Destination Leicestershire, England
Leicestershire was recorded in the Domesday Book in four wapentakes: Guthlaxton, Framland, Goscote and Gartree. These later became hundreds, with the division of Goscote into West Goscote and East Goscote, and the addition of Sparkenhoe hundred. In 1087, the first recorded use of the name was as Laegrecastrescir.
• Leicestershire Guide A-Z
» Beacon Hill
Beacon Hill, near Woodhouse Eaves in Leicestershire, is a popular country park. It is one of several beacon hills in the United Kingdom. Consisting of over 100 hectares of heath and woodland, the site offers recreational walking, and some short climbs. With a maximum height of 248 m …
» Belvoir Castle
Belvoir Castle, is a stately home in the English county of Leicestershire, overlooking the Vale of Belvoir. It is a Grade I listed building. The castle is near several villages, including Redmile, Woolsthorpe, Knipton, Harston, Harlaxton, Croxton Kerrial and Bottesford, and the town of Grantham …
» Bosworth Battlefield
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians. Their leader Henry Tudor …
» Burrough Hill
Burrough Hill is an Iron Age hillfort in Burrough on the Hill, 7 miles south of Melton Mowbray in the English county of Leicestershire. Situated on a promontory about 200 metres above sea level, the site commands views over the surrounding countryside for miles around …
» Discover Castle Donnington
Once a year on May bank holiday Monday a medieval market is held on the main shopping street in Castle Donnington. This event comprises local stalls selling various kinds of produce and goods accompanied by dancing and music. Usually during the last week of October each year the town hosts a travelling fair, known locally as Donington Wakes. …
» Charnwood Museum
Charnwood Museum has a wide range of exhibits reflecting the history, geology, archaeology and industries of Charnwood and surrounding areas. Permanent displays include Coming to Charnwood, The Natural World of Charnwood, Living off the Land and Earning a Living …
» Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire. Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the World Championship. Used as a military vehicle storage depot during World War 2 …
» Discover Leicester
Leicester had become a town of considerable importance by Medieval times. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book as 'civitas' (city), but Leicester lost its city status in the 11th century owing to power struggles between the Church and the aristocracy …
» Discover Loughborough
Loughborough In 1841, Loughborough was the destination for the first package tour, organised by Thomas Cook for a temperance group from Leicester. The town has the world's largest bell foundry — John Taylor Bellfounders, which made the bells for the Carillon war memorial …
» Melton Mowbry
Promoted as the "Rural Capital of Food", Melton Mowbry is perhaps best known for its culinary specialities, being the home of the eponymous pork pie and one of the six homes of Stilton cheese. In and around Melton, there are 28 scheduled ancient monuments …
» Moira Furnace
Moira Furnace is a nineteenth-century iron-making blast furnace located in Moira, Leicestershire on the banks of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal. Built by the Earl of Moira in 1804 the building has been preserved by North West Leicestershire District Council as a museum featuring lime kilns and craft workshops …
» Discover Oakham
Tourist attractions in Oakham include All Saints Church and Oakham Castle. Another popular and historic feature is the open-air market held in the town's market square every Wednesday and Saturday (near the ancient octagonal Buttercross with its pyramidal roof and wooden stocks, a grade I listed building) …
» Soar Valley
The Soar Valleyin Leicestershire, England is the basin of the River Soar, which rises south of Leicester and flows north through Charnwood before meeting the River Trent at Trent Lock on the Nottinghamshire border. The area edges onto Charnwood Forest and the only double tracked preserved main railway line in Britain …
• Leicestershire Food & Drink
» Melton Mowbry Pork Pie
The Melton Mowbry pirk pie is named after a town in Leicestershire. Melton pies became popular among fox hunters in the area during the late nineteenth century. The pie is made with a hand-formed crust with a slightly irregular shape after baking …
» Red Leicester Cheese
Red Leicester Cheese is an English cheese, made in a similar manner to Cheddar cheese, although it is crumblier. The cheese was originally made on farms in Leicestershire with milk that was surplus once all the Stilton desired was made. It was originally coloured with carrot or beet juice …
» Stilton Cheese
Only Stilton cheese produced in the three counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire and made according to a strict code may be called 'Stilton'. Thus any cheese produced in Stilton, the village in Cambridgeshire after which the cheese is named, would not be allowed to be called Stilton Cheese …
