About Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a county in the East Midlands of England, and is considered part of the English Midlands. The county borders Nottinghamshire to the north, Lincolnshire to the north-east, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warwickshire to the south-west, Staffordshire to the west, and Derbyshire to the north-west. The county town is Leicester, where the county council has its headquarters. The 2016 mid year estimate of the population of Leicestershire was 684,100, an increase of 4.4% from the 2011 census figure of 654,300.
Leicestershire is landlocked and borders eight other counties: Warwickshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the south east, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the east, Nottinghamshire to the north, and Derbyshire to the northwest. The border with most of Warwickshire is Watling Street (the A5), as it runs along the high ground between Market Bosworth in Leicestershire and Tamworth in Staffordshire. The county has an area of 2,084 km2 (806 sq mi).
The geology of Leicestershire is varied. In the north of the county there are limestone hills while in the south and east there are chalk uplands. The River Soar flows through Leicestershire, rising in Rutland and flowing through Leicester before joining the River Trent at Sawley in Derbyshire. To the west of Leicester lies Charnwood Forest, an area of ancient oak woodland.
The highest point in Leicestershire is Bardon Hill at 278 metres (912 ft), which is also a Marilyn. There are a number of other hills in Leicestershire which reach over 200 metres (660 ft).
Leicestershire's climate is moderate. Average temperatures range from 10 °C (50 °F) in winter to 21 °C (70 °F) in summer. The county receives an average annual rainfall of 700 mm (28 in).
The economy of Leicestershire is diverse. Tourism is an important sector, with attractions such as Belvoir Castle, Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre and Country Park, Bradgate Park and Charnwood Forest. Leicester is home to two universities – the University of Leicester and De Montfort University – and there are a number of further education colleges.
The county is also home to a number of major businesses, including Next plc, which has its headquarters in Enderby, and Highcross shopping centre in Leicester. Other companies with a presence in Leicestershire include British American Tobacco, DHL Express UK and Walkers Crisps.
Leicestershire County Council is responsible for running most local services in Leicestershire. The county council has a Conservative Party majority as of May 2017.
Leicestershire County Cricket Club plays first-class cricket in Division Two of the County Championship. The club's home ground is Grace Road in Leicester.
Rugby union is also popular in Leicestershire – Leicester Tigers are one of England's leading clubs, playing their home games at Welford Road stadium in Leicester.
