Are you tired of overcrowded, overpriced tourist hotspots? Discover the hidden gem of Leicestershire, where rolling hills, rich history, and charming pubs await—all without the need for a car.
Imagine fallow deer grazing beneath the ruins of Lady Jane Grey’s birthplace on a misty spring day at Bradgate Park. While most visitors flock to England’s Instagram-famous destinations, Charnwood—a tranquil corner of Leicestershire near Loughborough—remains a serene secret. With its gentle wooded hills, quaint villages, and gourmet pubs, it’s like the Cotswolds but more affordable, quieter, and better connected. But here’s where it gets controversial: could Charnwood be the next big travel destination, or will it remain a hidden treasure?
Just an hour and 15 minutes from London by train, Loughborough is the perfect base for exploring Charnwood. From immersive, weatherproof attractions to easy rural connections by bus, rail, and even steam train, it’s a traveler’s dream. Take the scenic Bus 154, which winds past thatched cottages and granite chimneys, and hop off at Causeway Lane for a stroll to Bradgate Park, where views of Cropston Reservoir await.
And this is the part most people miss: Loughborough is home to the UK’s last remaining bellfoundry, a living museum where bells for cathedrals worldwide—including Britain’s largest, Great Paul—are crafted. Watch sparks fly from metalworkers’ benches, smell the wood shavings in the bell-wheel workshop, and feel the seismic hum of a freshly cast bell. Guided tours start at £20, and the museum’s £5 entry fee is a small price for such a unique experience.
For a step back in time, visit the 1950s-style Great Central Railway (GCR), where steam trains whisk you past badger-inhabited banks to Quorn and Woodhouse station. Here, a Naafi-style cafe in an old air-raid shelter serves wartime tunes and log fires. But here’s the bold part: GCR’s ambitious plan to extend the line to Nottingham by 2025 could make it one of Europe’s largest heritage rail projects—a move that divides locals between excitement and concern.
Stay at Burleigh Court, a stylish hotel on Loughborough’s university campus, where tawny owls hoot in nearby bluebell woods. Its recent £4.5m refurb includes the Fifty Restaurant, where half the menu is plant-based, and a bar named after Lionesses Lucy Bronze and Jess Carter. Sip sustainable cocktails like the Beet the Waste while debating whether such eco-friendly trends are here to stay.
For a culinary highlight, visit Leicestershire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, John’s House, in Mountsorrel. Set on a working farm, the menu features locally sourced hogget, fallow deer, and foraged mushrooms. But here’s the question: is fine dining on a farm a genius blend of rustic and refined, or a contradiction in terms?
End your trip with a walk to Barrow upon Soar, a pub-rich village where the Blacksmith’s Arms offers mushroom wellington paired with Charnwood Brewery’s golden beers. As you return to Loughborough by train, passing willow-lined waterways and wintering geese, you’ll wonder why this idyllic corner of England isn’t more famous.
What do you think? Is Charnwood a destination worth protecting from the crowds, or should its charm be shared with the world? Let us know in the comments!
