nice places to visit east midlands

Top 10 places to visit in the East Midlands

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: December 29, 2022

Things to do in the Peak District and East Midlands in England

The East Midlands in England includes the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, parts of Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.

Major cities include Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Northampton. However, the area also features some of the most beautiful countryside in England with the Peak District National Park and Derbyshire Dales located in these counties.

For those who enjoy the countryside, the area provides opportunities for visitors to go hiking on its many walking trails, visit cosy pubs for a pint or two, admire pretty villages, peruse market towns or even tour the odd stately home. It is no surprise that this is a popular destination for visitors from all over the UK.

I haven’t forgotten the cities and you will find some recommended places to visit in some of the major cities in the East Midlands on my list too!

10 things to do in England East Midlands

Visit the Peak District National Park

Matlock bath and the heights of abraham, chatsworth house.

Cromford Mills (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Tissington Trail

Calke abbey, the national space centre in leicester, king richard iii visitor centre in leicester, lincoln cathedral and castle, fast facts – east midlands, visiting the east midlands.

With so many beautiful towns and villages to visit this part of the world deserves a holiday all of its own. Stay in a cottage and spend days hiking or cycling through the Peak District National Park which stretches across Northern Derbyshire and into the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire.

As well as some of the towns on this list that are located in the Peak District (Bakewell, Matlock and Cromford) the following are also worth including in your itinerary.

Eyam is famous as the plague village whose self-imposed quarantine prevented the spread of the Black Death but to the deaths of 260 villagers. Visit the museum in Eyam to learn more.

Edale is located at the start of the famous Pennine Way walking trail. Stretching for over 268 miles the trail ends in Kirk Yetholm near the Scottish border.

If you fancy a slightly shorter walk there are some great day walks from Edale and a couple of pubs serving real ale in the area too.

Cromford Mills ( UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Richard Arkwright’s cotton mills at Cromford are part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

These water-powered cotton mills were essentially the early beginnings of the modern factory system when production of goods moved from homes to factories.

Although Arkwright did provide housing for his workforce he was not quite as benevolent to his workers as Titus Salt in Saltaire a century later.

The visitor centre is excellent and there are guided tours available to learn more about the history of the mills.

A picture of Cromford Mills in Derbyshire which is one of my recommended places to visit in the East Midlands

The Tissington Trail in Derbyshire follows the route of the former rail line 13 miles from Buxton to Ashbourne.

Perfect for both walking and cycling this flat trail affords visitors wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

There are bicycle hire facilities at either end of the trail and lots of beautiful villages to enjoy en route including Hartington, Parsley Hay and Alsop.

11 Interesting & Beautiful Places to Visit in the East Midlands

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From Sherwood Forest to the Peak District, if you’re looking for the best places to visit in the East Midlands then you are truly spoiled for choice !

Along with the legends of Robin Hood, the East Midlands are most known for producing oil and limestone, as well as some famous foods.

In this post, we’ll be sharing our top picks for places to visit in the East Midlands, including the home of Batman!

We hope you enjoy learning about this unique region, but be sure to let us know in the comments which East Midlands must-sees we should add to our list!

Probably most famous for its links with British legendary figure Robin Hood (and his arch-nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham), Nottingham is a large city in the East Midlands with many sporting links – it was even named the ‘Home of English Sport’ in 2015.

Nottingham Castle is one of the main tourist attractions, although the original castle was demolished and replaced by a Georgian-era mansion. Below the castle is a series of caves, while museum and art collections are housed within the mansion. There are actually around 500 sandstone caves under Nottingham, which can also be explored via the Broadmarsh shopping centre!

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem is a pub built into the rock beneath Nottingham Castle, and it’s believed to be the oldest inn in England, serving ale to the crusaders on their way to Jerusalem in the 12th-century.

Nottingham is also a UNESCO City of Literature, with Lord Byron and D.H. Lawrence having links to the city. In particular, D.H Lawrence studied in Nottingham and Lady Chatterley’s Lover (perhaps his most famous work) was set in Nottinghamshire.

Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park

While Wollaton Hall is actually located in Nottingham, we believe it deserves its own entry as one of the best places to visit in the East Midlands. It’s an impressive and stately 16th-century Elizabethan country house surrounded by parkland.

Wollaton Hall was famously used for exterior shots of Wayne Manor (the home of Batman) in the film The Dark Knight Rises. The park is also regularly used for large outdoor events such as concerts and festivals, while the Nottingham Natural History Museum is housed inside the hall.

When major events are not on, the formal gardens and deer park are a delight to explore. There’s a beautiful lake, a camellia house and a botanical garden, plus you can enjoy spotting the red and fallow deer.

Fun Fact: the Nottinghamshire town of Gotham, which is located less than 10km away, was also the inspiration for Gotham City in the Batman comics!

Sherwood Forest

While Nottingham has some links to the legend of Robin Hood, it is nearby Sherwood Forest that is most famous for its historic association with the legendary outlaw.

Originally a royal hunting forest, it was particularly popular with King John, the real-life brother of Richard the Lionheart, and one of the characters often included in stories of Robin Hood.

One of the major sights in Sherwood Forest is the Major Oak (pictured below), an oak tree that is over 1,000 years old and, according to legend, served as the hideout for Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

In the summer holidays, a Robin Hood festival is held over seven days in Sherwood Forest, with live re-enactments, song, dance, storytelling, sword-fighting, archery and plenty of stalls selling food, drink or crafts.

Like many British cities, Derby was originally settled by the Romans but changed hands between the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings during its history.

Derby is often described as one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution, is home to part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a centre of the British Rail Industry, and is a centre of transport manufacturing to this day.

The Museum of Making at the Derby Silk Mill (pictured below) was originally called the Derby Industrial Museum and is an excellent East Midlands destination to learn more about Derby’s industrial history.

Derby also makes a great base for exploring the Peak District, but the city itself is home to many museums, a cathedral, markets and other attractions that are worthy of some time spent enjoying the UK’s most central city.

Leicester is one of the oldest cities in England, with Iron Age settlements found by the Romans in AD 47 and fine examples of many different architectural styles from throughout the ages.

One of Leicester’s main claims to fame is that the body of King Richard III (the last king of the House of York) was found under a car park and excavated in 2012. His body was later buried at Leicester Cathedral and the King Richard III Visitors Centre is where visitors can learn more about this influential king.

Leicester is also a popular shopping destination, with an 800-year-old market and the winding cobbled streets called The Lanes, which are filled with independent boutiques, arcades and eateries.

Additionally, Leicester is home to the National Space Centre, a museum crammed with rockets, satellites, meteorites, and world-famous spacesuits.

The Peak District

The Peak District is one of the most visited East Midlands tourist attractions, and it covers a large area that extends beyond the borders of the Peak District National Park.

Today the Peak District draws many visitors who want to hike, climb, go caving or cycling and just enjoy the scenery. Even though it’s named for ‘peaks’, the area actually demonstrates more hills, valleys and gorges than sharply defined mountains.

As well as nature walks and wildlife spotting, this region has a number of charming towns to explore. Castleton is home to four ‘show caves’ (that are accessible to the public) and is a popular starting point for many easy walks.

Buxton is a charming spa town while Bakewell is, of course, the home of the famous Bakewell Pudding!

Lincoln’s Cathedral and Castle are the two major drawcards to this city, with the 11th-century Norman castle housing one of the 4 original copies of Magna Carta.

The 900-year-old Lincoln Cathedral was also built by the Normans and visitors still come from around the world to see its Gothic beauty and experience the daily choir services.

It’s also one of the most unusual places to visit in the East Midlands as the cathedral is also home to the famous Lincoln Imp – the stone carving of a mischievous imp in the Angel Choir.

Legend says this imp was a demon that was blown into the cathedral by a storm but was turned to stone by the cathedral’s guardian angels when it created too much mayhem! The imp is now known as the city’s unofficial mascot.

Apart from the castle and cathedral, Lincoln has some luxury high-end stores on the High Street, a lovely lake and marina called Brayford Pool, medieval buildings and The Museum of Lincolnshire Life to enjoy.

Northampton

Northampton was historically known for its shoe and leather industry, so anyone who is passionate about fashionable footwear will want to visit the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, a very unique East Midlands attraction.

This museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of historical footwear – more than 15,000 pairs of shoes, from Ancient Egypt to modern fashion, and everything in between! It includes famous pairs of shoes such as the platforms worn by the Spice Girls and David Beckham’s football boots.

There are also displays of art relating to footwear, as well as exhibitions about Northampton’s history and other kinds of artworks.

Northampton’s Guildhall (pictured below) is a Neo-Gothic delight and was designed by Edward William Godwin when he was just 28. Northampton was also where parts of the BBC sitcom ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ were filmed, while the city is the setting for both the film and musical ‘Kinky Boots’.

Althorp Estate

Just under 10km northwest of Northampton is the Althorp Estate; which has been the seat of the aristocratic Spencer family for more than 500 years and was also the childhood home of Princess Diana.

