Leicestershire often gets overlooked by visitors rushing between London and the north, but this East Midlands county holds substantial appeal for anyone interested in English history, impressive castles, and surprisingly good wildlife parks. Leicester itself tells the extraordinary tale of King Richard III’s rediscovery, while the countryside beyond holds atmospheric ruins, stately homes, and one of Britain’s best primate collections.
These Leicestershire travel guides provide practical logistics and honest assessments of the region’s highlights. The county works exceptionally well for day trips from nearby cities or as part of a broader East Midlands exploration. Its attractions tend to be family-friendly, reasonably priced, and rarely suffer from the overwhelming crowds you’ll find at England’s more famous tourist destinations.
Leicester City Highlights
The city of Leicester offers a fascinating juxtaposition of medieval royal history and cutting-edge modern science. These guides help you navigate the city’s two most famous, and starkly different, premier attractions.
King Richard III Visitor Centre: Discovering the lost king: A practical guide to the award-winning museum that details the incredible discovery of the monarch’s remains beneath a modern city car park.
National Space Centre: Planning your visit: Ticket prices, opening hours, and parking logistics for the UK’s largest space attraction, featuring the iconic, translucent Rocket Tower.
Jewry Wall Museum: Ticket prices, opening hours and visitor tips: With hundreds of artefacts and the remains of a great Roman Wall, this is one of the top Roman sites in Britain.
Castles and Historic Estates
Explore the dramatic ruins and opulent stately homes scattered across the Leicestershire countryside, tracing the architectural legacy of the English aristocracy from the Middle Ages to the Regency era.
Belvoir Castle: Ticket prices and visitor guide: Planning a trip to the spectacular ancestral home of the Duke of Rutland, perched high on a hill overlooking the beautiful Vale of Belvoir.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle: A practical visitor guide: How to explore these dramatic, ruined 12th-century fortifications that were famously besieged and slighted during the English Civil War. It’s one of the top English Heritage sites in the Midlands.
Loughborough, Wildlife, and the Outdoors
Head north and west into the county to find renowned wildlife conservation centres, rugged country parks situated in the Charnwood Forest, and underrated market towns.
Twycross Zoo: Ticket prices, parking, and visitor guide: Everything you need to know about visiting the World Primate Centre, home to one of the most substantial ape and monkey collections in Europe.
6 Best Things to do in Loughborough: A curated guide to the highlights of this often-overlooked university and market town, from historic bell foundries to heritage railways.
Beacon Hill Country Park: Parking and visitor guide: Practical advice for exploring one of Leicestershire’s highest points, featuring ancient volcanic rocks, native woodlands, and panoramic county views.