Difference between revisions of "Leicestershire"
(New page: A gently undulating county of central England, known for fox-hunting and red cheese. The county town in Leicester. The north-west of the county contains a small coalfield for which the tow...) |
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| − | + | {{City | |
| + | |name = Leicestershire | ||
| + | |picture = | ||
| + | |picture2 = Flag of Leicestershire.svg.png | ||
| + | |map = Leicestershire Brit Isles Sect 5.svg.png | ||
| + | |sov state = United Kingdom | ||
| + | |country = England | ||
| + | |state = | ||
| + | |region = | ||
| + | |shire county = | ||
| + | |council = | ||
| + | |borders = [[Derbyshire]] <br/> [[Lincolnshire]] <br/> [[Northamptonshire]] <br/> [[Nottinghamshire]] <br/> [[Rutland]] <br/> [[Staffordshire]] <br/> [[Warwickshire]] | ||
| + | |population = | ||
| + | |area = | ||
| + | |density = | ||
| + | |mayor = | ||
| + | |demonym = | ||
| + | |co-ordinates = | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | '''Leicestershire''' is a gently undulating county in the heart of [[England]], known for [[fox-hunting]] and red [[cheese]]. The county town is [[Leicester]]. The county borders [[Derbyshire]], [[Nottinghamshire]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[Rutland]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[Warwickshire]] and [[Staffordshire]]. | ||
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| + | Another centre of population in the county is [[Melton Mowbray]] famous for the production of pork pies and Stilton cheese. Nearby is historic Belvoir (pronounced "beaver") Castle, the seat of the Duke of Rutland. | ||
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| + | The north-west of the county contains a small coalfield for which the town of Coalville was named. It is transected by the [[M1 motorway]], which links London and Leeds via the English [[Midlands]]. | ||
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| + | ==Geography== | ||
| + | North-western Leicestershire contains part of the National Forest, which is visible as one travels through the county on the A42 road. The forest is part of an initiative started in the 1990s to blend ancient woodland with newly planted trees. Within the forest is Leicestershire's highest summit (and indeed that of the forest), Bardon Hill (912 feet). | ||
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| + | The county is primarily drained by the River Soar, which rises at Monks Kirby, Warwickshire, and flows through the heart of Leicestershire, including the county town of Leicester. With a length of 60 miles, it flows into the River Trent at Trent Lock, where Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire meet. | ||
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| + | The geographical centre of England, by most measurements, is at Lindley Hall Farm, close to [[Fenny Drayton]] in south-west Leicestershire (near the border with Warwickshire). | ||
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| + | ==Transportation== | ||
| + | The busiest road in Leicestershire is the [[M1 motorway]] which runs for 200 miles between Leeds in the north and London in the south, with Leicester being roughly halfway between the two on the route; more intermediate destinations on the route from the county are Nottingham and Derby to the north, and Northampton to the south. On the M1 at Catthorpe, in the far south of Leicestershire, is the southern terminus of the [[M6 motorway]]. The M69 links the M1 at Leicester to the M6 at [[Coventry]] in Warwickshire. | ||
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| + | ==Administration== | ||
| + | Leicestershire County Council, and the various district councils into which its area is split, serves much of the county, plus the parts of Northamptonshire containing the southern suburbs of [[Market Harborough]]. The part of Leicestershire containing the city of Leicester and its immediate surrounds, however, are served by [[Leicester City Council]]. | ||
| + | ===Statistical=== | ||
| + | The two council areas which cover nearly all of the traditional county of Leicestershire form a part of the [[East Midlands]] statistical region. | ||
| + | === Similarly-named county for the purposes of lieutenancy === | ||
| + | There is also a [[county for the purposes of lieutenancy]] called Leicestershire. Consisting of the combined areas of Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council, it covers a similar area to the county proper, with the only significant difference being the inclusion of the Northamptonshire suburbs of Market Harborough. | ||
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| + | [[Category:English Counties]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:15, April 1, 2025
| Leicestershire | |
|---|---|
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| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Borders | Derbyshire Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Nottinghamshire Rutland Staffordshire Warwickshire |
Leicestershire is a gently undulating county in the heart of England, known for fox-hunting and red cheese. The county town is Leicester. The county borders Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire.
Another centre of population in the county is Melton Mowbray famous for the production of pork pies and Stilton cheese. Nearby is historic Belvoir (pronounced "beaver") Castle, the seat of the Duke of Rutland.
The north-west of the county contains a small coalfield for which the town of Coalville was named. It is transected by the M1 motorway, which links London and Leeds via the English Midlands.
Contents
Geography
North-western Leicestershire contains part of the National Forest, which is visible as one travels through the county on the A42 road. The forest is part of an initiative started in the 1990s to blend ancient woodland with newly planted trees. Within the forest is Leicestershire's highest summit (and indeed that of the forest), Bardon Hill (912 feet).
The county is primarily drained by the River Soar, which rises at Monks Kirby, Warwickshire, and flows through the heart of Leicestershire, including the county town of Leicester. With a length of 60 miles, it flows into the River Trent at Trent Lock, where Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire meet.
The geographical centre of England, by most measurements, is at Lindley Hall Farm, close to Fenny Drayton in south-west Leicestershire (near the border with Warwickshire).
Transportation
The busiest road in Leicestershire is the M1 motorway which runs for 200 miles between Leeds in the north and London in the south, with Leicester being roughly halfway between the two on the route; more intermediate destinations on the route from the county are Nottingham and Derby to the north, and Northampton to the south. On the M1 at Catthorpe, in the far south of Leicestershire, is the southern terminus of the M6 motorway. The M69 links the M1 at Leicester to the M6 at Coventry in Warwickshire.
Administration
Leicestershire County Council, and the various district councils into which its area is split, serves much of the county, plus the parts of Northamptonshire containing the southern suburbs of Market Harborough. The part of Leicestershire containing the city of Leicester and its immediate surrounds, however, are served by Leicester City Council.
Statistical
The two council areas which cover nearly all of the traditional county of Leicestershire form a part of the East Midlands statistical region.
Similarly-named county for the purposes of lieutenancy
There is also a county for the purposes of lieutenancy called Leicestershire. Consisting of the combined areas of Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council, it covers a similar area to the county proper, with the only significant difference being the inclusion of the Northamptonshire suburbs of Market Harborough.