Charles Spencer is the current owner of Althorp, he’s the 9th Earl Spencer and the younger brother of Diana, who married the Prince of Wales. After her untimely death, her body was buried on a small island within the estate and there is also a Doric-style temple directly across from the lake for visitors to leave flowers if they wish.

The estate is only open to the public in July and August, so you would have to time your visit carefully if you wish to explore the house and gardens, but it’s worth a trip if you are in the area in summer.

Melton Mowbray

We’ve mentioned that some famous foods originate in the East Midlands, and the town of Melton Mowbray is a true site of significance in this regard, even being called England’s ‘rural capital of food’.

The Melton Mowbray pork pie might be the town’s most recognisable treat, since it shares a name with the town, but Melton Mowbray is also the location of one of only six licensed makers of Stilton cheese. Foodies visiting the town will absolutely want to pay a visit to the Tuxford & Tebbutt creamery, as well as the Dickinson & Morris pork pie shop (pictured below).

On the first weekend of October each year, Melton Mowbray hosts the Melton Mowbray Food Festival, one of the biggest regional culinary festivals in the United Kingdom.

Along with yummy food, Melton Mowbray boasts a beautiful country park, a small heritage trail, some great pubs and an adorable miniature railway just outside the town.

Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House is a stunning country estate located on the east bank of the River Derwent, in Derbyshire. It’s been the home of the Cavendish family for over 500 years but is open to the public between March and September.

There are many opulent rooms to explore inside Chatsworth House, with works of art that span 4,000 years. The 105-acre garden boasts a canal pond, cascade, greenhouse, a rock garden and a maze.

Chatsworth House has been used to represent Pemberley in both the 2005 film version of ‘Pride & Prejudice’ and the television drama ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’.

The 2008 film ‘The Duchess’ starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes was about the real-life 5th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire who lived in the house and had an unusual arrangement with another woman. Parts of the movie were filmed on location at Chatsworth House.

Have we missed any of your favourite places to visit in the East Midlands?

Let us know in the comments!

10 BEST Days Out in the East Midlands: My Top Picks (2024)

Last Updated: April 26, 2024
Destinations , Europe , United Kingdom

In this post, I’ll share some of my favourite days out in the East Midlands. From hiking in the Peak District to discovering the medieval city of Lincoln, there’s a lot to see and do here.

Table of Contents

I grew up in the Midlands and have explored almost every corner of this diverse region.

With its beautiful countryside, outdoor activities, historic towns and cities, and wealth of other attractions, it’s a seriously underrated part of the country.

Here’s all the information you need to make your East Midlands day out one to remember!

Quick Summary: My Favourite 3 Days Out

Explore the Peak District National Park
Family fun at Alton Towers (or an educational day out at Leicester’s Space Centre )
Discover Lincoln , a beautiful historic city

10 Best Days Out in the East Midlands

Whether you’re looking for an exciting family outing, a romantic getaway, or a solo day out, I’m confident there’s something here that you’ll love.

See here for more hidden gems in the UK .

1. Exploring the Peak District National Park

I love the Peak District. It’s one of my favourite parts of England and I’ve been many times.

The Peak District National Park spreads across parts of Derbyshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and South Yorkshire. It’s an incredibly picturesque place and a perfect spot for hiking and enjoying the great outdoors.

Some of the most popular highlights of the park include:

Chatsworth House: A grand stately home with a beautiful deer park
Haddon Hall: Another stunning stately home to explore
The scene ry: It really is fantastic
The Pennine Way : One of England’s most famous long-distance hiking trails. This iconic trail offers breathtaking views – it starts in Edale (in the Peak District) and finishes near the Scottish border

Also, don’t miss the Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath. This hilltop park is reachable by cable car and offers spectacular views of the Derwent Valley. You can explore the woodland trails and even take an underground tour in the natural caves.

On my most recent visit to the Peak District, I hiked up Mam Tor , one of the hills overlooking the village of Edale. This is a fairly easy hike, ideal for families. Edale also has a railway station, so it’s also a great day out for those without a car.

For a more challenging hike, try climbing Kinder Scout (the highest point in the East Midlands), via the “Jacob’s Ladder” route. This is also accessible on foot from Edale train station.

🤩 Coming from Manchester? Check out this guided day tour of Derbyshire and the Peak District!

2. Theme Park Family Fun

The East Midlands has several excellent theme parks.

My favourite one is Alton Towers , which I’ve been to several times. It’s the largest theme park in the UK and has a huge range of rides and other attractions, from adrenaline-pumping roller coasters to gentle water rides and mini-golf courses.

The park also puts on live entertainment and is a great place for families looking for a fun day out or something special to do on the weekend.

🤩 Click here to reserve your tickets now!

Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath is another exciting theme park that’s especially designed for young children.

There are plenty of rides and other attractions that your little ones will love. Highlights include the log flume, Silver Mine Ride, Dino Explorer Cars, and Buddy’s Pirate Adventure.

For even more family fun, head to Twinlakes , an amazing 100-acre theme park, farm, and water park in Melton Mowbray. With 10 themed zones, this park is ideal for kids of all ages.

Plus, don’t miss a visit to Bolsover Castle , where your children can dress up as cavaliers and build their own fantasy castles. You can also enjoy a family picnic with wonderful panoramic views over the Vale of Scarsdale.

3. Discover Nottingham Castle and Wollaton Hall

Nottingham is one of my favourite cities in the East Midlands. It’s a seriously underrated place and is home to many fantastic sights, including Nottingham Castle and the majestic Wollaton Hall.

Built in 1068 by William the Conqueror, Nottingham Castle has been an integral part of the city’s history for nearly 1,000 years. I used to love coming here as as a kid, it’s so atmospheric.

Wollaton Hall is an impressive Elizabethan mansion and park situated in the heart of Nottingham. It’s an amazing place to explore and even houses its own Natural History Museum.

You can easily spend a whole day here enjoying the 500-acre grounds, which are home to herds of wild deer and lots of other wildlife.

4. Leicester’s Space and Science Adventures

The National Space Centre in Leicester is a really fantastic day out in the East Midlands. It’s a must-see destination for anyone with an interest in space exploration.

I have strong memories of visiting the National Space Centre on a school trip. It’s really fascinating and inspirational place, with something for people of all ages.

The centre features a range of interactive exhibitions on the latest space technology, a planetarium offering weekly shows, and the iconic 42-metre-high Rocket Tower.

Inside, you can learn all about our solar system, including exhibits of real meteorites, model rockets, and spacecraft. There are also simulations of what it’s like to live and work in space.

Additionally, the centre hosts events and activities like stargazing evenings and family days throughout the year.

Above all else, the National Space Centre is a great place to have fun while learning about science and space exploration.

5. Uncovering Lincoln’s Rich Heritage

Lincoln’s rich and vibrant heritage includes the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral and the awe-inspiring medieval Lincoln Castle.

The gothic Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for more than 200 years, and its architecture is still awe-inspiring today.

Built over 950 years ago, the 11th-century Gothic cathedral is renowned for its intricate masonry and impressive spire, which was once the tallest structure in the world.

The cathedral is home to numerous historical artifacts and rare books such as the Laud Psalter, one of Europe’s oldest medieval religious manuscripts.

Lincoln Cathedral also has magnificent stained glass windows, a grand organ with more than 5,000 pipes, and a collection of ancient murals.

Lincoln Castle has a long and storied history, dating back to 1068 when William the Conqueror ordered its construction.

The castle has been used as a fortress, prison, court of law, and even a royal mint. Today, it’s one of the best places to visit in the East Midlands.

Inside, you can visit recreations of medieval dungeons and torture chambers, or climb the battlements for great views of the surrounding area.

There’s an excellent audio-guided tour that takes you around the grounds of the castle. This is a great way to learn about the history of this fascinating place.

Lincoln Castle also houses one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta .

This historic charter from 1215 limited the powers of the English king and established certain legal rights. It’s often viewed as a foundation of modern democracy and the rule of law.

6. Outdoor Activities in the East Midlands

The East Midlands offers many exciting outdoor activities, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, sailing, and rafting.

Ashby de la Zouch is a great destination for outdoor activities, with plenty of options to choose from.

The nearby National Forest has an extensive network of trails and paths for walking, cycling, and mountain biking.

The Tissington Trail is another great spot for walking or cycling. It passes through several attractive villages such as Hartington, Parsley Hay, and Alsop, as well as lots of picturesque English countryside.

For those seeking some water-based fun, you can go rafting along the River Trent. Or, head over to Rutland Water for sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding.

If you’re looking for something a bit more relaxing, there are plenty of gardens to explore, such as Kedleston Hall Gardens , or Calke Abbey with its secret walled garden. Both offer tranquil places to soak in the sunshine while surrounded by beautiful floral displays.

The Ashby Canal is another great place for a peaceful walk, with loads of wildlife and plenty of places to stop for a picnic. You can even hire your own narrowboat and explore the area by water.

7. A Taste of Market Town Life

Immerse yourself in the allure of East Midlands’ market towns such as Bakewell and Tissington.

Bakewell is renowned for its famous Bakewell Pudding, a delicious treat that has become synonymous with the town. The pudding is a quintessentially English dessert that’s part-way between a cake and a pastry, made with jam and almond paste.

