Leicester

Leicester is an increasingly popular option for property hunters seeking homes in the Midlands. House prices were enjoying a boom prior to the uncertainties of 2020 and are expected to bounce back thanks to the city’s strong economy. Historically connected to the textiles industry, retailers like Next, Asos and New Look have major sites in the city. Firms like KPMG, HSBC and British Gas also have offices there. Walker’s Crisps is also based in Leicester, operating the world’s largest crisp factory!

4.76
Average Location Score

Excellent

82%

Very Good

12%

Average

5%

Disappointing

1%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in Leicester

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Leicester Abbey Monastery

Areas to consider

The centre of Leicester is undergoing significant redevelopment. Many new developments are providing high quality housing within easy reach of the amenities and transport options the centre provides.

The Wullcomb rental development by Way of Life was rated by residents as one of the top 3 BTR (Build to Rent) developments in the UK in 2020. This highly popular building took third place in the 2020 HomeViews BTR awards with an impressive overall score of 4.88 out of 5. However, new BTR developments are currently in construction in Leicester, and will seek to challenge The Wullcomb for its crown!

Outside central Leicester there are a number of very popular suburbs and commuter towns that attract large numbers of buyers and tenants. Syston is a commuter town 3 miles outside Leicester that offers suburban living with easy transport connections into the city and also to Nottingham, Lincoln and Loughborough.

Glenfield, Oadby and Braunstone are also very popular locations. These peripheral towns and villages offer excellent value, attractive properties and plenty of green spaces.

 

leicester motorway

Transport and amenities

It location right in the centre of England makes Leicester one of the UK’s best-connected cities. Leicester station provides swift rail services to Birmingham, Sheffield and further afield via CrossCountry and East Midlands Trains. Direct trains to London St Pancras take just over an hour to reach the capital.

By car, the M1 motorway provides extremely easy access to London to the south and Leeds and Sheffield in the north. The east and west of the country are also within easy reach via the M40, M6, A1, etc.

Leicester also offers good transport links to frequent flyers, with East Midlands Airport located within a 30-minute drive of the city. Direct flights connect to national and European destinations. Airlines such as Ryanair, TUI and Jet2.com operate from this convenient local hub.

The wullcomb le1 communal space

Reviews

History buffs like me will appreciate that cultural attractions are round the corner: Leicester Cathedral, the King Richard lll museum and the Jewry Wall.
– ZC, Verified Resident on HomeViews, The Wullcomb LE1

The Wullcomb is unlike anything else in Leicester. Located in the heart of the city centre, local amenities from one of the largest shopping centres (Highcross Shopping Centre) in the midlands at your doorstep, to fine dining and essential public transport, there’s nothing which can rival this level of luxury and quality.
– Arvinder Singh, Verified Resident on HomeViews, The Wullcomb LE1

Great location with very nice atmosphere and amazing people. Made so many new friends thanks to the wonderful people who actually live here as well. There is a lot of very nice bars around as the property is located in the cultural quarters. And there are many shops near by.
– Claudia Ruszkowska, Verified Resident on HomeViews, Queen Street Apartments LE1

 

Reviews in Leicester

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Best Place to Live in Leicester City Centre

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Aug 2023

There is a really good range of local shops located a short walk away in the town centre. There are lots of nice chain restaurants as well as some really nice independents. Additionally, there is a fantastic coffee shop attached to the building. Parking is very convenient with the John Lewis multi-story car park, perfect for guests.

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The apartment was finished to a high standard, and the overall size of the rooms was very good. We were very happy with all the facilities that the building offered. The roof terrace was a great area to hang out with friends or work during the day. This area was also really well-equipped with a BBQ and a fully fitted kitchen. The cinema room was also fantastic for entertaining or just having a chill night with some friends. Parking is very secure, as it is only accessible from inside the building and is covered. The coffee shop in the building is also excellent.

The Wullcomb team was also a massive part of why our experience was so great. They honestly left a lasting impression, and they are one of the reasons why we were so sad to leave. We are so grateful for everything they did for us while we were tenants.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I have nothing further to add. Apartment was great and highly recommend to anyone.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management fixed any issues we had ASAP and were very good at keeping us in the loop and updating us if there were going to be any delays.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Liam
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this amazing review.
We miss you guys so much & thank you for staying with us for so long, you brought such a good vibe to the building & we wish you all the very best for the future in your new home!

