Situated right on the edge of the national forest and priding itself as being the tenth-largest city in the UK, Leicester still retains much of its rich history – from its ancient roman pavements and baths through to the architectural delights of the abbey and cathedral.

There are currently ten scheduled monuments within the city together with thirteen Grade I listed buildings, which include Leicester Castle and the Jewry Wall.

Whilst appearing in the Domesday Book as “Ledecestre”, Leicester is actually rumoured to have derived from the words ‘castra of the Ligore’ – or “camp of the dwellers” on the River Legro. These days, the city lies on the River Soar and is conveniently close to the M1 motorway, making it an ideal base for commuters. Whilst Leicester was historically serviced by the Great Central Railway in the late 1890s, the start of the Eurostar International Service which operates directly from London now gives the city’s railway station fantastic links to the continent and beyond.

Given its continued development plans, Leicester is a great place to live. For city centre lovers, the recently developed Waterfront area is undoubtedly one of the places to be seen, with its trendy bars and restaurants. But for a more suburban retreat, you’ll find plenty of housing options in nearby Aylestone, Knighton and Little Stretton – all of which prove really popular with couples and families alike.

Boasting an impressive history of industry, Leicester certainly has a fair few tales to tell and it’s definitely advisable to take one of the city’s guided tours to learn some more about its origins. One such story dates back to the early 1880s, when a pork butcher by the name of Henry Walker took over an established business on the main High Street. Over time, the upper storey of a factory based in Oxford Street became the first ever production line for Walkers Crisps. Today, of course, they produce over 10 million bags of crisps every day at the Beaumont Leys manufacturing plant – otherwise known as the largest crisp factory in the world.

Given its hugely diverse population, the Melton Road area of the city now accommodates the South Asian community with various places of worship, a wealth of retail stores, unique Asian restaurants, textile businesses and the largest Diwali celebrations outside of India.

In the city centre itself, you’ll find a very vibrant and upbeat atmosphere. It’s frequented by students of both the De Montfort University and the University of Leicester, which attained its Royal Charter in 1957 and is one of the few universities within the UK to specialise in space sciences. In fact, it is partly due to the university that Abbey Lane is currently home to the city’s National Space Centre.

Anyone seeking a little retail therapy will also be pleased to hear there are two main shopping centres in Leicester – the Haymarket and Highcross. Head away from these areas, though, and you’ll soon stumble upon the numerous designer shops scattered along the Leicester Lanes area and the culinary delights that make up the stretch of Belgrave Road with its numerous Indian restaurants and sari shops. If it’s a bargain you’re after, then Leicester also boasts the largest outdoor covered market in Europe.

Whatever it is you’re looking for in a city, you’re simply bound to find it in Leicester. With its rich culture and diversity, the city opens itself to all and is one of the many reasons Keywest are a proud Leicester business. With plans to develop across Leicester in 2014, Keywest firmly believe they are perfectly placed to embrace all this wonderful city has to offer and, ultimately, share the benefits of doing so with their valued customers.