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Original poster

Leicester open day - recommendations for Friday eve

17 replies

Plumpretty · 07/09/2023 21:38

DS and I are getting train to Leicester tomorrow and staying over at uni hotel (College Court) ready for Saturday’s open day. Can anyone recommend what to see/do/where to eat tomorrow night please? Also, is it a good idea to look at accommodation or should we save that until offer holder days? This is our first uni open day…

OP posts:
clary · 07/09/2023 22:17

i would deffo look at accommodation. It's mostly out at Oadby Village (or the nicer halls are) - it's a bus ride in or maybe a bike ride. My DD went there on clearing and I was impressed. Supportive especially her dept and PT, good course (Eng lit) with varied assessment options. Halls were nice tho hers was a Hobson's choice bc of clearing.

Not really any idea on where to eat, sorry; we just went to Wetherspoons in Oadby!

WithASpider · 07/09/2023 23:01

The Village accommodation is lovely, a real variety and very green. Freeman's Common and Nixon Court are the new ones closest to uni. These are very swanky! DD is just starting her 2nd year at Leicester and lives at Freeman's.

You'll more than likely get the opportunity to check both out over the course of the day as campus isn't very big.
Have dinner in the city on Friday night. There are several decent pubs. If you want something a bit different there are a load of little restaurants on Queens Road (through Victoria park).

TheGirlInTheGreenDress · 07/09/2023 23:07

Walk down from College Court to Queens Road. Some lovely restaurants there. Barceloneta is very nice.

Henowner · 07/09/2023 23:15

Yep I recommend Queens road or the famous Golden Mile for delicious curry if you fancy going further out.

Monstermunchy · 07/09/2023 23:21

Another vote for Queens Rd / Clarendon Park area.
My dc also about to start second year and will be living in Nixon this time. He was in the Pavilions in Oadby last year in an en-suite room. He is loving it in Leicester (also went through clearing) and has no regrets about ending up there.

thinkfast · 07/09/2023 23:48

Do parents go to uni open days nowadays? I went alone to all the ones I visited... can't remember any parents going

TerryWoganFanGirl · 07/09/2023 23:58

If you are interested in the Richard the third story there is a museum about him. Leicester museum on New Walk is interesting with a mix of permanent and temporary exhibits. It has a whole load of Picasso ceramics which the Attenboroughs gave, they grew up in Leicester as their Dad taught at the university. The museum is on New Walk and you could walk down and into the centre to get an idea of nightlife, facilities etc. If you wanted to stay down to eat look at St Martins Square (I’d recommend Mowgli) or go further to the Golden Mile. Or up near the university Queens Road as mentioned above has lots - Barceloneta very good, or Martin Brothers pizzeria. Have a fun open day.

Original poster
Plumpretty · 08/09/2023 00:23

Thank you so much for the replies - we will book Barceloneta if we can - apposite as DS is applying for MFL!

OP posts:
Original poster
Plumpretty · 08/09/2023 00:28

@clary Just checked and they are laying on buses to Village (Oadby?) every 20 mins on Saturday. It looks lovely and green so we will try to fit in a visit there after subject talk. Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Plumpretty · 08/09/2023 00:32

thinkfast · 07/09/2023 23:48

Do parents go to uni open days nowadays? I went alone to all the ones I visited... can't remember any parents going

I think so according to DS. The hotel won’t allow any under 18s to book so I have to go (although I wanted to anyway!). I have no intention of asking questions though - will encourage DS to lead

OP posts:
CrapBucket · 08/09/2023 00:37

Parents definitely go to open days in current times. Most kids have a parent with them.

Depending on how much time you have for general sightseeing, things we like in Leicester are New Walk Museum, the burial place of Richard 3rd, and Social Climbing.

If your DS does end up at Leicester, visit for Diwali, it’s the best celebration in the world outside India.

clary · 08/09/2023 10:35

Great that your DS wants to study MFL btw @Plumpretty I'm an MFL specialist and very few boys take it now sadly.

Wiii · 09/09/2023 07:00

thinkfast · 07/09/2023 23:48

Do parents go to uni open days nowadays? I went alone to all the ones I visited... can't remember any parents going

Yep. Now they're expected to pay so much it's very rare to not have a parent with a student at open days.

maudesvagina · 09/09/2023 07:17

Lots of places to eat in town. Kayal in granby st near station excellent Indian restaurant

mamaduckbone · 09/09/2023 07:45

Might be too late for you now, but there are lots of nice places to eat in St Martin's Square, in the city centre, especially Crafty Burger.

thefemaleJoshLyman · 09/09/2023 07:47

@Plumpretty Have a lovely day in Leicester. College Court (or College Hall as it was) was my hall of residence when I went to Leicester! I've also stayed in the hotel since. Queen's Road is lovely.

septemberoctobernovember · 20/09/2023 09:36

thefemaleJoshLyman · 09/09/2023 07:47

@Plumpretty Have a lovely day in Leicester. College Court (or College Hall as it was) was my hall of residence when I went to Leicester! I've also stayed in the hotel since. Queen's Road is lovely.

Edited

And Freeman's common being swanky. It was awful in my day

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