Leicester revealed as one of the top 10 UK cities to live and work in

Leicester has been named as one of the best cities in which to live and work in the UK, according to latest research.

The 2015 Good Growth for Cities Index ranks Leicester in the top 10 of UK cities, highest in the Midlands and ahead of London and Cardiff. Nottingham, Birmingham and Manchester were among the worst-ranked cities in the study.

The high ranking comes as no surprise to Sarah Harrison, Leicester City Council's city centre director, who said: "Leicester is a city with a young and diverse population and this is reflected in its vibrant city centre.

"With a huge and growing range of bars and restaurants, fantastic independent shops as well as the national retail chains, and of course our famous markets, we really do have something for everyone.

"We also have a wealth of attractions for residents and visitors to enjoy, ranging from Curve theatre, the National Space Centre and a number of beautiful parks and waterways, to the gold shops and Indian restaurants on the Golden Mile, and of course our acclaimed sports teams.

"Leicester is a compact city with a good public transport network, which means that whether you choose city centre living, or further out of town, you are never far from the action."

For centuries people of different races and cultures have gathered in Leicester. Watched over by the landmark Clock Tower, built in 1869, the city can lay claim to a whole host of boasts. It is:

• Home to Britain's most multi-cultural high street, with shopkeepers from 23 countries to be found on Narborough Road, just a stone's throw from the DMU campus
• One of England's oldest cities, with a history dating back 2,000 years
• Leading the field in sports, with Leicester Tigers the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987 and Leicester City Football Club enjoying an amazing table-topping season in the Premier League
• The third hottest retail location in the UK, as named in Property Week's 2015 report
• Winner of six Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Regional Awards 2015, including for the King Richard III Visitor Centre
• A great place for laughs, with Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival - founded by DMU alumnus Geoff Rowe - attracting around 100,000 people annually and contributing £2 million to the local economy
• Where you can enjoy the largest Caribbean carnival in the UK outside of London and join in one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India
• Noted for its global cuisine and a regular contender for the Curry Capital of Britain title
• The home of Brit Award winners Kasabian and X Factor star Sam Bailey

Leicester secured ninth spot in the report, from business consultants PwC and think-tank Demos. Their research was based on 10 categories - defined by the public and business - measuring economic performance and quality of life. Employment, health, income and housing affordability were among the criteria.

It's not just arts, history and leisure that give Leicester its 'top 10' credentials. The city can also claim to be:

• A great place for job creation, with IBM one of the latest big companies to choose the city. It picked Leicester as the HQ for its Client Innovation Centres initiative, creating 300 jobs and winning the UK Inward Investment Project of the Year award 2015
• Home to thriving creative industries, which represent the second largest cluster of retail businesses outside London. More than 200 businesses are currently trading in Leicester's Cultural Quarter
• A contender for the UK's most business-minded city according to The Economist magazine, which endorsed the way DMU supports business start-ups and works to keep its talented graduates in the city
• One of the 10 cities with the highest housing stock growth, according to the Cities Outlook 2015, the annual report by the urban policy research unit Centre for Cities