New to Leicester? Discover the cultural hotspots in your new city with our Leicester's Best Bits Map below, find mouth-watering restaurants and cafes, public parks and nature trails, arts and heritage organisations, shops to spend your maintenance loan on and much more! Check out our key to understand the categories and if you've discovered anything that's worthy of being included on the map submit your suggestion in the suggestions box below. Happy exploring!
To explore the map by category, please click the full screen icon in the right corner of the map.
Have suggestions to add to the map? Categorise it and put it here!
We've been hearing from Black students that they’d love clear and easy-to-access info about local opportunities and services that matter to them. And honestly, who better to tell us the best spots than our own students?
Usually, the best spots come up through friendly chats: a compliment on someone's new style, an invite to grab lunch, or just casually mentioning how you can't find that one specialty at the local shop. We’re all for those valuable word-of-mouth recommendations, but we also don’t want them to stay hidden until you bump into someone who knows.
This guide was created by the University of Leicester’s Black Student Experience Programme (login required), funded by the Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies, and developed in partnership with De Montfort University’s Students’ Union. A huge thank you to the students from Black heritages at the University of Leicester and De Montfort University whose recommendations made this possible. We truly appreciate you!
Can’t get enough of these recommendations, or looking to explore further? Check out Leicester Union’s map of best bits, covering even more cultures and spaces in the city.
Tropical Supermarket
41 Abbey St, Leicester LE1 3TE
Umrah
St Georges Retail Park, Leicester, LE1 1SG
One Nation Afro Cash and Carry
139 Narborough Rd, Leicester LE3 0PB
Anna Supermarket
349 Welford Road, LE2 6BJ
551 Saffron Ln, Aylestone, LE2 6UN
151 London Rd, LE2 1EF
Caribbean Supermarket
45 St Stephens Rd, Leicester LE2 1GH
What about the staple ingredients? We have plenty of supermarkets near both campuses, with vast world food sections too:
Lidl
Upperton Rd, Leicester LE3 0AD
217 Fosse Rd N, Leicester LE3 5EZ
Burton Street, Leicester LE1 1TE
Aldi
577 Aylestone Rd, Leicester LE2 8TD
Woodgate, Leicester LE3 5GH
Tesco
The big shop: 100 New Park St, Leicester LE3 5NJ
Express: 21 Western Blvd, Leicester LE2 7HN
Express: Haymarket Towers, 33 Humberstone Gate, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 1WA
Morrisons
The big shop: 9 Counting House Rd, Leicester LE2 7LT
Daily: Narborough Rd, Leicester LE3 2QR
Daily: 45 Briton St, Leicester LE3 0AB
Daily: 170 Evington Rd, Leicester LE2 1HL
Afrikana
132 - 140 Charles St, Leicester LE1 1QB
Afrikana Kitchen website
Flavourful African-inspired cuisine, featuring grilled chicken, burgers, wraps and more (Halal certified)
KLN BBQ & Grill
59 London Rd, Leicester LE2 0PE
@klngrillsandlounge
Delicious Nigerian food, offering rice or noodle dishes, soups, grills and seafood (Halal certified)
The African Caribbean Centre Cafe
Maidstone Rd, Leicester LE2 0UA
The African Caribbean Centre Cafe website | @hotpotleicester
Fresh, authentic Caribbean food, with Jamaican cuisine provided by HotPot Leicester, offering budget-friendly hot meals and sides (Halal certified)
Jollof Republic
22 Hinckley Rd, Leicester LE3 0RA
The Jollof Republic website | @jollof_republic
Mouthwatering African cuisine, with generous portions packed with flavour. It might not be the ‘right’ jollof, but why not give it a try? Sit-in or takeaway options available (Halal-prepared food)
Leicester Afro Caribbean Kitchen
49 London Rd, Leicester LE2 0PD
Leicester Afro Caribbean Kitchen website | @leicesterafrocaribbeankitchen
Located inside The Hind Bar. Afro-Caribbean cuisine, with dishes such as curried goat, plantain, dumplings, and much more, offering student discounts. Sit-in or takeaway options available.
Ani’s Hair and Beauty Salon
54 Dannett St, Leicester LE3 5RH
Ani's Hair and Beauty Salon website | @anihairbeautysalon
EZ CUTTZ
117 Harrow Rd, Leicester LE3 0JZ
EZ CUTTZ website| @ezcuttzhq
Tha Legendary Club
11-15 Guildhall Ln, Leicester LE1 5FQ
Tha Legendary Club website | @thalegendaryclub
Finding someone to do your hair through Instagram
A lot of students also said they find someone to do their hair through Instagram, but how do you know who the reliable ones are when there are so many independent businesses promoting their work? Hairdressing is not regulated so anyone can technically do it. Follow these easy tips from our students to keep your money and hair safe:
Beauty Queen’s Cosmetics
18 Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 3PH
Beauty Queen’s Cosmetics website | @beautyqueenscosmetics_
All Beauty Cosmetics
53 Upperton Rd, Leicester LE3 0HE
ABC Cosmetics website | @all_beautycosmetics
Stabana Cultural Products
119 Charles St, Leicester LE1 1FA
@stabanansleicester
Boots
Highcross shopping centre: 5 Shires Ln, Leicester LE1 4AN
30-36 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester LE1 1DD
Boots website
Superdrug
Haymarket Towers, 25 Humberstone Gate, Leicester LE1 1WA
Superdrug website
Student societies
Check out the societies you can try out or join while you’re at Leicester or DMU, covering different sports, cultures, religions, academic subjects and hobbies. Or if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can always create a new society!
Leicester SU socities
De Montfort SU societies
Local groups
Leicester is superdiverse with many cultural and religious communities, so there is a place for everyone. Check out these recommendations:
2Funky Arts
2Funky Arts Instagram| 2Funky Arts website
Leicester’s Black music and arts social enterprise, including Radio 2Funky, the place for great music and to hear about upcoming events in the city. There are also loads of opportunities for volunteering to get involved and gain experience in radio, events and the arts sector.
Serendipity
Serendipity Instagram | Serendipity website
An institute for Black Arts and Heritage, celebrating and centring African and African Caribbean culture and history. Events and opportunities throughout the year focused on community, connection and heritage.
African Caribbean Centre
African Caribbean Centre Instagram | African Caribbean Centre website
A friendly local centre open to everyone, hosting a range of events, workshops and cultural programmes to help us celebrate a diverse community. Featuring the Cafe that has been separately recommended as one of the places to eat!
Many students find comfort in building their community away from home with people from the same faith.
Find nearby places of worship for different faiths:
University of Leicester's Faith page for places of worship near campus, around the city centre, Clarendon Park and Oadby
De Montfort University Faith Advice for places of worship near campus, around the city centre and Saint Matthews area