Rolling hills, rich heritage and great pubs: a car-free break in Leicestershire

"It sometimes feels as though England's much-photographed beauty spots get more booked up and overpriced every day. But there are scenic corners of the country that still fly under the insta-radar and Charnwood, around Loughborough, is one of these. The largest borough in Leicestershire, Charnwood is the area between Leicester and the Nottinghamshire border."

"Its gentle wooded hills and well-kept villages offer country walks to gourmet pubs and cafes. It's like a cheaper, quieter Cotswolds with better transport links. An hour and a quarter by train from London or 50 minutes from Sheffield, Loughborough is easy to reach."

"The atmospheric landscapes around popular Bradgate Park are just a few miles south of Loughborough. Bus 154 winds past thatched and half-timbered cottages, rugged granite chimneys and drifts of garden snowdrops. Outside the Badger's Sett pub, near Cropston Reservoir, you can hop off the bus into Causeway Lane, a quiet stony track leading to Bradgate Park."

Charnwood, the largest borough in Leicestershire between Leicester and Nottinghamshire, provides an underrated alternative to overcrowded English beauty spots. The area features gentle wooded hills, well-kept villages, and country walks connecting to gourmet pubs and cafes, resembling a quieter, more affordable Cotswolds with superior transport links. Loughborough serves as an accessible base, reachable within 90 minutes from London or 50 minutes from Sheffield. Key attractions include Bradgate Park with its historic ruins and fallow deer, Old John Tower folly, and the UK's last remaining bellfoundry museum relaunched in 2024. The region offers immersive experiences and easy rural connections via bus, rail, and steam train.

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