Cottages in Leicestershire

With charming cottages set in rolling countryside, Leicestershire is the perfect place to enjoy the fresh, clean air away from the city. It's great natural beauty and tranquil setting will provide the perfect weekend getaway where you'll be surrounded by charming and picturesque country estates, as well as many interesting places to visit. In Leicestershire, you'll find everything to keep you busy.

From cottages for two, to cottages for up to sixteen tenants, the county's captivating properties cater to all needs and tastes! With a welcoming and refurbished ambience, the properties here are designed to inspire positive thoughts, and offer guests striking features such as swimming pools, charming gardens, understated kitchens and living rooms with natural light, that will provide a pleasant experience. Plus the possibility of bringing your pet with you on holiday.

Undoubtedly, Belvoir Castle is the perfect place in Leicestershire for couples to spend the day. The castle gardens provide a tranquil setting and a charming hidden corner with natural springs, stone steps, elegant statues and roses. Plus a Japanese Forest with many magnolias, rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, bamboos, and other exotic Japanese and Chinese plants to discover. Besides, the fortress has places to eat such as The Fuel Tank which offers wood-fired pizzas and The Engine Yard, located at the main entrance of the castle, which offers handcrafted food and drinks! You and your loved one can relax and have a romantic evening in the unique and elegant surroundings of the Ballon Bar, and try flavoursome cocktails made with the popular Belvoir gin, which includes botanical flavours such as fig, chamomile, sweet vanilla essence and zesty orange.

If you find yourself travelling with the kids, Twycross Zoo is a classic Leicestershire family attraction that won't disappoint. The place is one of the best zoos in England and has one of the largest collections of monkeys and apes! Thanks to its 100-acre location, children will be entertained by animal enclosures that mimic their natural habitat. You will be able to observe animals such as the Amur leopard, penguins, gorillas, snow leopard, tiger and exotic birds. The zoo has around 500 animals, including many endangered species, so you'll have plenty to see and entertain the little ones. Leicestershire also has the Twinlakes amusement park which combines a theme park, water park and farm. The park is ideal for everyone and also has a bird of prey centre.

With more than 150 interactive experiences, the National Space Centre is a world-class attraction that shouldn't be missing from your list of places to go. The centre offers exciting weekend events such as astronomy nights and Star Wars specials, astronaut visits and more. During your tour enjoy the UK's largest planetarium as you take a journey through our solar system to the galaxies beyond in the 360° dome, and discover the iconic 42-metre-high Rocket Tower! The National Space Centre is a truly extraordinary experience for people of all ages.

Spend a relaxing day at one of England's most celebrated retreats, Ragdale Hall Spa. Set on a Victorian country estate, the spa has six pools and a luxurious Thermal Spa with rocks, stones and lush greenery that will exceed your expectations for body relaxation. Enjoy steam rooms and aromatic body scrubs, relax with a deep tissue massage, swim in the Thermal Spa's waterfall pool and marvel at the breathtaking views from the rooftop infinity pool! A day here is one of the best options for an adults-only day.6

Head to the picturesque town of Melton Mowbray from 5-6 October and get ready to enjoy local delicacies at the East Midlands Food Festival. This festival is one of the biggest foodie celebrations in the country. With over 200 exhibitors and food stalls, you can indulge in a host of flavours from puddings, local ales, artisan cheeses, pork pie, chocolate kebabs and much more.

Another celebration not to be missed during August is Leicester's Caribbean Carnival. Full of colour, music and dancing, escape to Leicester for a day to immerse yourself in the cultural traditions of the Caribbean. It's one of the biggest multicultural festivals in the East Midlands. You will enjoy reggae, a flamboyant parade and Caribbean dishes such as grilled chicken, curried goat and drinks such as rum punch.

Set in 8 acres of living corn and sunflower fields, Wistow's famous corn maze is a memorable place to visit with the kids. Test your mind and body and take part in the competition to find the 12 boards hidden among the 3 miles (4.83 km) of paths. Currently, the maze has an Astronaut design but over the years it has also had other designs such as the shape of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, a polar bear, a dinosaur and many more. The corn maze has won Leicestershire's “Best Visitor Attraction”.

The Great Central Railway is the UK's only double-track heritage railway and offers the chance to experience a journey aboard these ancient engines, as well as the chance to drive them. Travel in comfort on a full-size steam locomotive and enjoy the services of first-class five-course dining carriages as you travel between Loughborough and Leicester. Trains run every weekend throughout the year, on bank holidays and on some weekdays during the summer.

Located in a haunted building in the heart of Hinckley in Leicestershire, the Haunted Antiques Paranormal Research Centre is a little-known attraction that is sure to give you plenty to talk about when you get home. The place houses a collection of hundreds of haunted antiques, and unlike other museums, the antiques here are not kept behind glass. Sit and hold the haunted exhibits to sense the energies and listen to the interesting stories behind each of the objects. Some of them have spiritual attachments, others with spiritual energy but all with a story to tell! If you are a lover of the paranormal or are curious this place is sure to delight you.