Leicestershire combines historic market towns, urban cultural hubs, and scenic countryside with notable heritage sites, renowned food, and accessible outdoor activities, making it an engaging destination in the East Midlands.
The Jewry Wall in Leicester is a significant 2nd-century Roman masonry ruin forming part of a public baths complex, complemented by the Jewry Wall Museum displaying Roman and Iron Age artefacts, offering visitors a mix of outdoor ruins and indoor museum experiences.
Ashby de la Zouch Castle is a 15th-century ruined castle in Leicestershire, England, known for its well-preserved Tudor gardens, historical significance in the English Civil War, and association with Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe. It is managed by English Heritage as a tourist attraction with notable architectural features and gardens.
Stoneywell is a National Trust historic house in Leicestershire, renowned for its Arts and Crafts architecture and original period furniture. The property includes gardens and adjoining ancient woodland, offering visitors both indoor and outdoor experiences rooted in early 20th-century craftsmanship and design.
Coalville is a historic former coal mining town in Leicestershire with industrial heritage, diverse religious sites, and cultural institutions, featuring museums, theaters, and active community life.
The Triangular Lodge near Rushton, Northamptonshire is an Elizabethan folly noted for its unique triangular structure and rich religious symbolism reflecting the Holy Trinity, built by Sir Thomas Tresham in the late 16th century. Managed by English Heritage, the building features ornamental windows, carved inscriptions, and allegorical decorations.
Tropical Birdland is a bird-focused visitor attraction in Desford, Leicestershire, featuring many bird species including parrots, hornbills, and owls, with some birds flying outdoors during visiting hours.
Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire is a specialist primate zoo home to over 500 animals and 125 species, including all four great apes. It features extensive outdoor exhibits, conservation programs, a children's Gruffalo Discovery Land, and on-site dining.
Kedleston Hall is an 18th-century English country house in Derbyshire, featuring Palladian architecture and Neoclassical interiors. Visitors can explore its grand state rooms and extensive landscaped gardens with architectural follies. The historic seat of the Curzon family, it is now managed by the National Trust as a cultural and heritage attraction.
7–11 Oct (another 2 days)
A self-guided outdoor trail through Kedleston Hall’s park and garden, with seven points exploring the spiritual significance of nature in Tibetan culture. Visitors can follow the points in any order and reflect on the natural surroundings.
Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed English country house in Derbyshire, cared for by the National Trust, showcasing a baroque mansion preserved in a state of decline surrounded by a landscape park rich in natural heritage and historic estate features.
Ulverscroft Nature Reserve is a 56-hectare protected area in Leicestershire featuring diverse natural habitats such as woodland, heath, wet grassland, and a sphagnum bog, ideal for experiencing rich local flora and wildlife outdoors.
Lyddington Bede House is a Grade I listed historic medieval bishop's palace turned almshouse in Rutland, England, featuring well-preserved interiors and gardens, open to the public under English Heritage.