LEICESTER ‘ON THE UP', ACCORDING TO NEW LONELY PLANET GREAT BRITAIN GUIDEBOOK

The new, 8th edition of the famous Lonely Planet ‘Great Britain' guidebook has strongly recommended Leicester as a city to visit. In the latest edition of the guide, Lonely Planet states that Leicester is: "filled with the sense of excitement that comes from a mix of cultures and ethnicities" and that "Leicester has a lot going on". In the guide's ‘Great Britain barometer', Leicester was included in the ‘Going Up' category as a "a socially and environmentally progressive melting pot".

David Else, the Coordinating Author of Lonely Planet's new Great Britain guidebook said: "The Midlands is commonly an area that people pass through rather than a destination in its own right, but people shouldn't overlook the gems that the region offers. Cities like Leicester, Birmingham and Nottingham have become vibrant and cosmopolitan places with lots to offer."

Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, added: "Following a major £3 billion regeneration programme, Leicester has undergone a massive physical transformation and we now have new visitor destination with high class facilities for shopping, culture, eating out and accommodation.

"Leicester and Leicestershire are rapidly becoming a destination of choice for domestic short break visitors and in 2008-09, our strategic short breaks marketing activity influenced in excess of 8,500 overnight stays booked at local accommodation - an increase of 266 per cent on the previous year."