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city · Leicestershire
Looking for a place to stay in Leicester? Compare Great Central Square and Welford Road stays for Leicester history, shopping, sporting weekends and practical family rooms.
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Search Leicester on Booking.comLeicester offers more than one city-break starting point. Great Central Square is a useful choice for a stay shaped by the centre, shopping and the Old Town; Welford Road makes more sense when a sporting fixture is the reason for the visit. Our shortlist compares Novotel and voco around those different plans. Choose the location before the room upgrade, then look closely at parking, family beds and any access requirements.
FIND YOUR BASE
Novotel can anchor a city-centre break with a visit to the Old Town and time for shops. Think of it as a base to return to between activities, rather than an invitation to fit every Leicester attraction into one day.
Good for: Visitors combining history, browsing and city dining.
Before you choose: The car park has its own Great Central Street address. Use that arrival instruction instead of assuming the hotel’s front door is the vehicle entrance.
voco is the comparison when rugby or the southern side of the city is central to the trip. A suite may add something to a celebration, but only if your schedule leaves time to use its extras.
Good for: Sporting weekends and visitors choosing a specific suite.
Before you choose: Check the fixture calendar and arrival plan. Limited parking must be booked, and a matchday setting should not be treated as a promise of a quiet evening.
The Richard III story and cathedral can shape a central history day. The National Space Centre is a separate outing, so choose it deliberately rather than adding it at the end of an already full plan.
Good for: Families and mixed-interest groups choosing one main theme.
Before you choose: Allow for the actual route from your hotel and any timed admission. A city-centre address does not put every attraction outside the door.
EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS
See where hotels and holiday rentals sit around Leicester, then choose dates to explore your options.
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ROOM FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP
A Great Central Square hotel and a Welford Road hotel, compared around the reason for the trip.
Compare for Great Central Square and a city-centre sightseeing break.
Before you book: Use the separate car-park address at 14 Great Central Street. Confirm children’s beds and the exact accessible bathroom rather than relying on a generic room photograph.
Visit official website2 Great Central Square, Leicester, LE1 4JS
A Great Central Square hotel for a Leicester city break, with room and suite categories to compare and the Old Town nearby.
Sources checked 2026-09-17
Compare for the Welford Road side of Leicester and specified room facilities.
Before you book: Parking is very limited and must be pre-booked. Discuss your precise access requirements and arrival arrangements; confirm the chosen suite rather than expecting its extras in a standard room.
Visit official website101 Welford Road, Leicester, LE2 7QS
A Welford Road hotel for a Leicester stay. Room extras such as a hot tub belong to specific suites.
Sources checked 2026-09-17
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Compare where to stay for these visits, including alternative bases and practical arrival advice.
ROMANTIC BREAKS
A historical visit followed by dinner works differently from a sporting occasion followed by time in a suite. Decide which matters most before paying attention to extras such as a terrace.
FAMILY BREAKS
Novotel’s additional sofa beds are intended for children. Agree the family layout first, then choose a main attraction that leaves enough time for meals and a return to the room.
A LITTLE ROOM TO EXPLORE
A suggested short break with room to enjoy your chosen base.
Follow the correct car-park directions or leave bags after your rail arrival. Keep the first evening in the part of Leicester you chose to stay in.
Give one main interest the day’s best hours. Choose the Old Town and Richard III story, a Space Centre visit, or your sporting event, with a relaxed meal around it.
Use the final morning for a nearby street or shop you missed. Leave a larger museum visit for another occasion if it would make collecting bags and travelling onward rushed.
Less time? For one night, choose either the main event or one substantial attraction. A match, a museum and a cross-city outing rarely leave much time to enjoy the stay.
BEFORE YOU CHOOSE
voco Leicester is at 101 Welford Road. Novotel is at Great Central Square, giving a different starting point for the city.
The hotel says spaces are very limited and must be pre-booked. Confirm a place or make a separate parking plan before arrival.
The operator gives 14 Great Central Street as the car-park address. Check its current access and payment arrangements before driving to the hotel.
No. Hot-tub terraces belong to selected suites. Check the exact category and arrangements if that is the reason for your stay.
Use the operator’s detailed access information and discuss the actual bedroom, bathroom and arrival route. Both hotels list adapted options, but your individual requirements still need confirming.
These base comparisons and suggested plans are our editorial judgement, informed by the linked official sources. We have not stayed at or inspected the properties. Official links earn no commission; confirm current arrangements directly.
Sources checked 2026-09-17. Check current arrangements before travelling.