At the farmer’s market in Bakewell, you’ll find a variety of delicious homemade produce, local meats and cheeses, and other fresh local products, perfect for a taste of authentic market town life.

Tissington is another delightful market town in the East Midlands. With its cobbled streets, historic buildings and variety of shops and cafes, it’s an ideal place to spend an afternoon exploring.

Visit Tissington Hall and its beautiful gardens and lake, or enjoy a peaceful stroll around the main square and soak up the local atmosphere.

8. Wildlife Encounters and Nature Reserves

The East Midlands is home to several beautiful nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

One of the most well-known places in the region is Sherwood Forest (of Robin Hood fame), which is home to ancient oaks and centuries of history.

Here you can explore many different habitats, from ancient woodland trails to wetlands full of amphibians. It’s a real haven for wildlife and a perfect place for birdwatching. The last time I was there, I saw loads of deer too.

Another great spot for any nature lover is Rutland Water Nature Reserve, which covers over 1,200 hectares and includes a range of habitats from heathland and grassland to wetland areas.

There’s a huge range of wildfowl and other birds here, many of which are often seen along the shores of the lake. Other great places for encounters with local wildlife are:

Wolds Wildlife Park
Baytree Owl & Wildlife Centre
ARK Wildlife & Dinosaur Park
White Post Farm
Icarus Falconry
Rutland Falconry & Owl Centre

Each of these destinations offers a unique experience and allows you to get up close and personal with a variety of fascinating animals. You’ll learn all about their behaviour and the environment in which they live.

9. Learn About England’s Industrial Past at Derwent Valley Mills

Embark on a journey through time and discover the industrial history of the East Midlands at the Derwent Valley Mills .

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of a series of 18th-century industrial mill complexes. It was the birthplace of the modern factory system, which helped to revolutionize the production of textiles and other goods.

The mills are now preserved as a living reminder of Britain’s industrial heritage. Several of the old factories now host a range of educational activities and tours.

Today the site offers insight into how industry used to work, and how working conditions developed over time.

The UNESCO site includes the Cromford Mills , Richard Arkwright’s groundbreaking cotton mills that revolutionized the textile industry.

You can take a guided tour of the mill, which provides a unique insight into the history of these mills and their impact on the world. You’ll discover a collection of machinery, tools, and artifacts related to the development of industry right up until today.

It’s a fascinating glimpse into the past. This place is a must-visit for anyone interested in the region’s rich heritage and the birth of the Industrial Revolution.

10. Family-Friendly Museums and Galleries in the East Midlands

The East Midlands houses a diverse range of museums and galleries that cater to families and people of all ages.

Chatsworth House is a gorgeous stately home in Derbyshire. With immaculate grounds and lavish interior design, it’s a great place to come for a day out.

Inside the house, you can explore the grand interiors full of historic furnishings and paintings. There are also interactive displays, guided tours, and activities on offer for children.

The gardens are equally impressive, with water features, sculptures, and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.

There’s a deer park and a little farm and adventure play area which the kids will love. The grounds of the estate also have a restaurant, a cafe, a shop, and even a garden centre.

Calke Abbey is a beautiful early-18th-century country house surrounded by 600 acres of parkland. The grounds are home to a range of interesting historical features, such as the walled kitchen garden, as well as a picturesque lake.

FAQs About Things to Do in the East Midlands

What can you do in the east midlands.

In the East Midlands, you can explore historical landmarks and historical cities, and enjoy unspoiled nature. The region is known for its rich history, scenic landscapes, and cultural heritage.

Where can I take my 4-year-old in East Midlands?

There are many child-friendly places to visit in the East Midlands, including museums, adventure parks, and (of course) the great outdoors.

I can personally recommend Gulliver’s Kingdom and Twinlakes Park – both are fantastic for young kids.

What is the East Midlands accent?

The East Midlands accent is a distinct regional accent that combines elements of West Midlands, Yorkshire, and East Anglian accents.

Some of the features that define this accent include a more glottal pronounciation of “t”s at the end of words (e.g. “but” becoming “bu”) and a higher vowel sound on certain longer words (e.g. “coffee” becoming more like “cawfee”).

What is good about the East Midlands?

The East Midlands is a beautiful part of the country with lots to see and do. Explore its stunning countryside or discover vibrant cities like Nottingham and Lincoln.

Which is nicer Derby or Nottingham?

Both Derby and Nottingham have their own unique attractions and charm, it depends on your individual tastes and preferences. Personally, I prefer Nottingham as there’s more to see and do there.

What is the largest city in the East Midlands?

Leicester is the largest city in the East Midlands, with an estimated population of more than 300,000. This ancient city was first recognised by the Romans and later used as a strategic stronghold by the Danes.

Final Thoughts: East Midlands Days Out

The East Midlands has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to enjoy inspiring natural landscapes, explore historical cities, or immerse yourself in the region’s vibrant cultural scene, you can do all that and more.

I hope this post has been helpful and helps you plan a perfect day out in the East Midlands. Let me know how it goes!

Alex Tiffany

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The 10 Most Charming Towns in the East Midlands

A TravelMag survey of UK travel experts has revealed the ten most charming towns in the East Midlands. We invited 100 travel writers, photographers and selected professionals to name the towns they consider the most appealing. Those surveyed were asked to name their three favourites – with populations between 3,000 and 50,000 – before we totted up the results to produce the final ten.

The River Wye flows through an East Midlands town (Photo: 77GR via Flickr)

So what do we know about this popular region nestled in central England? Extending out to the country’s eastern coastline, the East Midlands is a hotchpotch of natural beauty and man-made remnants of Britain’s ancient past. From the chalky Chiltern Hills to the famous Peak District. it is particularly popular with ramblers who enjoy its low-lying undulations – and indeed anyone who loves the great outdoors.

But it is in the region’s ancient towns that you gain a sense of the social history that runs so deep here. Its market and spa towns are dotted with well-preserved architecture dating back centuries and artisanal trades such as leather, lace and shoe-making are still present today. As are the rich, peaty fens that have made the region one of England’s most important arable farming lands.

Such a melting pot has given rise to what are considered some of Britain’s most appealing towns. And without further adieu, we give you ten of the best, listed in alphabetical order.

The only market town within the Peak District National Park boundary, Bakewell’s scenic setting on the River Wye in Derbyshire, along with its sprinkling of attractive courtyards and independent shops and cafés, helps ensure a place in our top ten.

Bakewell is perhaps best known as the birthplace of the Bakewell Pudding, though few are aware of the curious story behind its conception. In the 19th century, a local cook was baking a jam tart but misunderstood the recipe and inadvertently created a brand new confectionary – one that is sampled by most visitors to the town.

They also spare time to visit the town’s impressive architecture, evident in the fine spire of All Saints Church as well as the grand old houses of Market Hall, The Old Town Hall and the Almshouses on South Church Street. Other places of interest include the ancient five arched bridge, often used as a public canvas by local artists.

The pretty exterior of a Bakewell Pudding shop (Photo: wainwright warrior via Flickr)

Situated in the southwest corner of Northamptonshire, the historic market town of Brackley is a popular stop-off with visitors to the East Midlands and an ideal base for exploring the nearby Cotswolds, with its rolling hills, thatched medieval villages and stately homes.

But Brackley has plenty of its own appeal too, owing in large part to its sweeping High Street, 18th century town hall and attractive piazza. It also knows how to draw a crowd, with regular annual festivals as well as a monthly farmer’s market transforming an otherwise laid-back town into a hubbub of activity.

A view of Brackley’s Town Hall and War Memorial (Photo: Michael via Flickr)

Just 11 miles west of Bakewell in Derbyshire, Buxton lays claim to the honour of being the highest town of its size in England, sitting 300 metres above sea level. Historically a spa town, its natural spring water baths remain a key attraction – and a major source of income – to this day.

The town boasts some of the region’s finest examples of Georgian architecture, and is also home to an impressive 23 acres of ornamental gardens featuring serpentine walkways, children’s play areas, lakes and a miniature railway. Other attractions include a much-admired Opera House which plays host to one of Britain’s largest opera-based annual festivals.

A view of Buxton Opera House from behind the arches on The Square (Photo: Simon Harrod via Flickr)

Long Sutton

Sitting in the south Lincolnshire Fens, the market town of Long Sutton has been named among the best-kept villages in the region – and for good reason. Through spring and summer, floral displays adorn the streets and buildings in and around the Market Place and in the High Street, creating a visual feast for visitors and locals alike.

The town is also home to numerous examples of fine Georgian architecture as well as St Mary’s Church and its lead-covered timber spire, thought to be the highest, oldest and best-preserved lead spire in England and possibly Europe. Other places of interest include a Masonic lodge, while a Civic Society plays an active role in preserving local landmarks.

The parish church of St Mary in Long Sutton (Photo: Gary J Brothwell via Flickr)

Market Harborough

Built in the 12th century as a market town to promote local industry, Market Harborough has always had commerce running through its veins. Situated in Leicestershire, the town’s main hub of activity today is its bustling High Street, where independent shops, diverse restaurants and pubs attract a brisk trade.

