Leicester

A Midlands city where a large share of people have Gujarati and Punjabi roots: Belgrave Road, the Golden Mile of sari, jewellery and sweet shops and vegetarian restaurants, hosts what the city calls the largest Diwali celebration outside India, with a lights switch-on and fireworks on Diwali night. The Jain Centre and Shree Jalaram Prarthana Mandal are here too. Also King Richard III's grave in the cathedral and the visitor centre over the car park where he was found, and the National Space Centre. 1 hour 10 from London St Pancras.

Highlights

• Diwali lights and fireworks on Belgrave Road
• Gujarati thali and sweets on the Golden Mile
• King Richard III Visitor Centre
• National Space Centre
• Jain Centre

Things to do

• Belgrave Road shops, sweets and a vegetarian thaliAfternoon · 3h
• King Richard III Visitor Centre and the cathedralMorning · 2h
• National Space CentreMorning · 3h
• Diwali lights on the Golden MileOct–NovEvening · 2h 30m

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: October – November (Diwali), May – September

• Diwali on Belgrave Road · Diwali 8 Nov (lights switched on about two weeks before) — Leicester's Golden Mile lights up for Diwali with what the city calls the largest celebration outside India: a lights switch-on with music and dance about two weeks before, then fireworks and stalls on Diwali night, both free. Tens of thousands come; trains are packed and Belgrave Road closes to traffic. Book rooms early.