How to face the qibla in Leicester
Stand facing true north, then turn clockwise by 118.9° — a little past southeast — and you are facing the Kaaba, 4,915 km away in Makkah. The easiest reliable way to do this indoors is with a map: draw a line from your position at 118.9° and align yourself with it, or simply use the interactive finder above, which reads your device orientation and location.
If you use a physical compass, remember that it points to magnetic north. Depending on the local magnetic declination, the needle can be several degrees off true north, and nearby metal or electronics can disturb it further — so treat a magnetic compass reading as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
What direction is the qibla in Leicester?
In Leicester, United Kingdom, the qibla is 118.9° clockwise from true north — roughly southeast. Face that bearing and you are facing the Kaaba in Makkah.
How far is Leicester from Makkah?
Leicester is about 4,915 km (3,054 mi) from the Kaaba in Makkah, measured along the great-circle route — the shortest path over the Earth's surface, which is the path the qibla follows.
Can I use my phone compass to find the qibla?
Yes — but phone compasses point to magnetic north, which can differ from true north by several degrees depending on where you are, and they are easily disturbed by metal and electronics. For an accurate reading, use our interactive Qibla finder, which uses your exact location, or align the bearing of 118.9° with a map instead of a magnetic compass.
Is this bearing exact?
The bearing is computed with the standard great-circle formula from the centre of Leicester to the Kaaba (21.4225°N, 39.8262°E), so it is exact for that point. Within the city it varies by a fraction of a degree — far less than the accepted margin when facing the qibla.
Qibla in other United Kingdom cities
Related links
- Prayer times in Leicester — today’s times and the full yearly schedule
- Interactive Qibla finder — live compass from your exact location
- Makkah Live — Al-Masjid Al-Haram — watch the Kaaba live in HD, 24/7