Leicestershire

Leicestershire is a landlocked county of market towns, quiet villages and gentle countryside, well suited to travellers after a slower pace inland. Melton Mowbray, famous for its pork pies, makes a lively base with its markets and food heritage, while Market Harborough offers handsome Georgian streets and useful transport links. Market Bosworth, close to the site of the famous battle, suits those keen on history, and Stoney Stanton and Asfordby Hill provide practical, unfussy stopovers near the main routes.

For a quieter stay, the small villages reward those willing to explore further. Sibbertoft, Medbourne, Catthorpe, Newton Burgoland, Great Oxendon, Swinford and Houghton on the Hill are peaceful spots surrounded by farmland, ideal for walking, cycling or simply pausing between the county's larger towns. Together these places show the two sides of Leicestershire: busy market centres and calm rural corners, easily combined in a single visit.

Leicester dominates the county's accommodation, and the choice reflects its dual role as business hub and visitor city. Novotel Leicester and De Luxe Aparthotel suit those wanting reliable comfort near the centre, while Winstanley House and The City Rooms offer something with more character for a special stay or a weekend exploring the cathedral quarter and the King Richard III visitor centre.

Further out, places like Best Western Leicester Oadby give easier parking and a quieter base for those visiting on business or passing through on the motorway network. Smaller guest houses such as St Martins Lodge and Comfort Guest House work well for shorter, simpler stays.

Beyond the city, country inns and lodges such as The Star Inn 1744 and The Bluebell Inn and Lodge make a good alternative if you'd rather stay in the surrounding villages, with pub food and a slower pace close at hand while the city remains an easy drive away.

Leicestershire's days out lean towards the hands-on: pottery painting, archery, escape rooms and craft workshops fill much of the county's roster, alongside trails and activity clubs aimed at families with time to fill on a weekend or during the school holidays. Leicester itself has the widest spread, from The Leicester Mystery Treasure Trail to escape room challenges like Shooters Range, while Loughborough contributes venues such as The Clayrooms and Break Escape.

Smaller towns hold their own too. Melton Mowbray offers creative sessions through places like Kick Up The Arts, and Elsies Pottery Painting Barn gives another option for a slower, sit-down afternoon. Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Coalville and Market Harborough add further activity-based venues, so it's worth checking which town suits your route rather than assuming everything sits in Leicester.

Choosing often comes down to what sort of day you want: a physical challenge at somewhere like Archery Legends Experience, a creative session at a pottery barn, or a puzzle-solving outing with the children at one of the county's escape rooms or trails.

Leicestershire's dining scene stretches from Leicester's dense mix of independent cafes and global kitchens to the market towns that ring the county, each with its own pace and character. Leicester itself carries the bulk of variety, from quick lunch spots like Best Hot Potato Cafe and Coffee Plant to more considered evening menus, while somewhere like Prince Garden or Thai34 show how far the city's food has travelled beyond traditional pub fare.

Outside the city, Loughborough, Lutterworth and Melton Mowbray offer a steadier rhythm, with village pubs such as The Grey Gosling and The Red Lion doing reliable Sunday lunches alongside newer arrivals like KORA or Freemen's Kitchen And Bar pushing menus in a different direction. Melton Mowbray's reputation for good food runs deep, so it's worth building a stop there into any wider exploring.

Choosing where to eat often comes down to whether you want city buzz or countryside calm. Leicester rewards wandering between streets; the smaller towns reward picking one or two places and settling in properly.

Leicestershire's campsites and glamping stays are mostly small, farm-based affairs tucked into the countryside rather than large holiday parks, which suits an area built around quiet villages and gentle walking rather than seaside spectacle. Around Melton Mowbray and Bottesford you'll find rural spots like Cote Hill Farm Stay and Rosemarie Caravan Site, good bases for exploring the Vale of Belvoir, while Billesdon and Houghton on the Hill offer easy access to the Leicestershire Wolds.

For something more geared towards relaxation, Shepherd's Lodge Retreat and Wellness and Woodland View Glamping give a taste of the county's growing glamping scene, with wooden pods and shepherd's huts replacing canvas. Further south, near Market Harborough and Lutterworth, sites such as The Grange Camping and Caravan Park and Wheathill Field suit those touring toward Northamptonshire or the Welland Valley.

Smaller Certificated Locations, like Coplow Caravans, appeal to caravanners wanting a simple overnight stop, while Mallory Meadows and Dads Cave Camping cater to those keen on a more back-to-basics camping experience. Choosing between them often comes down to whether you want proximity to Leicester itself or a more remote, farmland setting.