One of the town’s most striking landmarks is the timber framed Old Grammar School which dates from 1614, while the nearby St. Dionysius Parish Church, with its towering steeple, can also be found in Market Harborough’s picturesque heart. Another popular attraction is Harborough Museum and Library, located in the Symington Building, an eye-catching Victorian-era former corset factory.

A fisheye view of the the old Grammar School and St Dionysus Church in Market Harborough (Photo: timfilbert via Flickr)

The current holder of a coveted Britain in Bloom award, Oakham is a quintessential English market town located in the shire of Rutland. Packed with heritage, it is popular for day trips and short breaks, thanks to its scenic setting and impressive roll-call of historical attractions that serve as testimony to the town’s ancient roots.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the 200-plus horseshoes hanging from the walls of Oakham Castle, the legacy of a tradition that requires peers of the realm to forfeit a horseshoe to the Lord of the Manor of Oakham on their first visit to the town. Less reliant on folklore is Oakham School, housed in a beautiful 16th century building and one of the town’s most notable landmarks.

A view of a charming house-lined square in Oakham (Photo: Alan Feebery via Flickr)

Encircled by the river Nene, the historic market town of Oundle in Northamptonshire has all the visual qualities you might expect from a glitzy period drama. Its streetscapes are dotted with Georgian town houses, 17th-century cottages and medieval gables, while limestone buildings add to the town’s character.

Laying on Oundle’s borders is Fotheringhay Castle, where Richard III was born and where Elizabeth I imprisoned and executed Mary Queen of Scots. Such harrowing history has evaporated, but its physical relics remain. A revered Public School plays its part in rearing the town’s future protégées.

Ivy-clad terraced houses in Oundle (Photo: Martin Sutton via Flickr)

Nestled on the River Welland in Lincolnshire, the bustling market town of Stamford was once proclaimed by the novelist Sir Walter Scott as “the finest stone town in England”. Such lofty praise would help ensure that 600 of its mellow limestone buildings gained listed status, including five medieval churches. Little wonder that it commands such curiosity.

Among the historical highlights are one of the oldest provincial theatres in England, the Steam Brewery, Browne’s Hospital’s and the 12th century ruins of St Leonard’s Priory. A popular Town Trail invites visitors to explore Stamford in methodical fashion, taking in its passageways, main thoroughfare and market squares.

A pedestrianised street in Stamford (Photo: Light+Shade via Flickr)

Once a thriving coaching route along an ancient Roman road, today Towcester is one of the East Midland’s most prosperous towns.At the heart of the Northamptonshire market town is Moat Lane, a multi-million pound regeneration development that includes a number of listed buildings, a scheduled ancient monument, water meadows and parkland. The restored Bury Mount, the site of a 12th century motte and bailey castle, sits as its centrepiece attraction.

Regeneration in Towcester has also seen the revival of a local Brewery, while the construction of a visitor centre, museum, shops, restaurants, cafes and bars are currently in progress. Towcester Racecourse hosts several prestigious horseraces throughout the year, attracting thousands of spectators to the town.

A street in Towcester town centre (Photo: Saxon Sky via Flickr)

The Rutland town of Uppingham has much in its favour, but it is its vibrant arts scene that sets it apart from many of its regional neighbours. Galleries are dotted everywhere, with works regularly trading hands for substantial sums. Historical curios also do a brisk trade here, with numerous antiques stores across the town. Needless to say, visitors often leave with more than they bargained for.

In keeping with its East Midlands counterparts, there’s plenty of architectural gems to admire too. The ubiquitous honey-coloured buildings are a delight, while the Church of St Peter and St Paul dating back to the 14th century stand as testament to the town’s long history.

A snow-capped church in Uppingham (Photo: lawrjon1 via Flickr)

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THE 10 BEST East Midlands Scenic Walking Areas

Scenic walking areas in east midlands.

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Scenic Walking Areas
5.0 of 5 bubbles
4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
Good for Couples
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Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Dovedale Stepping Stones

2. Lovers' Walk

3. StarDisc

4. Cascades Gardens

5. Brayford Pool

6. Old Dairy Farm Craft Centre

7. Three Shires Heads

8. Wolfscote Dale

9. Welford Wharf

10. The Hermitage

11. The Stanwick Lakes to Rushden Lakes walk

12. Crich Walk

13. Apple Blossom Yurt At Walcot Hall Estate

14. The Thrapston-Islip walk

15. Erewash Canal

16. Oxendon Tunnels

17. Rufford Abbey

18. Boddington Reservoir

19. Blidworth Woods

20. King's Cliffe Walk

21. Easton Labyrinth and Peace Garden

22. Beaurepaire Garden

23. The Green Line

24. bevercotes pit wood.

25. Hazel & Thoroughsale Woods

26. The River Nene Walk

27. Belper Walks

28. Spa Trail

29. The Big Track

30. washingborough railway station, what travellers are saying.

The Stanwick Lakes to Rushden Lakes walk
Over Haddon Walk
Lovers' Walk
Wolfscote Dale
Dovedale Stepping Stones
Brayford Pool
Cascades Gardens
Three Shires Heads
Old Dairy Farm Craft Centre

The East Midlands Travel Guide

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Many tourists bypass the four major counties of the East Midlands – Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire – on their way to more obvious destinations, an understandable mistake given that the region seems, at first, to be short on star attractions. The county towns of Nottingham and Leicester , though undeniably bruised by postwar town planning and industrial development, have enough sights and character to give them appeal, and Lincoln , with its fine cathedral, is in parts at least a dignified old city, but it’s the surrounding countryside, sprinkled with prestigious country homes, pretty villages and historic market towns that provides the real draw in this region.

Around Northampton

Ashby-de-la-zouch and around, the lincolnshire coast, market bosworth and around, northampton, northern nottinghamshire, nottingham and around.

In Nottinghamshire, Byron’s Newstead Abbey is intriguing; the Elizabethan Hardwick Hall (just over the border in Derbyshire but covered in this chapter) is even better. Leicestershire offers Market Bosworth , an amiable country town famous as the site of the battle of Bosworth Field , and a particularly intriguing church at Breedon-on-the-Hill . The county also lies adjacent to the easy countryside of Rutland , the region’s smallest county, where you’ll find another pleasant country town, Oakham . Rutland and Northamptonshire benefit from the use of limestone as the traditional building material and rural Northamptonshire is studded with handsome stone villages and towns – most notably Fotheringhay – as well as a battery of country estates, the best known of which is Althorp , the final resting place of Princess Diana.

Lincolnshire is very different in character from the rest of the region, an agricultural backwater that remains surprisingly remote – locals sometimes call it the “forgotten county”. This was not always the case: throughout medieval times the county flourished as a centre of the wool trade with Flanders, its merchants and landowners becoming some of the wealthiest in England. Reminders of the high times are legion, beginning with the majestic cathedral that graces the county town of Lincoln . Equally enticing is the splendidly intact stone town of Stamford , while out in the sticks, Lincolnshire’s most distinctive feature is The Fens , whose pancake-flat fields, filling out much of the south of the county and extending deep into Cambridgeshire, have been regained from the marshes and the sea. Fenland villages are generally short of charm, but their parish churches, whose spires regularly interrupt the wide-skied landscape, are simply stunning; two of the finest – at Gedney and Long Sutton – are set beside the A17 as it slices across the fens on its way to Norfolk. Very different again is the Lincolnshire coast, whose long sandy beach extends, with a few marshy interruptions, from Mablethorpe to Skegness , the region’s main resort. The coast has long attracted thousands of holiday-makers from the big cities of the East Midlands and Yorkshire, hence its trail of bungalows, campsites and caravan parks, though significant chunks of the seashore are now protected as nature reserves, with the Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve being the pick.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for England, created by local experts

20 days / from 2994 USD

The Great British Road Trip

Get ready to explore Britain on this unique self-drive road trip. Choose the car of your liking before you hit the road: from the Cotswolds and its picturesque villages over the Beatle's favorite hang-out in Liverpool to Scotland's capital Edinburgh: this trip includes many highlights to be explored

7 days / from 1350 USD

Magical 7-Day Family Adventure in Scotland and England : From Harry Potter to Loch Ness!

Searching for an unforgettable family adventure? Scotland is the perfect destination! With a perfect balance of nature, adventure, and Scottish culture. This 7-day trip offers a delightful mix of activities that everyone in the family will enjoy. Get ready to create life long lasting memories!

5 days / from 638 USD

Refreshing English Countryside Break

Outside of London, England is known with a countryside full of history, picturesque villages, patchwork hills, and winding country roads. Explore the countryside with its castles, parks, and historical cities such as Oxford.

A few miles outside Northampton, in opposite directions, both Althorp , family home of the Spencers and the burial place of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Stoke Bruerne , an intriguing canalside village, make good stop-offs. Further out is the delightful village of Fotheringhay , where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned and executed.

