Anstey is a large village in Leicestershire, England, located north west of Leicester in the borough of Charnwood.

[4] Whilst developing the site for the new Co-op store in 2002 archaeologists were called in and found remains dating back to the 12th century.

The place-name of Anstey is first recorded in Domesday Book when it was held by one of the county's largest landholders, Hugh de Grandmesnil, castellan of Leicester.

[5] Anstey appears to have had its origins in two distinct settlement foci, each associated with a separate manor, one associated with Leicester Abbey and one with the Ferrers of Groby.

[2] It is believed that Anstey once had a sizable military force - in 1431 William Porter "furnished XIX hommes and IX archers".

[6] When Bonnie Prince Charlie's army moved south during the 1745 rebellion, although the main body of troops were turned back at Derby, a foraging party reached the commons of Anstey.

[14] Two members of the family held the position of Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, and the local high school is named after them.

Famous past Anstey residents include Ned Ludd (Ludlam),[14] the machine-wrecker whose name was appropriated by the Luddites - whose name was adopted in a recent household development in the village: Ned Ludd Close, and snooker player and commentator Willie Thorne, who started playing snooker at the village's Conservative club.

[14] Wolfdale was a nearby district towards Newtown Linford, and the name has survived in a slightly altered form with Wooldale Close, one of the streets in the village.

[6] Anstey also has a GP surgery, dentist, funeral directors and opticians, and several fast food outlets and restaurants.

Around The Nook there are a number of different shops, a post office, as well as pubs - The Coach and Horses, The Crown and The Old Hare and Hounds as well as a Conservative club.

In the past Anstey had two cinemas, the Savoy on Cropston Road which was later used as a petrol station/garage before being converted into a pub/restaurant and eventually a furnishings shop, and another on Ellis Street, which now sells wine.

For many years, the village had its own newspaper, Anstey Scene, which was a quarterly with news about local events and council meetings.

Nearby Glenfield is the home of Leicestershire County Council, and all the shops and facilities of the city can be found about four miles (6 km) away in Leicester.

Castle Hill Park lies to the East of the village, connecting Anstey to Beaumont Leys and with the A46 Leicester Western Bypass running through it.

From May 2009 it has a kicking wall and shelter to the side of the Jubilee Hall (APC office) built by Anstey Parish council.