A guide to living in Leicestershire

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Hello, I have just moved here for about a month or so and honestly the place is quite nice. It has a good location relative to the city centre and is a nice distance away from St Margaret’s bus station (11min walk) and the train station (25min walk). There is a cinema, a bowling alley, lots of shops and restaurants close by and a good amount of grocery shops like Sainsbury’s Local (2min walk), Aldi and Lidl (15min walk). The area is quiet in its self but unfortunately there is a bit of construction going on right beside the building. So from around 7.30 am you can hear building noises and shouting. But it’s ok when you close the windows. Of course I keep them open because it’s quite warm. One downside of the area is when you are just walking up to it. There is a quite a bit of graffiti under the bridge and a bit of rubbish around. But after you get past that area the area is nice and lovely with a river nearby. Leicester seems to be big on graffiti so the locals are a bit used to it. For parking, the building has private parking in the building, I’m not too sure about availability. There is also a bit of parking in front as well. I haven’t experienced any anti social behaviour. I know there is a student building nearby but haven’t heard much from them so all is well.

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

I am someone who is quite forgetful so tend to walk out of my apartment without my key. Thankfully whenever I contacted management in regards to this they were always willing to help. Also whenever I had any questions about the development, they were answered quite promptly which was nice.

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

Honestly everything was kind of explained to me during my viewing. One thing I would say I wished I knew before was the hot water situation and the graffiti around Leicester. I also wish I knew they didn’t have compost bins as I am used to them but it doesn’t bother me too much. Also I wasn’t aware that my bed was going to be kind sized so it was a bit annoying ordering a smaller sized cover before realising.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The building offers excellent facilities, including a well-equipped gym and yoga classes, making it easy to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The surrounding neighborhood is also very convenient. There is a larger fitness center nearby for those who want more options, as well as a large shopping mall where you can find everything you need. There is even an indoor climbing gym for sports enthusiasts. In addition, a beautiful park is only a ten-minute walk away, providing a great place to relax, exercise, or enjoy the outdoors. Overall, it is a fantastic location with everything close at hand.

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

The building management has always been friendly, professional, and responsive. Whenever I raised a question or reported an issue, they responded promptly and handled it efficiently. They kept me informed throughout the process and made sure everything was resolved satisfactorily. Their excellent service has made my living experience much more comfortable and stress-free.

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

One thing I wish I had known before moving in is how convenient the location really is. Besides the facilities in the building, there are larger gyms, a shopping mall, an indoor climbing gym, and a lovely park all within walking distance. I would also recommend making full use of the building’s amenities and getting to know the management team, as they are very friendly and helpful whenever you need assistance. Overall, it has been a great place to live.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The location is one of The Wullcomb's biggest selling points. It is couple of minutes walk from the city center, so shops and restaurants are all on your doorstep and St Margaret's bus station is just around the corner making getting around a breeze. There's a Sainsbury's bang opposite to the building for everyday essentials, and within the building itself you have Esquires coffee shop and a private fitness center. Leicester Royal Infirmary is also just a few minutes away, which is hugely reassuring and the area has several GPs, dental clinics and schools nearby making it a great fit for all kinds of residents. The building has on site parking and for guests, there are few onsite parking space and ample paid parking around the building. Despite being on a main road, the traffic noise is surprisingly low. Bins are managed by the concierge team so that's one less thing to think about. In terms of safety, Always felt very secure — access to the building is restricted, the concierge team are on hand around the clock, and it's a genuinely safe environment, great for families and kids too.

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

In my nearly 5 years of stay, I had requested adjustments due to unexpected situations, Karl always responded positively. Whenever anything came up, the response was prompt and reassuring. The concierge team are available around the clock and on the couple of occasions things needed dealing with quickly, they were straight on it — no fuss, no delays. Always felt like things were being handled by people who actually cared. Zero headache.

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

After nearly 5 years, honestly there's not much I wish I'd known , which is a good sign. I have no complaints. It genuinely felt like more than just a place to live. That's hard to get from a viewing alone.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The perfect balance of being close to town center but also being safely and peacefully just outside. It’s a safe and secure building with a great parcel collection protocol. The only issue I have is that it’s not super close to a supermarket (although there is a sainsburies local just down the road)

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

I asked about the beep in my fridge and it was fixed in the same day

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

I asked loads of questions before I moved in and Abbie was super attentive so everything I wanted to know was explained to me

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Living on the canal side of The Arches is incredibly convenient. From the side entrance, there is a Londis less than two minutes away, and the new Sainsbury’s on Highcross Street is right by the main entrance for larger shops. Being so close to a Big Tesco on Narborough Road, Aldi on Woodgate, Highcross, and Jubilee Square means everything you need is within walking distance, including great spots like Wygston’s House. The building is well-set up with two large communal bin areas and two very secure bike storage zones, which is a huge plus. While street parking is permit-only and can get busy, the permit zone is quite wide, so I’ve always been able to find a space nearby. It’s a fantastic location that balances city-centre access with the slightly quieter feel of the canal bend.

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

We’ve had a few issues, but the management team has generally handled them with a lot of care. For instance, our cooker hob shattered on Christmas Eve, which was a nightmare timing-wise. While it took a few weeks to get a permanent replacement, Mia and Abbie were very supportive and even let us use a vacant flat to cook in so we could still cook during the weeks waiting. My only real gripe was with the third-party contractors they hired; they cut the power to my flat without warning while I was working from home, which caused me to lose work on my computer. A simple heads-up would have gone a long way! We’ve also had a bit of a miss with the window cleaners lately—our side of the building (the canal side) seems to have been skipped, so the windows are still quite dirty. Hopefully, the team can get them back out soon! On the security side, there is occasionally some noise or trouble from the nearby student accommodation. Still, it’s reassuring that we have on-site security and good connections with the local police. Despite the odd city-centre incident you might see in the news, I’ve generally felt that the building is a safe and well-managed bubble.

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

I wish I had known just how much there is to take advantage of here! First, don’t ignore the building app or the event posters; Mia and Abbie put so much effort into the social nights, and they are honestly the best way to meet your neighbours. If you work or study from home, keep in mind that the private study rooms are popular and can get snatched up quickly, so it’s worth heading down early or exploring the various 'hidden' cubbies and desks in the communal areas