With a population of 280,000, Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands and the tenth largest in the country.
Its significance was first recognised by the Romans and later on by the Danes, who used it as a strategic stronghold to govern the Midlands. Subsequently it has developed into a major commercial and manufacturing centre, known better for the diversity of its trade compared to its dependence on a single industry.
It is another historical meeting place. For centuries people of different races and cultures have gathered in Leicester, creating a rich and unique heritage. This diversity continues today. The city's thriving ethnic minority community accounts for more than a third of Leicester's population and continues to enrich city life.