Leicestershire Accommodation Guide
Leicestershire is a mostly rural county in the East Midlands region of England. Often abbreviated to just ‘Leics’, Leicestershire is famous for its Red Leicester and Stilton cheeses, its Melton Mowbray pork pies, its horse racing course, football club and cricket ground.
Often overlooked as a tourist destination, Leicestershire has in fact much to offer visitors. In this guide, we will try to exhibit some of the county’s best accommodation options and explore some of the region’s most famous attractions. Leicestershire is a county with many hidden gems.
Leicester, Leicestershire’s principal city, is a wonderful city that is rich in culture and diversity. The city hosts one of the largest Diwali celebrations (the festival of light) outside of India and the city is famous for its ‘Golden Mile’, named after the large number of traditional Indian jewellery shops. Curry connoisseurs will be in heaven when in Leicester’s Golden Mile as it also has the largest number of award winning Indian restaurants in the UK.
Leicestershire has a proud sporting history too. In addition to its famous football ground in the centre of Leicester (King Power Stadium), the city’s cricket ground at Grace Road has been used for many international games. And the city can also clay claim for inventing dimpled golf ball! This was first invented in Leicester over 100 years ago by William Taylor and is still in use today.
With a population of over 1 million people, over half of the people living in Leicestershire live within the county’s urban areas. In addition to the City of Leicester, these include Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, Market Harborough, Hinckley, Coalville, Wigston and Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Here at ‘Stay In Britain’ we have both holiday and business accommodation in each of these key areas.
Despite its relatively high population, Leicestershire has a large number of natural attractions which draw people from all over Britain. These include Rutland Water, the largest reservoir in England by surface area. Set in 3,100 acres of stunning countryside there is a 23 mile perimeter track and a 17 mile running / cycling track.
Visitors will also not want to miss the impressive weir at Red Hill on the River Trent as it roars past the Radcliffe-on-Soar power station on the Nottinghamshire / Leicestershire border. The National Forest, a new 200 square mile forestry project is also a great place to visit. The forest starts in the western fringes of Leicester and extends to Burton upon Trent.
Many of Leicestershire’s country estates and stately homes also have extensive gardens and estates that are open to members of the public. Bradgate Park and the nearby ruins of Bradgate House is a great place to start and its deer park is truly spectacular.
Abbey Park is another public park in Leicester that was once the grounds of the spectacular St. Mary’s Abbey and Cavendish House. The River Soar flows through the centre of the park. Whatton House and its breathtaking gardens near Loughborough are also highly recommended.
Stay In Britain has a large number of accommodation options in Leicestershire. Our accommodation search engine will help you find the perfect holiday home or holiday rental. We cater for all types of accommodation from rural farmhouses and thatched cottages to login cabins and barn conversions.
Leicestershire shares a land border with several other counties in the East Midlands region including Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south east, Warwickshire to the south west, Staffordshire to the west, Derbyshire to the north-west, Nottinghamshire to the north and with Lincolnshire to the north east.
Leicestershire / Tourist Information
- County Town: Leicester
- Land Area: 2,156 km2 (832 square miles)
- Population: 1,053,486 (2019)
- Population Density: 489/km2 (1,270/square miles)
- Average Temperature: (Summer 20°C)
- Days Of Rain: 170 days of rain / 195 dry days per year
Best Attractions In Leicestershire
National Space Centre (Leicester): Described as an “out of this world experience”, the award-winning National Space Centre is arguably the UK’s finest museum dedicated to space travel. With six interactive galleries, the museum also has the UK’s largest planetarium and an incredible 42m high rocket launch tower.
Leicester Cathedral: The first church that stood on this site dated back to the 1100s but it has been extensively rebuilt over the centuries. The current building is predominantly Victorian in design. Many people visit the cathedral to see the tomb of King Richard III, the last English monarch to die in battle on 22 August 1485. Circa one hundred thousand people visit Leicester Cathedral every year.
Belvoir Castle: First built following the Norman invasion of 1066, the castle has been rebuilt at least three times since. The current (4th) castle was remodelled in the early 19th century and remains the family home of the Duke of Rutland. The castle and its extensive grounds are open to the public. Belvoir Castle is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Regency architecture in England.
Best Accommodation In Leicestershire
Firtree Cottage (Ashby-de-la-Zouch): Sleeping 8 people across 4 bedrooms, Firtree Cottage is a lovely holiday cottage on the border of Leicestershire and Derbyshire and situated on the historic Harpur Crewe Estate. Tastefully decorated and spotlessly clean, this amazing vacation property is less than a mile from the pretty market town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch with its castle ruins, many cafes, boutiques and restaurants.
Teal Cottgae (Melton Mowbray): Converted from an old pig barn, this pretty holiday cottage provides accommodation for 4 people across 2 bedrooms. It is located on the outskirts of Melton Mowbray, the home of the pork pie! There is another converted barn next to this which sleeps another 4 people. When booked together they provide the perfect accommodation choice for larger families or groups.
More coming soon…
Stay In Britain is the ultimate guide to places to stay and things to do in Great Britain. Whether you are looking for a luxury self-catering cottage, a cheap B&B for a weekend stay, a short break in a caravan park or a business-friendly hotel in the Leicestershire area, we have everything you need. Enjoy your stay in Britain!
