// CITY_ASSESSMENT
How smart is Leicester?
Leicester, United Kingdom, scores 71.4% against the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework in 2026 — ranked #67 of 388 cities assessed, with every finding traceable to a public source.
Smart score
71.4%
Rank
#67 / 388
Criteria present
51 / 86
Evidence coverage
84.9%
Leicester's smart city score by area
7 present · 5 partial · 0 absent · 3 not assessed
6 present · 4 partial · 2 absent
9 present · 2 partial · 1 absent · 1 not assessed
5 present · 4 partial · 1 absent · 1 not assessed
9 present · 3 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
7 present · 0 partial · 0 absent · 1 not assessed
8 present · 4 partial · 0 absent · 2 not assessed
Where Leicester is strong
- ▸Digital Government Services
- ▸Public Transport & Real-Time Information
- ▸Green Space & Biodiversity
- ▸Health & Digital Health
- ▸Culture, Tourism & Recreation
Where the gaps are
- ▸Connectivity & ICT Infrastructure
- ▸Active & Shared Mobility
- ▸Water & Sanitation
- ▸Climate Action & Emissions
Evidence highlights
Open Data & Transparency · Official open data portal
The URL 'data.leicester.gov.uk' and its API endpoint 'https://data.leicester.gov.uk/api/explore/v2.1' indicate the presence of an official data portal for Leicester.
https://data.leicester.gov.uk/api/explore/v2.1Open Data & Transparency · Programmatic API access
The URL 'https://data.leicester.gov.uk/api/explore/v2.1' provides API endpoints such as '/catalog' and '/monitoring', indicating programmatic access to data.
https://data.leicester.gov.uk/api/explore/v2.1Urban Data Platform & Digital Twin · Integrated urban data platform
The Leicester Urban Observatory serves as a shared platform for urban practitioners at Leicester City Council and academics from three local universities, providing a space for discussing urban issues and sharing expertise and resources.
https://leicesterurbanobservatory.org/Public Transport & Real-Time Information · Public transport network
Leicester operates a public transport network, specifically a bus network, referred to as 'Leicester Buses' and 'one network', which includes multiple bus companies.
https://www.leicesterbuses.co.uk/Funding Leicester can bid for
118 open calls — grants, tenders and innovation competitions Leicester is eligible for, including UK-wide schemes any place can apply to. Every entry links to its source.
- NationalgrantCloses 15 Sept 2026Help The Homeless Grant Scheme
Help the Homeless
up to £5kApply → - NationalcompetitionCloses 16 Sept 2026Accelerating adoption of quantum enabled sensing and PNT
Innovate UK
up to £14.3m24 month projectEnds 30 Nov 2028 - NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Energy Efficiency
Innovate UK, Department for Transport (DfT)
- NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2: Electric Power
Innovate UK, Department for Transport
- Nationalinnovation-callCloses 16 Sept 2026Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure Two (ZEVI 2): Alternative Fuels
Innovate UK, Department for Transport
- Nationalinnovation-callCloses 16 Sept 2026Quantum computing applications for large scale impact: CR&D
Innovate UK
up to £13m - NationalgrantCloses 16 Sept 2026Healthy Heart Grants 2026
Heart Research UK
- NationalgrantCloses 17 Sept 2026Researcher Challenges Grants 2026
British Council
- NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Coastal Communities Fund Grant Scheme 2026
Moray Council
£10k–£50kApply → - NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant
Environment Agency
- NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Second Year Of Moray Coastal Community Fund Opens For Bids
Moray Council
£10k–£50kApply → - NationalgrantCloses 18 Sept 2026Moray Council’s Coastal Community Fund
Moray Council
£10k–£50k
Showing 12 of 118 — see them all in the explorer.
About this assessment
Leicester was assessed against the 86 criteria of the UN ISO-aligned smart city framework on 2026-09-03 by AI agents gathering evidence from official public sources. Each criterion is marked present, partial or absent, and every finding links to where it was found. Scores refresh continuously as cities publish new evidence.