Leicestershire offers government departments and agencies unrivalled accessibility. Its central UK location, close proximity to London and connectivity to the national road, rail and air communications networks makes it easily accessible from all major UK cities and regions. Not only does this make it a superb location for business travel, but also attractive to staff relocating from London who want to be within easy reach of the capital. The convenient location also offers government departments and agencies the opportunity to attract staff and other users of its services from all over the country – and, given its international air links, from all over the world.
Rail
There is a half-hourly, high speed rail service between London St Pancras and Leicester (one hour 19 minutes), while central London is two hours away by road. Market Harborough is just over an hour from London by train, with Hinckley, Loughborough and Melton Mowbray all around one and a half hours distant.
When the Lyons Civil Service Relocation Review analysed previous relocations, it found that senior executives who relocated favoured remaining within two hours of London. In that way they could attend early morning meetings in London, while still having the option of being back at their desk in the early afternoon. Going to London did not necessarily mean a full day away from the office. Chart 1 illustrates average journey times to London, showing Leicester (70 minutes) within the all important 60 to 85 minute time band.
Road
Leicestershire is at the heart of the national motorway network. The M1 Motorway passes through Leicestershire – with multiple junctions providing direct access. London is just over two hours away by road and Sheffield less than an hour and a half. The M42/A42 and M69 Motorways provide excellent links directly to the M6 and on to Birmingham (less than an hour away). The A50 and A14 provide dual carriageway access from Leicestershire to the M6 and the North West (Manchester just over two hours away), and the M11 and East of England, respectively.
Table 1. Leicester and Leicestershire’s Communication’s Network
Communications | From Leicester (Road*) | From Leicester (Rail**) |
Travel time to London | 2 hrs 4 min (104 miles) | 1 hr 19 min |
| | (70 trains per day) |
Travel to regional centres | | |
Birmingham | 55 minutes (45 miles) | 53 minutes |
Bristol | 2 hrs 25 min (132 miles) | 2 hrs 47 min |
Leeds | 1 hr 53 min (100 miles) | 2 hrs 23 min |
Manchester | 2 hrs 13 min (108 miles) | 2 hrs 24 min |
Newcastle | 3 hrs 26 min (189 miles) | 3 hrs 11 min |
Nottingham | 38 min (26 miles) | 32 minutes |
Plymouth | 4 hrs 26 min (246 miles) | 4 hrs 55 min |
Sheffield | 1 hr 25 min (71 miles) | 1 hr 8 min |
Southampton | 2 hrs 49 min (143 miles) | 3 hrs 40 min |
York | 2 hrs 9 min (115 miles) | 2 hrs 2 min |
* Source - the AA
** Source - National Rail Enquiries
AIR
Leicestershire is also home to Nottingham East Midlands Airport, allowing access to Brussels, Belfast and Edinburgh within the hour. Birmingham International Airport is within a 40 minute drive of Leicestershire.
