Leicester (/ˈlɛstər/ LEST-ər) is a city, unitary authority and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest settlement in the East Midlands. The city lies on the River Soar and close to the eastern end of the National Forest. It is situated to the north-east of Birmingham and Coventry, south of Nottingham and west of Peterborough.