The Best Hotels to Book in Leicester, England

Picturesque New Walk Street is home to this AA-rated four-star hotel in Leicester where boutique rooms pop with bold colours and patterns. Classic decor nods to the building’s 19th-century heritage. The hotel’s bar and restaurant serves up signature Belmont burgers and cocktails – and afternoon tea is for all, with vegan and children’s options. Like a night in? Enjoy 24-hour room service. You’ll appreciate the free parking – though you’re only a few minutes’ walk from Leicester city centre and train station.

This centrally positioned boutique hotel in Leicester has four bedrooms with king-size beds, tiled bathrooms and muted silver and grey colour palettes. The bar is only open for private functions – but if staff are on-hand, they can pour you a tipple, leave bottles in your in-room fridge or recommend nearby restaurants and bars. Special occasion? The City Rooms – dating back to 1792 – house opulent function rooms including a ballroom, which is great for weddings, and a grandly decorative bar.

The Villare offers modern rooms 10 minutes’ walk from Leicester’s historic quarter with the likes of colourful fabrics, plush bucket chairs, handy desks and chic bathrooms. Choose a balcony room to enjoy al fresco city living. The breakfast is a top-notch buffet offering things like caviar-topped scrambled eggs with salmon slices or stacks of syrupy pancakes. Later, sample the bar and lounge’s wines – or head to two-minutes-away 1573 Bar & Grill for chargrilled steaks (meat or cauliflower) on the terrace.

Stay in a traditional countryside pub in Gaddesby on the site-connecting rural trail, the Leicestershire Round. Wake up to green views in cosy rooms – look out for lambs in springtime. Foodies will love the quality pub grub: try Cromer crab and crayfish ravioli followed by toffee and honeycomb cheesecake or vegan blackcurrant crumble. Wednesdays mean proper homemade pies with weekly special fillings. Digest with a game of pétanque on the court, then finish off with one of 15 gins by the roaring fire.

This four-star Marriott offers contemporary rooms and suites with trendy, colour-splattered wall art. Start your day with an indulgent buffet breakfast and a workout in the on-site fitness centre. Come evening, grab a booth or geometric-pattern chair in the vibrant, plant-scattered Market Kitchen. Tuck into superfood salads or fancy burgers followed by a classic cocktail in the Bar & Lounge. There are plenty of function rooms for occasions – and nearby attractions include the National Space Centre and King Power Stadium.

Stay in the thick of things at this Leicester city centre hotel where you’re a stone’s throw from restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shopping centres and the famous Leicester Market. Contemporary rooms have all the comforts of home – from the scatter cushions and bedside lamps to the flowers and cosy chairs – so you’re in for a pleasant stay. Wake up each morning to a complimentary continental breakfast to kick start your exploring.

The Bell Gate House offers all you need for a city break in simple rooms with bold coloured fabrics, work desks, mini-bars and TV streaming services. The reception is 24 hours, and you’ll receive an inclusive continental breakfast in your room each morning. You’re close to riverside Abbey Park and Leicester Cathedral: two city-centre highlights. Travelling from abroad? Use the hotel’s airport shuttle.

The friendly staff will make you feel at home in this well-reviewed guest house that’s within walking distance from city centre sites. Rooms are stuffed with home comforts like mini-fridges, streaming services and in-room fireplaces that make for cosy nights in. Choose the family room if you’re bringing the kids or an en-suite for extra privacy – the funky wallpaper brightens the simple decor.

Leicester’s Novotel has amenities galore, starting in bedrooms designed for serenity with individual wall art, rain showers and 55-inch TVs. Check into a plush, city-view suite for a special stay. Post-adventure, reinvigorate at the hotel’s fitness centre before hitting the stylish restaurant. Pair wines with impressive cheese and meat platters – or dine out on sautéed dry-aged fillet medallions or seared harissa cauliflower. Mornings mean a buffet breakfast featuring plant-based options and a steaming mug of the hotel’s own coffee blend.