I love to live here

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Jul 2023

The location is great, quiet area and the shopping centre is very close. Nothing is far from here even the train station is a 15 minute walk only, there is a gym right downstairs, a small shop nearby that is open almost all day so I cannot complain. This part of the street is good, sometimes rubbish is everywhere flying around but that’s because of the student apartments in front. As the summer comes the river front is nice and sunny, but also it makes it unbearable to stay in the room during the day, there could have been some shading on the windows for example.

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As the summer comes the river front is nice and sunny, but also it makes it unbearable to stay in the room during the day, there could have been some shading on the windows for example. Plus the noise isolation is poor. Had more terrible experience but this is no good either. The facilities are great in the building, I don’t think anything is missing because all is well thought. The management is alright, the staff is exceptional however some of them opens the flat door without waiting for answer (as there was a situation when they upgraded the locks). Other than that, communication is good too.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I could see this apartment on Rightmove. This listing was removed from that site so we had to research the facility manually and call them for information. I’m glad we did because we are here now for another year to come.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

There has been issues during these periods and they showed great willingness to solve problems within their power, so the communication is great.

5
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Overal – Amazing!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Jul 2023

My partner and I love the location. No noise from the busy centre and streets but a quck 5-min walk to everything you’ll ever need in terms of shops, cinema, restaurants, bars, arcades, etc.

Right across the street, there is a local convinience store for when you need that snack or have forgotten a simple ingredient that you need last minute (not a grocerie store but can find a lot there).

Bin collection is a breeze. There are 3 bin stores for each block of Merlin Wharf. Entry with a chip. Never had a problem. You never have to get out of the complex to throw your rubbish out.

TRANSPORT

We don’t have a car so cannot speak for parking outside of the allocated Merlin Wharf parking spaces (which seem great for people with cars – secure entry/exit, electric charging points, more than enough space). There doesn’t seem to be much space to park outside the building so best is to pay some extra and have a spot at the parking lot of Merlin Wharf.

– Train station is 20-min walk away or a quick Uber ride. There are many Uber drivers in Leicester so there’s never a problem finding one quickly. About 1,5h to London St Pancras via Kettering (change there).

– Bus station not too far either.
– Not sure about public transport as we’ve never had the need to use it.

Please review your development:

The staff at Merlin Wharf are simply amazing. There is always someone at reception to help when needed. Parcels arrive straight there and can easily and quickly be collected from the staff. Everything is accounted for and secure.

Staff is trying to make sure all tenants live happily at Merlin Wharf. There are occassional gatherings that happen until the late hours of the evening but that’s always addressed and security is quick to react.

The design of the building and the green areas is great as I’m sure yoh can see online. Everything looks just like it is in photos/videos.

I would only complain about the structure of the building and the quality of the walls/ceilings/floors in terms of soundproofing. But I guess that’s the case with every new development. Hollow structure where sound travels easily across apartments. BUT IT’S NOT A DISSASTER. I’ve been in worse places where you can literally hear normal conversations from other apartments.

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the gym we have access to and use it every week!

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I moved in only seen an online viewing and EVERYTHING was exactly how it was online. Love it.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Quick response. Very professional.

We had a problem with the shower and bath. Issues were fixed within a week. Nothing major, just consmetic but staff had availability almost straight away.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Thank you for kind words, we are really pleased you enjoyed living at Merlin Wharf.
We wish you luck in the future.

BEST place to live in Leicester!

Review Date Jul 2023

The location is wonderful, everything is close to you from shopping mall to the groceries stores and more!

Please review your development:

I had a wonderful experience in living in the Wullcomb apartment for the past four years. I am truly grateful for the excellent service, friendly staff, and great security that made my stay truly memorable.
From the moment I moved in, the staff were always approachable, available, and easy to talk to. Their responses to any concerns contributed greatly to a comfortable living experience.
As a resident, I felt safe and secure, knowing that the premises were well-monitored. The building and its surroundings were regularly cleaned and well-maintained. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a clean, secure, and conveniently located place to call home. Keep up the excellent work!

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I don’t have anything to say, everything that the management did when I moved in was prefect.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I am pleased to say that each time I raised a concern, the response from the management team was swift and satisfactory.

4
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Rima – thank you so much for taking the time to leave this wonderful review.
We were delighted to look after you both during your stay, thank you for staying with us for so long. I will pass on your feedback to all the team.
If you do find yourself in Leicester again in the future, it would be lovely to see you both. Best wishes to your & your family for the future from all the team.

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