Bluebells in the park. Photo © Bradgate Park Trust
It’s steeped in royal history and surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in England, and thanks to Travelodge’s brilliant budget hotels, a Leicester holiday needn’t cost a king’s ransom. Here are our five top reasons to put a weekend in Leicester on your itinerary this summer…
1) Deer!
Just 5 miles north of Leicester city centre is the achingly beautiful Bradgate Park. Its 850 acres of rugged moor, idyllic woodland and sun dappled lakes make up one of the oldest deer parks in England.
Kids love them. Photo © Bradgate Park Trust
Loaded with history (archaeologists estimate that the area has been occupied by humans for the past 12,000 years), within the park’s grounds you’ll find one of the first brick-built country houses in England (completed in 1520), miles of walking and cycling paths, and, of course, the herds of deer which have been grazing here for almost 800 years.
Old John Tower. Photo © Bradgate Park Trust
Be sure to take a picnic and hike up to Old John Tower (built in 1784) for the best views of the park, sign up to one of the nature walks (if you go in June, you might even be able to spot deer calves) or immerse yourself in the history of the area at the Living History weekend in September: think Civil War battle re-enactments and period music performances.
2) Woodland Theatre
Another outdoorsy one: set in a wooded glade, Kilworth House Open Air Theatre is a romantic (not cheesy) place to enjoy a hazy summer evening. Twinkly lights, picnics and a show that you’ll be talking about for the rest of the summer. Highlights of the next season include West End favourites Singin’ in the Rain and Legally Blonde.
3) Relive history
No Leicester holiday would be complete without a nod to the history of the city. It’s thought to be one of the oldest in England, with archaeologists finding roundhouse settlements dating back over 2,000 years. And as 2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta – essentially the founding document of modern democracy – the city is alive with celebrations.
Richard III throne room. Photo © University of Leicester
As well as a medieval market selling food and trinkets produced using traditional methods, there’ll be guided history walks and an Old Town Festival. The latter even features a fully costumed medieval encampment. And, of course, as Richard III’s final resting place – his remains were discovered in a Leicester car park after a hugely publicised archaeological dig – your trip wouldn’t be complete without a look at the new Visitor’s Centre. Follow the story of the infamous monarch – immortalised as the ultimate villain by Shakespeare – from his life to his death and finally to his discovery. Fascinating!
4) Space travel
A great choice if you’re visiting with the kids, the National Space Centre features the largest planetarium in the UK so you can take a 360-degree tour of the solar system. There’s also a 3D space flight simulator so you can experience what it’s like to jet into space. There’s also a rocket tower, a mock-up of the Columbus Module from the International Space Station and a gallery with models of each of the planets in our solar system. The only problem will be tearing them away!
5) And a whole load more…
Alright, so this is a bit of a cheat, but we couldn’t do a guide to Leicester without a nod to Twycross Zoo, Noisily Festival (electronic music and arts, set amid forests and rolling hills) and the city’s brilliant live music scene.
