Believe it or not, there are still parts of the UK untouched by mass tourism. One of them is Loughborough in the picturesque Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire. This charming, unspoilt university town, known for producing some of the UK’s top Olympic athletes, is a real find for those seeking hidden gems.
Loughborough has a good mix of industrial heritage and thriving local culture, and it’s also perfect as a base for further exploring around the region. Ironically, the world’s first package holiday destination where Thomas Cook brought his first-ever organised group of tourists in 1841 now needs to be rediscovered. We’ve listed three reasons why it’s worth taking a detour to see this beautiful yet little-visited location.
Vintage steam train journey
Sound the whistle: this year is the 200th anniversary of the passenger railway, and it feels like we’ve never consciously uncoupled from its romance. The Great Central Railway offers you a chance to step back in time and board a steam train straight out of classic literature. Porters wearing smart uniforms with waistcoats and peaked caps invite you to climb aboard, and experience a majestic journey through time.
You flash through the October Leicestershire countryside, steam and fallen leaves drifting past the window. There’s something of an autumnal glow inside the carriage too, and you savour, chat, and gaze out of the window, imbued with an ever-growing sense of well-being. A double-track section gives passengers the thrill of full-size steam trains passing each other at speed and it is, in fact, the only place in the world where this can be experienced.
GCR runs between Loughborough Central Station and Leicester North via Quorn & Woodhouse and Rothley. All the charming stations have been meticulously restored, with each representing a different period in the line’s history. For example, the station in Loughborough has been returned to the 1950s. You might recognise it from TV shows and films like The Crown, The Hours, Enigma and Top Gear. Quorn station represents the 1940s, while Rothley (our favourite of them all!) reflects the Edwardian period of 1912 and has a wonderful small gas-lit tearoom serving light refreshments. It’s not just about the train ride, it’s the whole experience.
Speaking of experiences, you can book a three-course meal paired with the excitement of solving a mysterious case, or enjoy a First Class Afternoon Tea. As every ticket comes with the knowledge that you are helping to preserve these lovely locomotives for railway-loving generations yet to come, the only question is: what do you want to try first?
Fun farming adventure at Stonehurst Farm
Continue your sensory golden-age travel at Stonehurst Farm in Mountsorrel for hands-on fun where memories are made with muddy boots and no photo filters. Unlike some “farm attractions” which are really just theme parks with animals, Stonehurst Farm is still very much a working family farm, home to the Duffin family, who have been farming here since Cyril and Florence Duffin took over the farm in 1951.
The farm is now run by siblings Tom, Emily and John Duffin, Tom’s daughter Zoe, and Parsley the dog. On site there is a farm shop and bakery, tearooms, the Michelin-starred “John’s House” fine dining restaurant, and a motor museum with a very impressive collection of vintage cars.
You can get up close to the animals, with opportunities to groom a cow, donkey and pony, stroke rabbits and guinea pigs, and feed goats, sheep, pigs and chickens. The cherry on top of this experience is a tractor ride that brings joy to visitors of all ages.
Britain’s last Bellfoundry
Discover the heritage of Loughborough’s world-famous Taylor Bells at the UK’s last working bell foundry and the largest in the world. Since 1859, over 25,000 bells that chime from towers in over 100 countries from the 16-ton ‘Great Paul’ in St Paul’s and the bells at Yale University to Asia’s heaviest peal in Singapore’s St Andrew’s Cathedral – have been cast at this Grade II* listed site.
It is said that every day, 20 million people in Britain hear the chimes of a bell cast at Taylor’s of Loughborough. It’s fascinating to learn about this ancient craft while observing the workers casting the bells in real time. You might even get to ring a bell (when you’re allowed to!).
Where to stay and dine
If you want to stay overnight, Burleigh Court located on Loughborough University’s grounds, is perfect after a busy day of exploring. The hotel hosted Team GB as the official preparation camp for the London 2012 Games, hence the impressive leisure facilities including a fully-equipped gym, sauna, steam room, spacious indoor heated swimming pool, and hot tub.
In the evening, pay a visit to Fifty, the hotel’s speciality restaurant, where fifty percent of the menu celebrates plants over animal protein. Set within a beautifully repurposed former courtyard with a glass roof and unique design touches, it has a wide range of creative drinks including the Cauliflower Colada or Beet the Waste, based on beetroot. For the mains, the Moo & Blue pie is a delicious pairing of steak and ale with stilton cheese melted through the sauce, served with mustard mash, seasonal vegetables, and stout gravy.
If you want to stay overnight, Burleigh Court located on Loughborough University’s grounds, is perfect after a busy day of exploring. The hotel hosted Team GB as the official preparation camp for the London 2012 Games, hence the impressive leisure facilities including a fully-equipped gym, sauna, steam room, spacious indoor heated swimming pool, and hot tub.
In the evening, pay a visit to Fifty, the hotel’s speciality restaurant, where fifty percent of the menu celebrates plants over animal protein. Set within a beautifully repurposed former courtyard with a glass roof and unique design touches, it has a wide range of creative drinks including the Cauliflower Colada or Beet the Waste, based on beetroot. For the mains, the Moo & Blue pie is a delicious pairing of steak and ale with stilton cheese melted through the sauce, served with mustard mash, seasonal vegetables, and stout gravy.
For other seasonal dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients, visit The Griffin in Swithland village, a gastropub in an award-winning 18th-century inn. It’s owned by cricketing legends Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney and has plenty of cricket-related trivia in its design. It also serves some of the best salmon we’ve ever had!
Another spot worth checking out on an empty stomach is The Manor House, a beautifully restored 17th-century coaching inn in the heart of the historic village of Quorn. The Bradgate Park Venison Ballotine here is cooked to perfection. Leave space for dessert – the Banoffee cheesecake is a must worth indulging in.
Learn more about Loughborough and Charnwood.
Image credits: © Discover Charnwood, Great Central Railway, Stonehurst Farm, Taylor Bell foundry, Burleigh Court, The Griffin, The Manor House
