Rothley

Boasting a luxury hotel with a fascinating past, two village greens, plenty of pubs and shops, and four, yes, four churches, Rothley has plenty for visitors.

Stay at Rothley Court Hotel, a 16th century manor house, where fine wines and full-English breakfasts are served up alongside fabulous forest scenery and huge helpings of history. The building was once owned by Thomas Babington MP, who worked with William Wilberforce to abolish the slave trade, and the hotel’s adjoining medieval chapel was gifted to the Knights Templar by Henry III.

Rothley Wine Estate is located right next door, so a vineyard tour and a tasting of award-winning Leicestershire wines are the perfect complement to a short break.

On a stroll, discover the Church of St Mary & St John, whose history is etched into its Norman foundations and a Saxon cross shaft, and admire the Mountsorrel granite War Memorial on Cross Green. The area is home to shops and pubs, so order a pint in The Blue Bell Inn or the Woodman’s Stroke, or sip a cappuccino at Deli 1880. Shoppers can pick up designer clothing at Libby’s of Rothley or grab a slice of patisserie heaven from Dominic at David North.

Visitors can also buy a ticket to ride the Great Central Railway. Rothley is a stop on this heritage line, where its Edwardian-style station offers a nostalgic journey back in time.