Walking in Memphis Leicester

The Church of the Martyrs Church Hall is only a short walk from Leicester city centre, but it's hardly a straight line. What's more -as people must have been finding is my own inimitable style- I'm not going to direct people in the most straight route but the most clear route. Also, buoyed by those Co-Op adverts with the walking school bus, I'm going to direct everyone coming from the station to the city centre and then direct everyone from the city centre to the Church Hall. If you want me to buy you little florescent vests then send me an invoice, they're coming in thick and fast now.

The most important waypoint in this post is the Clock Tower. As with the Town Hall in Leeds, the purpose of this is to make sure everyone gets to the same point. If you are in Leicester city centre the Clock Tower is signposted and blatantly obvious; it's the big, white, pointy thing outside the main entrance to the Shires Highcross shopping complex. It looks like this:



From the Station to the Clock Tower
This is the easy bit! Coming out of the Station concourse you walk into an enclosed brick exterior section, filled with taxis and cars desperately trying to complete 3 point turns. The general swell of people should be turning right and out of this building through a large opening. Follow them to the outside road, which fantastically appears to be two roads in one; both Granby Street and London Road run side by side with no break or separation. Walk along Granby Street and an underpass will come into view. Walk under this pass and continue on the same street. This is still Granby Street. Keep going in this straight line and the road changes it's name to Gallowtree Gate. Never mind that; just keep going and The Clock Tower should come into view.

From the Clock Tower to Westcotes Drive
Standing with the Clock Tower behind you and Highcross to your right, you will see Eastgates infront of you. Walk down this and it changes it's name to High Street. Perhaps at one point this was the High Street, but it appears to be more of a shell now there is a monolithic shopping centre parked on it. Keep walking down High Street and it opens up to a road with a small car park to your left and a big traffic island of a hotel infront of you. This is St Nicholas Circle. Cross the large road that sperates you from the Circle and follow the circle round to the other side. Here you can cross the River Soar as you walk on St Augustine Road. Keep on this road until you reach a large crossroads. Turn left at this crossroads, walking along Narborough Road. It will be easier for later if you walk along what will be the right hand side pavement of Narborough Road; with the closest cars travelling in the opposite direction. After a little walk you will need to cross over another crossroads and the shops will start to be constant and densely packed on both sides of the road. At the second right after the second crossroads you will see the Hindu Temple on your right:



Turn right at this street and continue down Westcotes Drive. On the right hand side you'll pass the Church of the Martyrs and shortly afterwards will find the Chuch Hall. Admire the historic railings and come right in to meet Rory Palmer.

I've been told some people would like maps. I haven't been unreasonably witholding them but was trying to work on a mega-Google map that would have all the different directions in them. Needless to say, that was a crazy idea and it made Leeds look like a half-eaten multi-coloured noodle bowl. So here is a simple map of the above post.