The Spencer family lived at the lavish country home and estate of

for centuries, which was of little interest to anyone else until one of the tribe,

, married Prince Charles in 1981. The disintegration of the marriage and Diana’s elevation to sainthood is a story known to millions, and the public outpouring of grief following Diana’s death in 1997 was quite astounding. Momentarily, Althorp became the focus of massive media attention as the coffin was brought up the M1 motorway from London to be buried on an island in the grounds of the family estate. Today, visitors still troop round the grandiloquent rooms of Althorp house, drop by the

Diana exhibition

in the old stable block, and then take the footpath that leads round a lake in the middle of which is the islet (no access) where Diana is buried.

Fotheringhay

Hard to believe today, but pocket-sized FOTHERINGHAY , a delightful hamlet nestling by the River Nene about thirty miles northeast of Northampton, is where Mary , Queen of Scots came to her untimely end. The castle where she was imprisoned and died has long gone, and the village has been left to its own devices for centuries, but its medieval heyday is recalled by the magnificent church of St Mary and All Saints , which rises mirage-like above the green riverine meadows.

ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH , fourteen miles northwest of Leicester, takes its fanciful name from two sources – the town’s first Norman overlord was Alain de Parrhoet la Souche and the rest means “place by the ash trees”. Nowadays, Ashby is far from rustic, but it’s still an amiable little place with one main attraction, its castle .

Just a few miles away, Breedon-on-the-Hill is well worth a trip for its good walking and great views, and some fascinating Anglo-Saxon carvings at the Church of St Mary and St Hardulph.

Breedon-on-the-Hill

It’s five miles northeast from Ashby to the village of BREEDON-ON-THE-HILL , which sits in the shadow of the large, partly quarried hill from which it takes its name. A steep footpath and a winding, half-mile by-road lead up from the village to the summit, from where there are smashing views over the surrounding countryside.

Church of St Mary and St Hardulph

Breedon is also the site of the fascinating church of St Mary and St Hardulph , which occupies the site of an Iron Age hill fort and an eighth-century Anglo-Saxon monastery. Mostly dating from the thirteenth century, the church is kitted out with a Georgian pulpit and pews as well as a large and distinctly rickety box pew. Much more rare are a number of Anglo-Saxon carvings that include individual saints and prophets and wall friezes, where a dense foliage of vines is inhabited by a tangle of animals and humans. The friezes are quite extraordinary, and the fact that the figures look Byzantine rather than Anglo-Saxon has fuelled much academic debate.

At first glance, LEICESTER , some 25 miles south of Nottingham, seems a resolutely modern city, but further inspection reveals traces of its medieval and Roman past, situated immediately to the west of the downtown shopping area near the River Soar.

It’s probably fair to say that Leicester has a reputation for looking rather glum, but the centre is very much on the move, with the addition of Highcross, a brand new shopping centre, and the creation of a Cultural Quarter equipped with a flashy performance venue, Curve Theatre . The star turn, however, is the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery , which includes an exemplary collection of German Expressionist paintings. About a third of Leicester’s population is Asian – the city elected England’s first Asian MP, Keith Vaz, in 1987. The focus of the Asian community is the Belgrave Road and its environs, an area of terraced houses about a mile to the northeast of the city centre beyond the flyover, where people come from miles around to eat at the splendid Indian restaurants .

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Brief history

The Romans chose this site to keep an eye on the rebellious Corieltauvi, constructing a fortified town beside the Fosse Way (now the A46), the military road running from Lincoln to Cirencester. Later, the Emperor Hadrian kitted the place out with huge public buildings, though the Danes, who overran the area in the eighth century, were not overly impressed and didn’t even bother to pilfer much of the stone. Later still, the town’s medieval castle became the base of the earls of Leicester, the most distinguished of whom was Simon de Montfort , who forced Henry III to convene the first English Parliament in 1265. Since the late seventeenth century, Leicester has been a centre of the hosiery trade and it was this industry that attracted hundreds of Asian immigrants to settle here in the 1950s and 1960s.

Leicester festivals

Belgrave is the hub for two major Hindu festivals – Diwali , the Festival of Light, held in October or November, when six thousand lamps are strung out along Belgrave Road, and Navratri , a nine-day celebration in October held in honour of the goddess Durga. In addition, the city’s sizeable Afro-Caribbean community holds England’s second biggest street festival after the Notting Hill Carnival, the Leicester Caribbean Carnival , on the first weekend in August.

Reaching high into the sky from the top of a steep hill, the triple towers of LINCOLN ’s mighty cathedral are visible for miles across the surrounding flatlands. The cathedral, along with the castle , are the city’s main tourist draws – although Lindum Colonia was an important Roman city, few fragments of this era survive.

For visitors, almost everything of interest is confined to the Uphill part of town, within easy walking distance of both castle and cathedral. In addition to the major sights, this part of town also features a number of historic remains, notably several chunks of Roman wall, the most prominent of which is the second-century Newport Arch straddling Bailgate and once the main north gate into the city. There are also several well-preserved medieval stone houses, notably on and around the aptly named Steep Hill as it cuts down from the cathedral to the city centre.

The key sights can be seen in about half a day, though Lincoln does make for a pleasant overnight stop, particularly in December during its lively open-air Christmas market .

High ground is in short supply in Lincolnshire, so it’s no surprise that the steep hill that is today surmounted by Lincoln Cathedral was fortified early, firstly by the Celts , who called their settlement Lindon, “hillfort by the lake”, a reference to the pools formed by the River Witham in the marshy ground below. In 47 AD the Romans occupied Lindon and built a fortified town, which subsequently became Lindum Colonia , one of the four regional capitals of Roman Britain. During the reign of William the Conqueror the construction of the castle and cathedral initiated Lincoln’s medieval heyday – the town boomed, first as a Norman power base and then as a centre of the wool trade with Flanders, until 1369 when the wool market was transferred to neighbouring Boston. It was almost five hundred years before Lincoln could revive, its recovery based upon the manufacture of agricultural machinery and drainage equipment for the neighbouring fenlands. As the nineteenth-century town spread south down the hill and out along the old Roman road – the Fosse Way – so Lincoln became a place of precise class distinctions: the Uphill area, spreading north from the cathedral, became synonymous with middle-class respectability, Downhill with the proletariat.

Lincoln Cathedral

Not a hill at all,

Castle Hill

is in fact a wide, short and level cobbled street that links Lincoln’s castle and cathedral. It’s a charming spot and its east end is marked by the arches of the medieval

Exchequergate

, beyond which soars the glorious west front of

, a veritable cliff-face of blind arcading mobbed by decorative carving. The west front’s apparent homogeneity is, however, deceptive, and further inspection reveals two phases of construction – the small stones and thick mortar of much of the facade belong to the original church, completed in 1092, whereas the longer stones and finer courses date from the early thirteenth century. These were enforced works: in 1185, an earthquake shattered much of the Norman church, which was then rebuilt under the auspices of

Bishop Hugh of Avalon

, the man responsible for most of the present cathedral, with the notable exception of the (largely) fourteenth-century central tower.

The cavernous interior is a fine example of Early English architecture, with the nave’s pillars conforming to the same general design yet differing slightly, their varied columns and bands of dark Purbeck marble contrasting with the oolitic limestone that is the building’s main material. Looking back up the nave from beneath the central tower , you can also observe a major medieval cock-up: Bishop Hugh’s roof is out of alignment with the earlier west front, and the point where they meet has all the wrong angles. It’s possible to pick out other irregularities, too – the pillars have bases of different heights, and there are ten windows in the nave’s north wall and nine in the south – but these are deliberate features, reflecting a medieval aversion to the vanity of symmetry.

Beyond the nave lies St Hugh’s Choir , whose fourteenth-century misericords carry an eccentric range of carvings, with scenes from the life of Alexander the Great and King Arthur mixed up with biblical characters and folkloric parables. Further on is the open and airy Angel Choir , completed in 1280 and famous for the tiny, finely carved Lincoln Imp , which embellishes one of its columns. Finally, a corridor off the choir’s north aisle leads to the wooden-roofed cloisters and the polygonal chapter house , where Edward I and Edward II convened gatherings that pre-figured the creation of the English Parliament.

The Lincoln imp

Legends had abounded for centuries about the Lincoln imp , carved high on a column in Lincoln cathedral, but it was the entrepreneurial James Ward Usher in the 1880s who turned the wee beastie into a tidy profit, selling Lincoln imp tie-pins, cuff-links, spoons, brooches and beads. Usher also popularized the traditional legend of the imp, a tall tale in which a couple of imps are blown to Lincoln by a playful wind. They then proceed to hop around the cathedral, until one of them is turned to stone for trying to talk to the angels carved into the roof of the Angel Choir. His chum makes a hasty exit on the back of a witch, but the wind is still supposed to haunt the cathedral, awaiting its opportunity to be mischievous again.

Heading east from Lincoln on the A158, it’s about forty miles to Skegness , the county’s biggest – and brightest – resort. From here, a thick band of bungalows, campsites and caravans marches up along the seashore beside and behind a sandy beach that extends, with a few marshy interruptions, north to Mablethorpe and ultimately Cleethorpes . All this bucket-and-spade and amusement-arcade commercialism is not to everyone’s taste, but small portions of the coast have been preserved and protected, most notably in the Gibraltar Point Natural Nature Reserve south of Skegness.

