DISCOVER LEICESTER TOUR ADDS HIGHCROSS LEICESTER TO ITS
‘BEST OF LEICESTER' ROUTE
Extra stop will be added on 4 September 2008 to coincide with official opening of Highcross Leicester
From 4 September till the end of this year's season on 27 September, the Discover Leicester open-top sightseeing tour bus will add the major Highcross Leicester retail and leisure development to its superb ‘best of Leicester' route - treating passengers to unique views of the new £350 million landmark development. The bus will stop at the first bus stop on Causeway Lane (A7), outside the spectacular new John Lewis department store.
The extra stop will be added to coincide with the official opening of Highcross Leicester on 4 September, allowing passengers to either stay on-board to take in the impressive views, or hop-off to explore the new retail and leisure complex, hopping back on a later bus.
At the heart of Leicester's transformation, Highcross Leicester is a new focus for city living. Covering a 10-hectare site, the equivalent of 20 football pitches, Highcross Leicester has fully absorbed the existing Shires Shopping Centre to become a single vibrant shopping destination offering over 100 shops, three department stores including John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser, up to 20 new cafés and restaurants set in a chic ‘Convent Garden' style area, and Leicester's very first city centre 12-screen multiplex cinema, Cinema de Lux.
Complete with insightful on-board commentary, other attractions on this year's Discover Leicester Tour include the fascinating New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, Roman history at Jewry Wall Museum, the culturally rich Belgrave Road -‘The Golden Mile', the famously haunted Belgrave Hall and Gardens, and Leicester's two premier family attractions - Great Central Railway and the spectacular National Space Centre.
Passengers are also treated to views of another regenerated part of Leicester - the all new Cultural Quarter, home to Leicester's new £59 million Curve theatre.
The tour runs everyday until 27 September 2008. Tickets on the bus cost £7 for adults, £5 for children, £16 for a family, with under fives travelling free. Advance tickets at reduced rates can be purchased from Leicester Tourist Information Centre in Town Hall Square, Leicester (Tel: 0116 299 4444) or the Ashby Tourist Information on North Street, Ashby de la Zouch (01530 411 767). Discounted advanced tickets can also be purchased on the eShop facility at www.goleicestershire.com
Free travel on the Discover Leicester Tour is available for concessionary bus pass holders - saving up to £7 per trip. Advanced concessionary tickets can be purchased from the Leicester or Ashby Tourist Information Centre.
The Discover Leicester Tour is being co-ordinated by Leicester Shire Promotions, Gold Events Management and Roberts Coaches. This year's programme is sponsored by the National Space Centre, Great Central Railway, Dominoes Toys and the Highcross Leicester-supported One Rhythm Dance Festival.
About Leicester Shire Promotions:
Leicester Shire Promotions is a private, not-for-profit company formed in July 2003 as a partnership between Leicester City Council, Leicestershire County Council and the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership. The company is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) responsible for promoting Leicester and Leicestershire to visitors and investors, based on a coordinated place marketing strategy that focuses on destination leadership and coordination, attracting investors and visitors, services for investors and visitors, and services for the tourism industry. For more information, please visit www.goleicestershire.com
For further media information, please contact:
Nimisha Mehta
Leicester Shire Promotions
T: 0116 225 4063
nimisha.mehta@l-p-l.com