Anstey

A stone sign welcomes visitors to ‘Anstey, gateway to Charnwood Forest’, and the glorious countryside surrounding the village is matched by fantastic amenities and plenty of history.

As the home of 18th century weaver Ned Ludd, a street off The Nook is named after the original Luddite. From this bustling village centre, visitors can enjoy some niche shopping experiences. Discover the former 1930s Art Deco cinema, now ironmongery emporium Broughtons, and The Signal Box, one of the UK’s top railway model shops.

Take a stroll to the 16th century stone-built Packhorse Bridge, which crosses Rothley Brook. A scheduled monument, it’s one of the best-preserved of its kind in the country. Stop for refreshments in a choice of tempting cafés, with Nook Corner Coffee Shop nestling in one of Anstey’s oldest buildings. Sip your cappuccino beneath original wooden beams, and even shop for gifts including jewellery and chutney.

Decide to make a day, or a night of it, with a drink at former coaching inn The Old Hare & Hounds, or The Mash and Press, a brewery tap and cider house above Anstey Ale Brewery. See how craft beers with locally inspired names including Nook IPA and Neddy’s are brewed on a tour, or sip a pint in the beer garden. Close by you can toast your success at securing a table at Sapori, a Michelin-listed Italian restaurant in a beautifully restored Victorian ex-Working Men’s Club.