Leicester In Running For City Of Culture

19 June 2013, 16:30 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Leicester's dream of becoming the UK City of Culture 2017 has come a step closer today.

This morning ( Wednesday 19th July) Capital found out that Leicester is among the four cities to make it through to the next stage of the selection process to win the prestigious title. 

The city will now have to submit a final bid – and wait until November to find out if it will be named as only the second ever UK City of Culture, following in the footsteps of current title holder Derry-Londonderry. 

Over 400 people were part of Leicester's bid team that highlighted the city’s cultural diversity, heritage and history, food and fashion.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: "This is really good news for the city. The bid process has already involved an enormous amount of goodwill and hard work from all the people and organisations involved, and this exciting news means we can now build on that in the next stage. 

If Leicester was successful it could be a massive boost for the economy, Capital's been told that tourism in Derry-Londonderry saw a boost of around £100 million in tourism.

The other shortlisted areas for the UK City of Culture 2017 include Hull, Dundee and Swansea Bay. 

To pledge support for Leicester’s bid, use Twitter (@Leicester2017) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/leicester2017) – and find out more at Leicester's new UK City of Culture 2017 website: www.leicestercityofculture2017.co.uk