How it rates

Leicester's wealth was founded on manufacturing. This former Roman settlement is now a vibrant, mixed community: its population of 280,000 - a third from ethnic minorities - makes it the largest city in the East Midlands. Leicester is midway through a ten-year redevelopment masterplan that includes a business quarter, a science and technology park, 8,000 new homes, a strong retail core, a cultural quarter, and the repaving of the city centre. The Waterside project aims for 3,500 new homes along the River Soar and Grand Union Canal. Architectural gems

The Luftwaffe - and planners - are to blame for the city's dire look for much of the 20th century. But it is changing fast: the Curve, pictured above, a new £61million theatre with a striking glass façade, opens this month. Older buildings include the Guildhall, the Roman baths of the Jewry Wall, StMartin's Cathedral, Leicester Abbey and Leicester Castle.

What's new

Highcross Leicester, which opened in September, has a four- storey John Lewis, restaurants and 120 flats; prices start at £99,000 (Knight Frank, 0121-200 2220). The £21 million Digital Media Centre, in the cultural quarter, opens next year and has 63 flats (admin@blueprint.gb.net). The Shoe Factory is a Pearmain development of 44 loft flats in Abbey Park. Prices from £124,950 for a one-bed via the agent James Sellicks (see box below).

Travel

The M1 is just west of the city; it takes from two hours to drive to London. Fast trains to London take 75 minutes; Nottingham, 25 miles away, is half an hour by train, Birmingham about an hour. East Midlands Airport is 30 minutes away by car, Birmingham International about 50 minutes.

Quality of life

It's multicultural, cosmopolitan and friendly, with a lot of green space. But it's also gloomy, grey, neither chic nor cultural, choked by traffic and has no key attractions. These were the results of a survey that led to the city rebranding itself “One Leicester” - the No1 city in the East Midlands. Clearly many of the downsides are being addressed.

Smartest streets

Stoneygate, especially Knighton Grange Road and Knighton Park Road; big detached houses here cost up to £2 million. Clarendon Park, particularly Howard Road, has Victorian terraced houses costing up to £350,000.

Restaurants

Good Asian eateries include Tiffin, Vishal, the Curry Pot and Laguna Tandoori; for vegetarian, Bobby's on Belgrave Road, the “Golden Mile”. For modern British, The Case, The Quarter, and Watson's; for pub grub, Entropy Bar; for Italian, San Carlo.

Nightlife

The Globe, the Ale Wagon and the Rutland & Derby Arms are decent pubs. Curve opens with Lift Off on Tuesday; try also De Montfort Hall, the independent Phoenix cinema or the new Cinema De Lux at Highcross. The annual Leicester Comedy Festival is popular. Clubs include Liquid, Life, Zanzibar and the Fan Club.

Education

The city has two universities, De Montfort and the University of Leicester - just named university of the year by Times Higher Education. Leicester Grammar, Leicester High School for Girls, The Lancaster School, Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, and Stoneygate School are good.

Working Life

Manufacturing employs 23 per cent of the workforce (2001 Census); next is retail and wholesale trade, 18 per cent. Local firms include Alliance & Leicester, Next, Caterpillar, and Shoe Zone.

Upside

This city is on the up. It has the largest covered market in Europe, and the National Space Centre. If you like Asian food, it's up there with Bradford. It has a famous rugby union team - the Tigers - and the university of the year.

Downside

Critics may say that Leicester is Nottingham's ugly sister, but that is a bit out of date. Leicester may not be as pretty - yet - but it doesn't have its sibling's reputation for gun crime either.

At a glance

152 per cent

The increase in house prices in Leicester over ten years

Source: Halifax

£19 million

The cost of repaving the city centre

8,000

The overall target for the number of new jobs in Leicester

£350 million

The cost of the Highcross Leicester development

2,000

The population of Leicester in the Domesday Book

Source: leicester.gov.uk

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