New Leicester history & heritage visitor app launched

Leicester Shire Promotions has launched a new smartphone app for visitors interested in the city's history and heritage offer. The new Leicester History and Heritage app is available to download for free from Apple's App Store for users of iPhones, iPads and iTouch devices. It features information on 38 historical venues across Leicester, recommendations for half-day and full-day trails for visitors, and a ‘Locate me' interactive map to direct the user to the closest historical venue.

Venues and locations of interest highlighted on the app include Castle Park, Jewry Wall, Leicester Cathedral, the ‘Old Town', Abbey Park ruins, St Mary de Castro church, Belgrave Hall, Top Hat Terrace and Victoria Park. The next phase is to develop the app to cover the whole city and then an additional destination-wide app. Further developments will also include versions for other smartphone, android and tablet devices.

Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions said: "Visitors are increasingly looking for different and more flexible ways of sourcing information on their chosen destination. Smartphone apps are one of the emerging technologies that visitors are looking to take advantage of when planning their visit. This new history and heritage app will allow users to plan their day or short break visit and take in many of the highlights that the city has to offer."

Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor commented: "Leicester's got a wonderfully rich historic built environment. One of the core pledges in our manifesto was to promote its preservation, use and interpretation. With organisations like Leicester Shire Promotions using new technologies like smartphone apps, we're confident that residents and visitors will be encouraged to explore and enjoy our city's unique heritage and history."

Stuart Bailey, Chairman of Leicester Civic Society, added: "Leicester is a city with a 2,000 year history and with survivals from every period of that history. The city needs to promote this history on the ground with new levels of tourism that will enhance its national status and be of greater economic benefit. Leicester Civic Society warmly welcomes the introduction of smartphone apps to widen this tourist base and so widen understanding and appreciation of the city's historic environment."

The app was developed by Leicester Shire Promotions in conjunction with Leicester-based technology company, Cuttlefish.