Home / Local guides / Leicester
Leicestershire · England
Spiritual Leicester
If you live in or near Leicester, this page brings the night sky, the old sites and the seasons together in one place. It covers where to find properly dark skies, what the sun and moon are doing across the year at Leicester's latitude (52.6°N), the heritage and folklore places nearby, and when to order so your crystals, tarot or candles arrive in time.
Jewry Wall. Photo: NotFromUtrecht, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Region Leicestershire
- Dark skies Elan Valley Estate Dark Sky Park
- Delivery UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days
Places to visit
Real photographs, with directions. Tap a map link to open the exact spot.
History, folklore and tips
The history
Jewry Wall is one of the largest surviving pieces of Roman civil building in Britain, part of the baths of Ratae Corieltauvorum. Richard III, whose remains were found under a Leicester car park in 2012, was reburied in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.
Visiting tips
- Check Jewry Wall Museum's opening times before you go.
- The King Richard III Visitor Centre is next to the cathedral.
- Bradgate Park is good for evening walks.
From the shop
Shop for Leicester
Candles and gifts, delivered across Leicester. UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days.
Sky almanac for Leicester
Dark skies and stargazing near Leicester
Dark skies and stargazing near Leicester
The nearest certified dark-sky place to Leicester is Elan Valley Estate Dark Sky Park, about 170 km (106 miles) away as the crow flies. The next nearest is Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) Dark Sky Reserve, about 177 km (110 miles) away. The best nights are clear, moonless ones around a new moon. The next new moons are on 9 November, 9 December, 7 January, 6 February. Find event dates on the Elan Valley Estate Dark Sky Park website.
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Leicester
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Leicester
At the June solstice on 21 June 2027, the sun rises in Leicester at about 04:40 and sets at about 21:32 (BST), giving 16h 51m of daylight, 13 minutes more than in London. At the December solstice on 21 December 2026 it rises at about 08:13 and sets at about 15:51 (GMT), giving only 7h 37m. Around the March equinox (20 March 2027), sunrise is about 06:10 and sunset about 18:16. Between roughly 18 May and 27 July, the sun never sinks far enough below the horizon for full astronomical darkness, so the faintest stars and the Milky Way are hard to see. In folk tradition the full moon marks the month. The next full moons fall on 24 November, 24 December, 22 January, 20 February, 22 March. Times are calculated (NOAA formulas) and approximate.
Best times of year
Best times of year
Autumn and winter give Leicester its best skies: darkness comes early and the air is often clearer after a cold front.
For the Perseids in August 2027 the moon is 84% lit and sets over Leicester at about 01:08, so the best watching is after moonset and before dawn. Full darkness on 12 August starts around 23:12 at 52.6°N.
The Quadrantids peak on the night of 3–4 January 2027 with the moon 12% lit. They are short and sharp, best after midnight, and the January cold means layers and a flask are essential.
Elan Valley Estate Dark Sky Park is about 170 km away if you want truly dark skies; otherwise a park or field away from streetlights will still show the brighter meteors.
On 2 August 2027 a partial solar eclipse is visible across the UK, weather permitting. Never look at the sun without certified eclipse glasses.
Leicester: local questions
Where is the nearest dark sky reserve to Leicester?
The nearest certified dark-sky place is Elan Valley Estate Dark Sky Park, roughly 170 km away in a straight line.
What time is sunrise in Leicester on the summer solstice?
About 04:40 BST on 21 June 2027, with sunset about 21:32.
Are there ancient or sacred sites near Leicester?
Yes. Nearby places include Jewry Wall, Leicester Cathedral. See the heritage section for details.
How much is delivery to Leicester?
UK delivery to Leicester is £3.95 and free on orders over £40. Most orders arrive within 2–5 working days.
Photographs are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown, resized and converted for the web. Folklore is described as tradition. Starseed UK makes no health claims for any product.