SKEGNESS has been a busy resort ever since the railways reached the Lincolnshire coast in 1875. Its heyday was pre-1960s, when the Brits began to take themselves off to sunnier climes, but it still attracts tens of thousands of city-dwellers who come for the wide, sandy beaches and for a host of attractions ranging from nightclubs to bowling greens. Every inch the traditional English seaside town, Skegness outdoes its rivals by keeping its beaches sparklingly clean and its parks spick-and-span. That said, the seafront, with its rows of souvenir shops and amusement arcades, can be dismal, especially on rainy days, and you may well decide to sidestep the whole caboodle by heading south along the coastal road to the Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve .

The Lincolnshire Fens

The Fens , that great chunk of eastern England extending from Boston in Lincolnshire right down to Cambridge, encompass some of the most productive farmland in Europe. Give or take the occasional hillock, this pancake-flat, treeless terrain has been painstakingly reclaimed from the marshes and swamps which once drained into the intrusive stump of The Wash , a process that has taken almost two thousand years. In earlier times, outsiders were often amazed by the dreadful conditions hereabouts, but they did spawn the distinctive culture of the so-called fen-slodgers , who embanked small portions of marsh to create pastureland and fields, supplementing their diets by catching fish and fowl and gathering reed and sedge for thatching and fuel. This local economy was threatened by the large-scale land reclamation schemes of the late fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and time and again the fenlanders sabotaged progress by breaking down new banks and dams. But the odds were stacked against the saboteurs, and a succession of great landowners eventually drained huge tracts of the fenland – and by the 1790s the fen slodgers’ way of life had all but disappeared. Nonetheless, the Lincolnshire Fens remain a distinctive area, with a scattering of introverted little villages spread across the flatlands within easy striking distance of the A17. Several of these villages are distinguished by their imposing medieval churches – St Mary Magdalene’s in Gedney and St Mary’s in Long Sutton for example – and their soaring spires are seen to best advantage in the pale, watery sunlight and wide skies of the fenland evening.

Heading south from Lincoln, it’s about seventeen miles to the A17, which runs east across the Lincolnshire Fens bound for King’s Lynn. En route, it slips past the scattered hamlet of GEDNEY , where the massive tower of St Mary Magdalene intercepts the fenland landscape. Seen from a distance, the church seems almost magical, or at least mystical, its imposing lines so much in contrast with its fen-flat surroundings. Close up, the three-aisled nave is simply beautiful, its battery of windows lighting the exquisite Renaissance alabaster effigies of Adlard and Cassandra Welby, who, in death, face each other on the south wall near the chancel.

Long Sutton

There’s more ecclesiastical excitement just a mile or two to the east of Gedney in LONG SUTTON , a modest farming centre that limps along the road until it reaches its trim Market Place. Here, the church of St Mary has preserved many of its Norman features, with its arcaded tower supporting the oldest lead spire in the country, dating from around 1200. Look out also for the striking stained-glass windows. Long Sutton once lay on the edge of the five-mile-wide mouth of the River Nene , where it emptied into The Wash. This was the most treacherous part of the road from Lincoln to Norfolk, and locals had to guide travellers across the mud flats and marshes on horseback. In 1831, the River Nene was embanked and then spanned with a wooden bridge at Sutton Bridge , a hamlet just two miles east of Long Sutton – and a few miles from King’s Lynn. The present swing bridge, with its nifty central tower, was completed in 1894.

The thatched cottages and Georgian houses of tiny MARKET BOSWORTH , some eleven miles west of Leicester, fan out from a dinky Market Place , which was an important trading centre throughout the Middle Ages. From the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, the dominant family hereabouts were the Dixies, merchant-landlords who mostly ended up at the church of St Peter .

The Dixies were not universally admired, however, and the young Samuel Johnson, who taught at the Dixie Grammar School – its elongated facade still abuts the Market Place – disliked the founder, Sir Wolstan Dixie, so much that he recalled his time there “with the strongest aversion and even a sense of horror”.

Bosworth Field

Market Bosworth is best known for the Battle of Bosworth Field , which was fought on hilly countryside near the village in 1485. This was the last and most decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses, an interminably long-winded and bitterly violent conflict among the nobility for control of the English Crown. The victor was Henry Tudor, subsequently Henry VII; he defeated Richard III, who famously died on the battlefield. In desperation, Shakespeare’s villainous Richard cried out “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse,” but in fact the defeated king seems to have been a much more phlegmatic character. Taking a glass of water before the fighting started, he actually said, “I live a king: if I die, I die a king”.

Spreading north from the banks of the River Nene, NORTHAMPTON is a workaday town whose modern appearance largely belies its ancient past. Throughout the Middle Ages, this was one of central England’s most important towns, a flourishing commercial hub whose now demolished castle was a popular stopping-off point for travelling royalty. A fire in 1675 burnt most of the medieval city to a cinder, and the Georgian town that grew up in its stead was itself swamped by the Industrial Revolution, when Northampton swarmed with boot- and shoemakers, whose products shod almost everyone in the British Empire. Errol Flynn kitted himself out with several pairs of Northampton shoes and boots when he was in repertory here in 1933, but he annoyed the city’s tailors no end by hightailing it out of town after a year, leaving a whopping tailors’ debt behind him.

Rural northern Nottinghamshire , with its gentle rolling landscapes and large ducal estates, was transformed in the nineteenth century by coal – deep, wide seams of the stuff that spawned dozens of collieries, and colliery towns, stretching north across the county and on into Yorkshire. Almost without exception, the mines have closed, their passing marked only by the occasional pithead winding wheel, left to commemorate the thousands of men who laboured here. The suddenness of the pit closure programme imposed by the Conservative government in the 1980s knocked the stuffing out of the area, but one prop of its slow revival has been the tourist industry: the countryside in between these former mining communities holds several enjoyable attractions, the best-known of which is Sherwood Forest – or at least the patchy remains of it – with one chunk of woodland preserved in the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, supposedly where Robin Hood did some canoodling with Maid Marian. Byron is a pipsqueak in the celebrity stakes by comparison, but his family home – Newstead Abbey – is here too, as is Hardwick Hall , a handsome Elizabethan mansion built at the behest of one of the most powerful women of her day, Bess of Hardwick (1521–1608).

Hardwick Hall

Born the daughter of a minor Derbyshire squire, Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury (1527–1608) – aka

Bess of Hardwick

– became one of the leading figures of Elizabethan England, renowned for her political and business acumen. She also had a penchant for building and her major achievement,

, begun when she was 62, has survived in amazingly good condition. The house was the epitome of fashionable taste, a balance of symmetry and ingenious detail in which the rectangular lines of the building are offset by line upon line of windows – there’s actually more glass than stone – while up above, her giant-sized initials (E.S.) hog every roof line. Inside on the top floor, the

High Great Chamber

, where Bess received her most distinguished guests, boasts an extraordinary plaster frieze, a brightly painted, finely worked affair celebrating the goddess Diana, the virgin huntress – it was, of course, designed to please the Virgin Queen herself. Next door, the breathtaking

Long Gallery

features exquisite furnishings and fittings from splendid chimneypieces and tapestries through to a set of portraits, including one each of the queen and Bess. Bess could exercise here while keeping out of the sun – at a time when any hint of a tan was considered decidedly plebeian.

Outside, the garden makes for a pleasant wander and, beyond the ha-ha (the animal-excluding low wall and ditch), rare breeds of cattle and sheep graze the surrounding parkland . Finally – and rather confusingly – Hardwick Hall is next to Hardwick Old Hall , Bess’s previous home, but now little more than a broken-down if substantial ruin.

Newstead Abbey

was granted by Henry VIII to Sir John Byron, who demolished most of the church and converted the monastic buildings into a family home.

Lord Byron (1788–1824)

inherited the estate, which was by then little more than a ruin, in 1798; he restored part of the complex during his six-year residence (1808–14), but most of the present structure actually dates from later renovations, which maintained much of the shape and feel of the medieval original while creating the warren-like mansion that exists today. Inside, a string of intriguing period rooms begins with the neo-Gothic Great Hall and Byron’s bedroom, one of the few rooms to look pretty much like it did when he lived here, and then continues on into the Library, which holds a collection of the poet’s possessions, from letters and an inkstand through to his pistols and boxing gloves. A further room contains a set of satirical, cartoon-like watercolours entitled

The Wonderful History of Lord Byron & His Dog

by his friend Elizabeth Pigot – there’s a portrait of the self-same dog, Boatswain, in the south gallery, and a conspicuous memorial bearing an absurdly extravagant inscription to the mutt in the delightful walled garden. Beyond lie the main gardens, a secretive and subtle combination of lake, Gothic waterfalls, yew tunnels and Japanese-style rockeries, complete with idiosyncratic pagodas.

