St Mary de Castro is one of Leicester's most atmospheric medieval survivals, standing beside the castle precinct rather than the modern shopping streets. The church has Norman and Gothic fabric, a strong connection to the old castle community, and enough royal associations to make it more than just another parish church.
It is a good companion to Leicester Cathedral, the Guildhall, and the Richard III sites. The pleasure here is in the layering: castle, church, civic power, and later city life all crowd into a small patch of Leicester that is easy to overlook if you only follow the headline attractions.