Plans to build a new electricity substation on a council-owned site in Leicester city centre have taken an important step forward. National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) has agreed to purchase land and property at 52-58 Oxford Street from the city council. The purchase forms part of the energy company’s wider £5.3m investment to reinforce the city’s electricity network. The site has been earmarked for the development of a new primary substation site that will strengthe

Cycle into Leicester on Thursday (2 July) and you could tuck into a free fruit breakfast! There’s also the chance to take advantage of a free bike check, and win prizes and rewards. It’s all for Leicester’s Cycle to Work Day, which encourages people to get on their bikes and discover just how easy and enjoyable a pedal-powered commute can be. A programme of events will take place throughout the day on Town Hall Square, starting with a free Bikers’ Breakfast from 8am to 10am.

Leicester's flagship museum is to close for three days this week to allow essential maintenance works to be carried out. Work to improve the museum’s power supply means that Leicester Museum & Art Gallery will be closed on Wednesday 1 July. It will reopen to the public on Saturday 4 July. Assistant city mayor Cllr Vi Dempster said: “These electrical works are an essential part of the museum’s refurbishment, ensuring that the new spaces and galleries we’re creating have a robu

Two ambitious Leicester City Council development projects have been recognised at this year's Constructing Excellence East Midlands Awards. The city council took top spot in two categories at the annual regional awards ceremony, which recognises the contributions made by architects, engineers, contractors, developers, and other key players in the construction sector. Hillview children’s home – the city council’s first purpose-built children’s home to be constructed for more t

Leicester’s renowned programme of festivals and events is to be boosted with an additional £105,000 of council funding. City Mayor Peter Soulsby has approved the permanent increase to the festivals budget, which will allow more community-led events to receive grant-funding from the council, while supporting popular events such as the Abbey Park Bonfire and the Eid celebrations on Victoria Park. The new funding includes an extra £65,000 for the festivals and events grants prog

Today Saturday (27 June), Leicester held its annual Armed Forces Day parade in the city center to celebrate Armed Forces Day. The parade was led by the Pipes and Drums of the Seaforth Highlanders, made up of serving military, reservists, veterans, and cadets, and started off from Belgrave Gate, at 11 am. It made its way past the Clock Tower, onto High Street, and fell out in Jubilee Square. A saluting dais was set up on High Street across from Carts Lane, where the Lord-Lieu

Henry Iv’s knighthood, Chaucer’s marriage, Victorian courtroom dramas and 16th-century graffiti all feature in Leicester’s rich history – and visitors to the city centre can find out more on Heritage Sundays. Heritage Sundays take place on the last Sunday of the month and see some of the city’s most historic sites opened up for people to explore. This Sunday (28 June), the Magazine, Leicester Castle’s Great Hall and St Mary de Castro Church will be open for visitors. Entry is

Security measures are being put in place tonight due to the planned protests outside the Athena, where a controversial show by Katie Hopkins is occurring. The Athena theatre in the city's Cultural Quarter is hosting the media personality tonight, Thursday (June 25), despite public calls to cancel the show due to concerns it might cause division in the multicultural city. Leicester Media Online Katie Hopkins, who initially gained recognition on the BBC's The Apprentice and lat