With a population of around 290,000, NOTTINGHAM is one of England’s big cities. A one-time lace manufacturing and pharmaceutical centre (the Boots chain is from here), today it is still famous for its association with Robin Hood , the legendary thirteenth-century outlaw. Hood’s bitter enemy was, of course, the Sheriff of Nottingham , but unfortunately his home and lair – the city’s imposing medieval castle – is long gone, replaced by a handsome Palladian mansion that is still called, somewhat confusingly, Nottingham Castle . Nowadays, Nottingham is at its most diverting in and around both the castle and the handsome Market Square , which is also the centre of a heaving, teeming nightlife every weekend. Within easy striking distance of the city is the former coal-mining village of Eastwood , home of the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum .

Controlling a strategic crossing point over the River Trent, the Saxon town of Nottingham was built on one of a pair of sandstone hills whose 130ft cliffs looked out over the river valley. In 1068, William the Conqueror built a castle on the other hill, and the Saxons and Normans traded on the low ground in between, the Market Square. The castle was a military stronghold and royal palace, the equal of the great castles of Windsor and Dover, and every medieval king of England paid regular visits. In August 1642, Charles I stayed here too, riding out of the castle to raise his standard and start the Civil War – not that the locals were overly sympathetic. Hardly anyone joined up, even though the king had the ceremony repeated on the next three days.

After the Civil War, the Parliamentarians slighted the castle and, in the 1670s, the ruins were cleared by the Duke of Newcastle to make way for a palace, whose continental – and, in English terms, novel – design he chose from a pattern book, probably by Rubens. Beneath the castle lay a handsome, well-kept market town until the second half of the eighteenth century, when the city was transformed by the expansion of the lace and hosiery industries. Within the space of fifty years, Nottingham’s population increased from ten thousand to fifty thousand, the resulting slum becoming a hotbed of radicalism.

The worst of Nottingham’s slums were cleared in the early twentieth century, when the city centre assumed its present structure, with the main commercial area ringed by alternating industrial and residential districts. Thereafter, crass postwar development, adding tower blocks, shopping centres and a ring road, ensconced and embalmed the remnants of the city’s past.

To the east of Leicestershire lies England’s smallest county, Rutland , reinstated in its own right in 1997 following 23 unpopular years of merger with its larger neighbour. Rutland has one real place of note, Oakham , a pocket-sized county town with a scattering of elegant Georgian buildings.

The prosperity of well-heeled OAKHAM , 23 miles east of Leicester, is bolstered by Oakham School, one of the region’s more exclusive private schools, and by its proximity to Rutland Water , a large reservoir whose assorted facilities attract cyclists, ramblers, sailors and birdwatchers by the hundred. Oakham’s stone terraces and Georgian villas are too often interrupted to assume much grace, but the town does have its architectural moments, particularly in the L-shaped Market Place , where a brace of sturdy awnings shelter the old water pump and town stocks, and where Oakham School is housed in a series of impressive ironstone buildings.

Outdoors at Rutland Water

The gentle waters and easy, green hills of Rutland Water have made it a major centre for outdoor pursuits. There’s sailing at Rutland Sailing Club; cycle hire with Rutland Water Cycling; and a Watersports Centre at Whitwell on the north shore. Rutland Water also attracts a wide range of waterfowl, which prompted the establishment of a nature reserve with no fewer than 27 hides and two visitor centres at its west end. The reserve is home to a successful Osprey breeding project.

Delightful STAMFORD , in the southwest corner of Lincolnshire, is a handsome little limestone town of yellow-grey seventeenth- and eighteenth-century buildings edging narrow streets that slope up from the River Welland. The town’s salad days were as a centre of the medieval wool and cloth trade, when wealthy merchants built its medley of stone churches and houses. Stamford was also the home of William Cecil , Elizabeth I’s chief minister, who built his splendid mansion, Burghley House , close by.

The town survived the collapse of the wool trade, prospering as an inland port after the Welland was made navigable to the sea in 1570, and, in the eighteenth century, as a staging point on the Great North Road from London. More recently, Stamford escaped the three main threats to old English towns – the Industrial Revolution, wartime bombing and postwar development – and was designated the country’s first Conservation Area in 1967. Thanks to this, its unspoilt streets readily lend themselves to period drama- and filmmaking, and although it’s the harmony of Stamford’s architecture that pleases rather than any specific sight, there are still a handful of buildings of some special interest.

Shakespeare in the Park

One of the most enjoyable of Stamford’s several festivals is the Stamford Shakespeare Company ’s open-air performances of the bard’s works in the grounds of Tolethorpe Hall , an Elizabethan mansion just outside town. The season lasts from June to August with the audience protected from the elements by a vast canopy.

Top image: Night view of town hall in Leicester, England © trabantos/Shutterstock

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The 24 best places to visit in the east midlands.

From Belvoir Castle to Haddon Hall and Holdenby House, here we list the most gorgeous historic houses and gardens in the East Midlands.

The East Midlands has a high concentration of historic houses and gardens, and if you’re planning a long weekend in the area, or simply a day trip, there are some wonderful places to visit in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and other counties within the region. Here, we’re listing the best places to visit in the East Midlands, which you can see below, while you can also see a map of all these places on our dedicated web page here .

Eyam Hall, Hope Valley

Eyam Hall, built in 1672, just six years after the plague in Eyam, is a wonderfully unspoilt example of a small Jacobean Manor House.

Home of the Wright family for eleven generations, visitors can enjoy family portraits and furniture belonging to each generation. The craft centre in the Hall’s stable yard offers a vibrant hub from which to explore the wider village of Eyam and its captivating stories.

Haddon Hall, Bakewell

Home to Lord and Lady Edward Manners, Haddon Hall is one of the country’s most elegant stately homes.

Haddon invites visitors to immerse themselves in centuries of history, art and craftsmanship, and stroll around the Hall’s magnificent cascading gardens, enjoying uninterrupted views of the Peak District.

Melbourne Hall & Gardens, Melbourne

Although steeped in history, Melbourne Hall retains a family feel and makes it one of the most fascinating visitor attractions in the area.

Originally the house was a 12th-century rectory owned by the Bishops of Carlisle, who worshipped in the magnificent Norman Parish Church adjacent to the Hall. Sir John Coke was the first member of the family to make his home at Melbourne, restoring parts of the house around 1628.

Renishaw Hall & Gardens, Eckington

Home to the Sitwell family for nearly 400 years. The famous literary trio, Edith, Osbert, and Sacheverell Sitwell were all patrons of the arts and played a significant part in the artistic and literary world at the beginning of the 20th-century.

Renishaw is still very much a family home which adds to its unique atmosphere. Over 115 years ago Sir George Sitwell created what is today one of the most important classical Italianate gardens in Britain.

Tissington Hall historic estate in Derbyshire

Tissington Hall, Ashbourne

Tissington Hall was built in 1609 by Francis FitzHerbert to replace the moated fortification that guarded the Norman Church of St Mary’s in the centre of the village.

For over 400 years the Hall has presided over this picturesque Estate Village which is five miles north of the delightful market town of Ashbourne at the southern tip of the Peak District.

Leicestershire

Belvoir Castle, Belvoir

Crowning a hill in rural Leicestershire, Belvoir Castle has been the home to the Duke of Rutland’s family since 1067. With extraordinary views the castle remains as one of the most magnificent and beautiful Regency houses in England.

The current family take great pleasure welcoming visitors and sharing its grand historic beauty which can be seen in the popular Netflix series ‘The Crown’ as it doubles up as Windsor Castle, as well as films such as ‘The Young Victoria’ and ‘Victoria & Abdul’ starring Judi Dench.

Rockingham Castle, Market Harborough

Rockingham Castle has stood on this wonderful escarpment position for almost 950 years. There are very few homes that have been owned by just one family since being relinquished as a royal Castle.

Whether it is images of Knights in shining armour, a Tudor house, a Victorian home staffed with servants, or contemporary art, Rockingham has it all.

Stanford Hall, Lutterworth

Stanford Hall was built in the time of William and Mary. It is surrounded by ancient parkland rich in natural history and beauty and a further 900 acres. We are a grade 1 listed private stately home that has been in the same family for over 300 years.

In the Hall, itself, we have a magnificent ballroom with a beautifully restored fresco ceiling and portraits of the Stuart Kings of England. There is also a splendid Norman church a short walk away through the park.

Whatton House & Gardens, Loughborough

Whatton House and Gardens has a sense of serenity and charm that draws you in.

Visitors to our gardens and those who choose to celebrate their wedding day here never fail to be taken in by the welcoming and familiar feel of the gardens and the sense that Whatton is a much-cherished family home.

Seek out an event in the East Midlands

There are few better places to watch an outdoor cinema screening, attend a rock concert, peruse a flower market, or enjoy a play than in the house or grounds of a historic house or garden. The East Midlands, with their high concentration of such places, plays host to a huge variety of special and unique events that will live long in the memory. Take a look at our events page to see events in the East Midlands.

Lincolnshire

Burghley House, Stamford

Built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, the main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first floors.

There are more than 80 lesser rooms and numerous halls, corridors, bathrooms and service areas. The lead roof extends to three quarters of an acre, restoration and rebuilding of which began in 1983 and took nearly ten years to complete.

