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We are very pleased to host a guest blog today, written by Krista The Explorer, who is a Canadian travel blogger with a fascination for history and culture. She recently visited Leicester and Leicestershire for a mini break and has very kindly written a guide to our city and county for anyone thinking about visiting us.
You can follow her adventures on her blog and also follow her on Instagram, where she keeps her 59,000 followers up to date with her travels, which have included Andalucia, Bratislava, Vienna, Pompeii, and of course Leicester! But enough from us... over to Krista!
Dive into the historical charms of Leicester(shire)
With staycations being all the rage right now, a trip to Leicestershire should be on the cards for anyone looking to visit hidden gems in England. Even international travellers will be impressed with the amount of things to do in Leicester and the surrounding county. For anyone who loves history, this is the place to be!
There’s no better way to get the tranquility of staying in a country house, yet be within a 5 minute drive to Leicester’s city centre than staying at Winstanley House. This 18th century luxurious boutique hotel still maintains its original charm, but with the added bonus of modern amenities inside. You may even be lucky enough to see a wedding or two taking place here during your stay!
One castle you simply can’t miss out on if you’re visiting Leicestershire is Belvoir Castle. Not only has it been used in numerous TV shows such as The Crown, but it’s also home to a world-famous painting of Henry VIII and lays claim to being the birthplace of afternoon tea. They also have a rural retail village on-site where you can shop local produce and grab a quick bite to eat. It’s one of the best day trips from Leicester and is a very popular tourist attraction in the area.
There are plenty of hidden gems near Leicester to choose from, one of which is the 1620’s House and Garden. It should only take you a couple of hours to explore this historical site in its entirety (and stop for some cake too), but this 13th century house, which was modernized in the 17th century, is considered to be one of the oldest houses in Leicestershire, and even has ties to the infamous Gunpowder Plot.
One of the most significant moments in English history took place not far from Leicester. The Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park is a must-see in Leicestershire, and makes for the perfect day out near Leicester. In the heritage centre itself you can immerse yourself in the history of the battle in a number of interactive exhibitions, and you can follow that up with a stroll to the battlefield itself, which is especially pleasant on a sunny day.
A top attraction in Leicester that you shouldn’t miss out on is The National Space Centre. It may not be a castle or other historical building, but the space centre is a fantastic way to spend half a day learning more about our solar system, the astronauts, and the many types of rockets that have been used in the past. It sits next to the Abbey Pumping Station Museum too, so you can fit in two points of interest in Leicester into one trip. Plus, the pumping station is completely free to enter!
If you’re hoping to stay in the very heart of Leicester’s historic city centre, The City Rooms is located less than a 10 minute walk to many of Leicester’s main attractions such as Leicester Cathedral (where you’ll find Richard III’s tomb) and the King Richard III Visitor Centre. The Georgian building it’s situated in was built in 1792, and today is one of the top wedding venues in the country. When they aren’t hosting a wedding, you can stay in one of their many boutique rooms, and check out their original ballroom too.
Sitting just next to Leicester Cathedral is the oldest building in Leicester that’s still in use today. The Guildhall was built in 1390 and is said to be where Shakespeare himself performed in the Tudor period. It’s also considered to be the most haunted building in the city, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re thinking about visiting when the Guildhall is open to visitors. If you want a photo without people in front of it, make sure you wake up nice and early!
The Turret Gateway at the heart of Leicester's Old Town and Newarke is an underrated historical attraction in Leicester, but it’s definitely worth visiting. It dates back to the 15th century and would have been the main gateway into the castle. Just beyond this gate you can also find St Mary de Castro Church which is where Henry IV was knighted in 1426, and also where Geoffrey Chaucer was married to his second wife.
Before you leave Leicester, don’t forget to plan a stop at the 15th century ruins of Kirby Muxloe Castle. The castle was never actually finished because its owner was executed by Richard III, but it’s still very impressive to look at with the moat running around its perimeter. If you have time, Bradgate Park is only a 20 minute drive from the castle, and is one of the largest medieval deer parks in the country. Bradgate Park is also where you’ll find the ruins of Bradgate House which was once the home of Lady Jane Grey.
Leicester, and the entire county of Leicestershire, has much to offer in terms of historical attractions. There are more than enough points of interest in Leicester to explore, most of which are very budget friendly and within walking distance from one another. And if you have extra time in your schedule, there are many fantastic historical sites near Leicester that make for the perfect day trip.
Further reading
Krista has also put together some guides of her own. Firstly a run down of seven incredible day trips from Leicester and secondly an epic post giving her ultimate guide to visiting the city and county.
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Comments
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