems only the biggest cities are holding up these days.
It's sad to see the demise of so many secondary cities and towns. Maybe it can turn around, I certainly hope so.
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Hang on…. It’s about time I got involved in this thread…. Leicester’s #1 fanboy in the house!
I happen to know Leicester rather well and still live in the city (South Knighton)…. I can walk into the city in 40 mins past beautiful Victorian architecture in my area and Stoneygate, across a fine Victoria Park and down one of the most pleasant Urban pedestrianised promenades in New Walk that any town could boast…
It depends on how you look at it…. To the east of the clock tower, yep it’s a dump…. although the theatre is great… Highcross is ok, but doesn’t hold much interest for me…. Fosse park is hell on earth but deeply attractive to those whose hobby it is to go shopping…
Now, move across to to Cank St area of evening (yes, I still go out of evening!) and there are some fine bars and pubs and the cathedral / Richard 3 exhibition centre are fantastic…. If you know where to go it can exude charm…. I love it as I know it most probably, but I’ve had many visitors who been charmed by it too…!
The poo museum is epic! Many a happy steam day there with my kids…. It’s wonderful…. The space centre next door is great too…. I saw our British astronaut (Tim something or other) give a live broadcast from space to a group of us their
Consult me and I’ll offer some great advice on how to enjoy it in 2022…. I could rekindle your fondness for it I’m sure…
Never been to Lumbers the bouncers are too intimidating…. Glad you like my town !
Last edited by Wolfie; 16th August 2022 at 22:48.
not much change where i live, it was naff in the first place
From what I’ve seen it’s the town’s suffering the most
A kind offer, Wolfie, thanks. Mind you, you've mentioned everything that's left to rekindle a fondness for.
(You live in a nice part of town, South Knighton. Which road? Carisbrooke? I hope not, because that's where they're putting more 'traffic calming devices', so that people can't park outside their own houses.)
Ooh…. I could carry on at length! You could stroll down Dovedale Rd and my son could serve us a beer at the real ale classroom…. Then take your pick as to which deli you want a sandwich at on Allandale Rd…!A kind offer, Wolfie, thanks. Mind you, you've mentioned everything that's left to rekindle a fondness for.
(You live in a nice part of town, South Knighton. Which road? Carisbrooke? I hope not, because that's where they're putting more 'traffic calming devices', so that people can't park outside their own houses.)
A bit of history maybe? Castle gardens and the Roman ruins…. Newarke House? New Walk museum has a wonderful retrospective on currently making me nostalgic for the 80’s
Thank you, yes it’s lovely spot…. It was actually recently voted by the Telegraph as one of the top ten neighbourhoods in the U.K. I live in an old Edwardian place on Knighton church road…. It’s been a labour of love bringing it back to its former glory! Parking is not the easiest round there…. But, I always get a spot in front of my home (helps having a dropped kerb!)…. They’re going to close it off once a month to reclaim the streets for kids to play on bikes/ play basketball etc. which sounds like a great plan…. I personally love not using my car so much!
I’ve managed to get this far without mentioning LCFC too - well done me!
South Knighton is a nice area as is Stoneygate. Every city will have nice areas. But overall at a broader level neither myself nor my wife would go back to live in Leicester. This given Knighton Park was my local park and her family has a load buried in St Mary Magdalen churchyard in Knighton. The majority of my school friends have also left the Leicester area as has my sister.
A stout defence, Wolfie. That said, it's still sad the city itself is dying, don't you think?
('LCFC'? What's that, then?)
I have lived in and around Leicester for over 70 years and these days it really does help if you wear rose tinted glasses, progress brings change good and bad I suppose.
Mary Magdalen is at the end of my Road… A mixture of my friends have stayed or left…. I did for a long period living in France, Jersey, London and N.Yorks…. Although I never imagined I’d stay, Leicester sucked me back in…. I even lived in the county for a while (Stoughton) but, I’ve had to admit to myself that I’m a townie…. There’s some very deprived parts of Leicester of course and some spiralling council estates surround it, many of which have issues…. It’s the same for most towns I’d imagine? Leicester has never been a particularly confident town I’ve found, it has plenty to shout about, but it’s a little timid and some bad planning at times hasn’t helped…. I feel as if it has improved of late, but shops (like in most towns) are starting to dwindle
[ QUOTE=Tinker;6048618]A stout defence, Wolfie. That said, it's still sad the city itself is dying, don't you think?
('LCFC'? What's that, then?)[/QUOTE]
You’re a Tigers man I think ?
Of a summer evening on a weekend it’s buzzing in the right spots…. The area of activity has shifted a little further south…. I even took a colleague from Geneva out for a meal and a couple of drinks in the Blue Boar last Wednesday, it was busy and he thought it was great! Yep…. Belvoir (Beaver!) St has lost a bit of its shine and I loved Fenwicks and was very sad to see it go…. It’s important that cities try and reinvent themselves as destinations…. Leicester is getting some things right and I don’t mind Soulsby, he’s trying his best…
You've done a very good job. It's probably the best house on the road now. You shouldn't park on the pavement, though.
Ha…. There’s some far nicer houses on my street Tinker! Some do take up pavement space, but please rest assured that I’m not one of them !You've done a very good job. It's probably the best house on the road now. You shouldn't park on the pavement, though.
Good man.
Sadly, the spread of 'traffic calming devices' in Leicester - in response to the anti-car lobby - is having unplanned effects. So, front gardens are being rooted out to replace the on-street parking that these devices now prevent. (Shanklin Drive's a classic example and Carisbrooke Road is due to be next.) In time, every suburban road will have them.
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