Beat the Street is officially returning to Leicester to get people out and exploring their local area - with a giant network of flashing and beeping boxes set to be installed across the city. The game, created by GP Dr William Bird, encourages people to go out and make exercise fun.

The game was previously played across Leicester in 2021 as well as in Blaby in 2019 and 2020, with 40,461 people taking part and clocking up 434,642 miles in the Leicester game. For the 2023 game, 1,207 people have already signed up.

The game is open to anyone of any age across the city, and will run from Wednesday, June 7, to Wednesday, July 19. Children use a card and map which will be provided by participating primary schools, while adults can pick up a free card from one of the points stated on the Beat the Street Leicester website.

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Beat the Street boxes such as this one will be dotted across Leicester
Beat the Street boxes such as this one will be dotted across Leicester

Alternatively, players over the age of 13 can download the free Beat the Street app and play the game with their phone. Participants then join a school, community, or workplace or one of the two dedicated charity teams - LOROS and Rainbows Hospice - with prizes for the teams that travel the furthest.

There's also a leaderboard for individuals, as well as a total points leaderboard and average leaderboard for teams of all sizes to win prizes. Once the game is underway, players find their nearest "Beat Box", which will appear on lampposts in the area - with more than 300 of these sensors to find that record each players' point tally.

These sensors are contactless so you just hover your card over the Beat Box and it will beep and flash to record your points. If you visit two within an hour, you collect ten points for each Beat Box.

The game has been commissioned by Leicester City Council and the Canal & River Trust with support from the National Lottery via Sport England, and is being delivered by Intelligent Health.

Cllr Sarah Russell, deputy city mayor for health, said: “Our new Active Leicester strategy is focused on supporting people to get more active and improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

The challenge adds more fun to exercise and sees more people increase their daily activity
The challenge adds more fun to exercise and sees more people increase their daily activity

“We know that people want to take part in low-cost, family activities and Beat the Street is a great opportunity to get out and about and explore.

“These games have previously created a real buzz and sense of community around getting active, so I am delighted that this free competition is returning to the city and hope that even more people will get involved this time.”

Linny Beaumont, regional director for the Canal & River Trust, said: “Leicester is blessed with some amazing waterways full of history and wildlife, and Beat the Street is a great excuse to get out and discover what’s on the doorstep.

"The game two years ago saw more than a third of players use the city’s waterways more regularly and, with research showing that time spent by water is good for our physical and mental health, it’s a great opportunity to feel those benefits for yourself.”

You can find more information on the Beat The Street website or on social media at @BTSLeicester.

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