This inner city walk has a number of busy roads, please take care when crossing these and use pedestrian crossings where possible
Some of the pavements and paths are uneven in places - take care.
[1] Leave the college campus onto Belgrave Gate. Turn right, cross over the road at the first pedestrian crossing and continue forward to Burleys Flyover.
[2] Turn left onto St Matthews Way and continue ahead to the pedestrian crossing at the end of the flyover. Cross over St Matthews Way and continue ahead on Wharf Street South for 300 metres to the traffic lights at Humberstone Road.
[3] Cross left over Wharf Street South then right over Humberstone Road and walk to the left. After about 100 metres turn second right onto Morledge Street. Phoenix Square with the cinema and arts centre is passed on the left hand side. Continue to the end of Morledge Street.
(A) The award winning and innovative Phoenix Square was opened on 17th November 2009. It is a cultural building housing an arts cinema, digital gallery, homes, office, creative work space and a cafe. Its two cinemas are capable of showing 3D, digital and 35mm films. There is also a TV studio and various editing suites. More information on http://www.phoenix.org.uk/
[4] Turn left onto Southampton Street and then almost immediately right onto St George Street. Continue past the Leicester Mercury building on the left. You reach a dual carriageway road (St Georges Way). Continue ahead across Charles Street.
(B) The Leicester Mercury was opened in 1874 as the Leicester Daily Mercury. It is one of the largest selling regional newspaper titles in the UK. Reporters are based in the building and in towns throughout Leicestershire and Rutland. Some of the paper's production is based in Nottingham.
[5] Cross Granby Street then immediately turn right onto East Street, passing the YMCA and the 'Y' Theatre on the right. Turn right at the end onto South Albion Street and then almost immediately right onto Calais Hill.
(C) The 300 seat 'Y' Theatre is the oldest surviving theatre in Leicester and was built in 1900. It offers a wide variety of entertainment including comedy, music and dance. More information on http://www.leicesterymca.co.uk/y-theatre.php
[6] Turn first left onto Calais Street and, just past the car park, turn right onto Dover Street passing The Little Theatre on the left.
(D) The 349 seat Little Theatre has existed on this site since 1932. It puts on a wide range of plays performed by its amateur drama groups. It also hosts performances for the Leicester Comedy Festival. The theatre also has a costume hire facility. More information on http://www.thelittletheatre.net/.
[7] At the end of Dover Street turn left onto Granby Street and continue ahead to the traffic lights at Rutland Street.
[8] Turn right onto Rutland Street. Continue forward over Charles Street to pass the Leicester Creative Business Depot on the right. Continue along Rutland Street to pass between The Curve and Athena. Continue forward up Rutland Street and cross over Humberstone Gate East onto Wharf Street South.
(E) The Leicester Creative Business Depot was once the Leicester City Bus Depot. It is now a centre for creative arts businesses and as well as workspaces contains an art gallery and a cafe. See http://www.lcbdepot.co.uk/about-us
(F) The Curve Theatre opened on 11th November 2008. Its main auditorium has 750 seats and there is also a smaller, 350 seat, auditorium. The Curve offers a wide range of shows including West End musicals, plays by figures such as William Shakespeare and Alan Bennett, ballet and comedy. More information at http://www.curveonline.co.uk/brochure.php
Across the road is the Athena which was built in the 1930s as the Odeon Cinema. The cinema closed in the 1990s and was converted into a 1300 seat venue for corporate and social events. Popular events include conferences, weddings and Christmas parties. More information on http://www.athenacb.co.uk
[9] You are now on the route you came on. Cross straight over St Matthews Way at the pedestrian crossing and turn to the left to walk next to Burleys Flyover. Bear right onto Belgrave Gate, cross the road at the crossing and turn right to return to the college.