Market Bosworth

Market Bosworth sits quietly among the rolling farmland of west Leicestershire, close enough to the Warwickshire border that the two counties are often mentioned in the same breath when people describe this part of the Midlands. It is a small town that punches well above its weight historically: its cobbled market square, ringed by Georgian and Victorian townhouses, has changed remarkably little in appearance since the eighteenth century, and its name is forever tied to the battle that ended the Wars of the Roses and put the Tudor dynasty on the throne of England.

The town itself grew up around its market charter, and that trading heritage is still visible in the layout of the square and the independent shops, cafes and pubs housed in listed buildings around it. Beyond the town centre, the surrounding countryside is classic Leicestershire: hedgerowed fields, quiet lanes, the Ashby Canal threading through nearby villages, and woodland that has reclaimed old parkland. It is an unhurried, deeply English part of the country, well suited to slow weekends of walking, cycling and pub lunches, with one genuinely significant historic site on its doorstep.

Top things to do in Market Bosworth

Market Bosworth's biggest draw is the battlefield itself, but the town and its surrounds offer plenty more for a short break.

• Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park — Around three miles south of town near Sutton Cheney, this is where Richard III was killed in battle on 22 August 1485, ending the Wars of the Roses and bringing the Tudors to power. The centre has interactive exhibitions on medieval warfare and the discovery of the battle site, a free family-friendly Discovery Zone, a cafe and shop, plus way-marked trails across the surrounding farmland where the fighting is thought to have taken place.
• Market Bosworth Country Park — A 35-hectare park on the edge of town, once part of the deer parkland belonging to Bosworth Hall. It has a lake, an arboretum planted with a range of unusual trees, a wildflower meadow, community woodland and picnic areas, making it a pleasant, low-key spot for a walk regardless of the weather.
• Battlefield Line Railway — A heritage steam railway running from its base at Shackerstone through Market Bosworth station to Shenton, close to the battlefield site itself. It is one of the few ways to combine a nostalgic steam trip with a visit to the battlefield, and operates regular services and special events throughout the year.
• Market Bosworth's Georgian market square — The heart of the town, lined with well-preserved eighteenth and nineteenth-century buildings now home to independent shops, tearooms and pubs. It is worth simply wandering the square and the streets that lead off it.
• St Peter's Church — The parish church, largely rebuilt in the seventeenth century but retaining fourteenth and fifteenth-century features, standing near the square and worth a quiet look for its architecture and history.
• Ashby Canal towpath — The canal passes within easy reach of the area and offers flat, peaceful walking and cycling routes out into the surrounding countryside, popular with narrowboat traffic in the warmer months.
• Twycross Zoo — A short drive away, this well-known zoo is home to gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, elephants and giraffes among many other species, and makes a good family day out to pair with a stay in Market Bosworth.

Getting to Market Bosworth

Market Bosworth lies just off the A444, between Nuneaton and Coalville, making it an easy drive from across the Midlands. Leicester is around 15 miles to the east, Nuneaton around 8 miles to the south, and both offer mainline rail connections if you are travelling by train, with onward journeys to Market Bosworth completed by car, taxi or bus. The town is well within reach of the M1, M42 and M69 motorways, putting it roughly 30-40 minutes from Coventry, Leicester and Birmingham, which makes it a convenient base for exploring the wider East and West Midlands.

Best time to visit Market Bosworth

Spring and summer suit Market Bosworth well, when the Country Park's arboretum and wildflower meadow are at their best and the Battlefield Line Railway runs its fullest timetable, including special steam events. August is worth noting for history enthusiasts, as re-enactments and events are sometimes held around the anniversary of the battle on 22 August. Autumn brings good colour to the parkland and canal walks, while winter is quieter but still rewards a crisp countryside walk followed by a warm pub lunch in the market square.

Where to stay in Market Bosworth

Accommodation options around Market Bosworth range from characterful inns and B&Bs in the town itself to countryside cottages and campsites in the surrounding villages. Staying centrally puts you within walking distance of the market square, church and Country Park, while a rural base nearby gives easier access to the battlefield, canal towpaths and wider Leicestershire countryside for walking and cycling breaks.

Food and drink in Market Bosworth

The market square is home to a handful of well-regarded places to eat. Softleys, in a Grade II listed building dating from 1794, offers a la carte dining and rooms in the heart of town, while the Black Horse serves restaurant dining just off the square. Traditional pubs around the town centre and in nearby villages serve classic pub food, and the Country Park and railway station both have cafes for a simpler stop, making it easy to combine a walk or a steam train ride with something to eat.