BBC Radio Leicester

BBC Radio Leicester is a local radio station serving Leicestershire and Rutland. Its studios stand at St Nicholas Place in Leicester, close to the medieval Guildhall and the Cathedral. The building includes parts of Leicester’s past, with Victorian tiles and an undercroft first uncovered in 1841 that dates back to Roman times. It once housed the BBC College of Journalism for the Midlands and a BBC Shop selling branded goods. The station broadcasts on FM, DAB, digital TV and BBC Sounds, reaching listeners across the region. The station began in 1967 as the first BBC Local Radio service, launching from a transmitter on Gorse Hill above the city centre. In 1976 it introduced programmes for Leicester’s British Asian community, later expanding to form the basis of the BBC Asian Network. The station marked its 40th anniversary in 2007 with a Ruby Rainbow Appeal for Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough, raising funds through events throughout the year. Its weekly audience reached 100,000 listeners by May 2025. Visitors can see the modern studios at St Nicholas Place, set beside historic buildings. The area around the Guildhall and Cathedral offers views of Leicester’s medieval core. The station’s FM mast stands 70 metres tall on Copt Oak, 235 metres above sea level in Charnwood Forest. The site includes remains from Roman times and Victorian architectural details within the building itself.