Doddington Hall, Doddington

Doddington is a much-loved family home, built between 1593 and 1600 by Robert Smythson for Thomas Tailor, who was a lawyer, the Recorder to the Bishop of Lincoln.

Visitors are able to explore not only the Hall and Gardens but also the Bike Shop, Café, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Home Store, Farrow & Ball and Country Clothing Store.

Easton Walled Gardens, Grantham

Since 2001, Ursula and Fred Cholmeley have restored this ancient garden from an overgrown wilderness to the nationally important garden it once was.

The restoration continues year on year with innovative new planting schemes and currently includes herbaceous borders, roses, sweet peas, spring bulbs, cutflower and vegetable gardens set off by limestone buildings and surrounded by beautiful parkland.

Elsham Hall, Brigg

Elsham Hall Gardens and Country Park offers beautiful lakeside gardens, a contemporary walled garden, an adventure playground and a variety of animals and birds.

The Walled Garden is a magnificent 4 acre site which has been excitingly re-landscaped. Originally a private garden for cultivating flowers, fruit and vegetables for the ‘big’ house it is now a contemporary garden to be enjoyed by all.

Grimsthorpe Castle, Bourne

Grimsthorpe Castle sits amongst rolling Lincolnshire countryside surrounded by gardens, extensive historic woodland and a 50-acre lake.

Descendants of the deer that King Henry VIII hunted now roam the parkland, grazing under ancient oaks. Enjoy the chance to soak up the atmosphere and ‘Spirit of Place’ in a Castle that has been home to the same family since 1516 and is filled with fine furniture, paintings and tapestries.

Scawby Hall, Brigg

Scawby Hall is a Grade 1-listed, Jacobean manor house that was first begun by Richard Nelthorpe (1569-1640) in 1603 and has been lived in by members of the Nelthorpe family ever since.

The house has been expanded and remodelled by successive generations. In 1792, upon the sale of Baysgarth Hall in Barton-upon-Humber, Scawby Hall became the main residence in Lincolnshire of the Nelthorpe family.

Northamptonshire

Althorp, Northampton

Althorp is a Grade I listed stately home and estate in the civil parish of Althorp, in Daventry District, Northamptonshire, England of about 13,000 acres. By road it is about 6 miles northwest of the county town of Northampton and about 75 miles northwest of central London.

Boughton House, Kettering

Boughton is both a family home and one of Britain’s grandest and best-preserved stately homes. The house is renowned for its outstanding collections of fine art, furniture, tapestries, porcelain and carpets.

Visitors can view a magnificent range of paintings by great artists, including The Adoration of the Shepherds by El Greco, Gainsborough’s, more than forty grisailles and portraits by Van Dyck, and Breaking Cover by John Wootton to name but a few.

Cottesbrooke Hall, Cottesbrooke

Cottesbrooke Hall is a fine red brick and stone Queen Anne house, begun in 1702. It contains English and Continental furniture and porcelain, and a renowned picture collection – particularly of sporting and equestrian subjects.

In the tranquil Wild Garden, laid out around a stream, you can enjoy wild flowers, specimen acers, bamboos and gunneras. The more formal gardens surrounding the Hall are a series of individually planted ‘rooms’.

Deene Park historic house with garden bridge

Deene Park, Corby

Deene Park has been the home of the Brudenell family for 500 years since 1514 and was the seat of the 7th Earl of Cardigan who led the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854.

The house has grown in size as generations have made their own mark through the years, providing the visitor with an interesting yet complementary mixture of styles.

Visit the East Midlands without a car

While your first thought might be to jump in a car and drive over to the houses and gardens you see here, we’re really keen to encourage you to think about alternative means of transport to visit these wonderful places. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Good Journey to help you design more sustainable routes for your trip to historic houses and gardens. Take a look at their website for further information.

...also in Northamptonshire

Holdenby House, Northampton

Once the largest private house in England and subsequently the palace of James I and prison of Charles I, Holdenby has appeared in the BBC’s acclaimed adaptations of Great Expectations and The Woman in White.

Sitting on a hill overlooking 2,000 acres of rolling countryside, its suite of elegant state rooms open onto beautiful Grade I-listed gardens making it an enchanting and ever popular venue for weddings.

Kelmarsh Hall, Northampton

Built in 1732, successive owners and influences have left their imprint on this elegant Palladian style home.

From noted antiquarian William Hanbury to banker and horse-racing enthusiasts Richard Naylor, each resident’s stories can be found within the hall; but none more so than Nancy Lancaster, ‘ doyenne of the Country House style’ or the servants working and living ‘below stairs’ and in the laundry.

Lamport Hall, Northampton

Nestled in the Northamptonshire countryside, and yet only a short drive from the motorway network, Lamport has a story worth hearing.

A Tudor founder, blind book collector, wayward 17th-century grand tourist, eccentric Victorian, Hollywood actor, commanding wives and dedicated daughters – Lamport is full of characters.

Sulgrave Manor, near Banbury

Sulgrave Manor was built in 1539 for Tudor wool merchant Lawrence Washington, a direct ancestor of George Washington, the future first President of the United States.

It remained in the ownership of the Washington family for only two generations, and was sold out of the family in 1659. Substantial alterations were made to the house in the 18th century and during the following century it was inhabited by a succession of tenant farmers.

Nottinghamshire

Holme Pierrepont Hall, Nottingham

Holme Pierrepont Hall is the earliest brick building in Nottinghamshire, built by Sir William Pierrepont in 1500 and still lived in by his descendants.

The house is set in Parkland and Gardens, ten or so minutes from the middle of Nottingham, yet in a rural setting, as part of a hamlet that once was the centre of a large estate.

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26 Best Places to Visit in the Midlands, England

Last Updated 20 March 2024

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Best Places to Visit in the Midlands: erwent Dam - Peak District

Over the last few years, many of us have been planning holidays a little closer to home. I’ve always been a big advocate for travel at home as well as overseas, so I couldn’t be happier! If you want to explore a few new places in England, this guide to the best places to visit in the Midlands is a good place to start.

I’ve rounded up recommendations from a bunch of great bloggers, many of them local to the area. Plus I’ve also included a few of my own suggestions, to create a bumper list of all the most spectacular places to explore in the East and West Midlands. As well as the famous Peak District, of course! Enjoy…

Places to Visit in the Peak District, Midlands

11 places to visit in the west midlands, 10 places to visit in the east midlands, places to visit in the midlands: map, peak district national park.

Recommended by: Maja, Away with Maja

The Peak District National Park is the oldest national park in the UK, and one of the best places to visit in the Midlands. This is a great destination for outdoor adventures: hiking, camping, cycling, rock climbing, and more!

Peak District - best places to visit in the midlands

The Peak District is home to some picturesque and charming villages like Castleton, Bakewell, and Eyam. There’s also stunning scenery like Curbar Edge, the Roaches, and the Dragon’s Back (Chrome Hill and Parkhouse Hill).

Chatsworth Hall and Haddon Hall are two magnificent stately homes if you’d prefer history to outdoor adventures. Having a car is the best way to get around, although there are some train connections and a local bus network should you be visiting by public transportation.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Derbyshire and Peak District Day Trip from Manchester

Recommended by: Roshni, The Wanderlust Within

castleton - Places to Visit in the Midlands

The small chocolate-box village of Castleton is one of the best places to visit in the Midlands. Situated in Hope Valley in Derbyshire, this quaint spot is a favourite for walks in the Peak District as it is home to Mam Tor and Winnats Pass, two popular hikes in the area.

Castleton is also home to the 11th-century ruins of Peveril Castle, one of England’s first Norman fortresses. Castleton village is particularly known for its show caves. There are three in close proximity that are rated some of the best in the country. A visit to Castleton isn’t complete without visiting the quaint village centre and enjoying a traditional afternoon tea at one of the tea rooms.

Recommended by: Tracy, Tracy’s Travels in Time

The popular market town of Bakewell is located in the beautiful Peak District in Derbyshire. Bakewell is perfect for a day out or for a longer break if you wish to explore the area. Chatsworth House estate is only a few miles from the town and there are lots of hiking trails and walks across the local area.

Monday is market day in Bakewell. Visit on the third Saturday of the month for the popular farmer’s market where you will find a large variety of local produce for sale. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample a Bakewell Pudding when in the town. I recommend the Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop . There is a café upstairs which is great for lunch or afternoon tea.

Ashford in the Water

Recommended by: Stacy, What Stacy Did

Nestled on the banks of the River Wye, Ashford-in-the-Water is one of the most picturesque villages in the Peak District. Just 2 miles out of Bakewell, it is a wonder that this idyllic village is still relatively hidden from the tourist radar.

The village is made up of beautiful stone cottages around a green space at its centre. My favourite time of year to visit is in late spring, when the cottages are adorned with roses and flower baskets.

The main attraction for most visitors though is the old sheep wash bridge crossing the River Wye. This was named the best place in England for a game of Poohsticks by Visit England! Whatever your preference, you won’t be able to deny the charm of Ashford-in-the-Water. I’m sure it will leave you wanting to explore more of the Peak District.

Pilsley and Chatsworth

Recommended by: Izzy & Phil, The Gap Decaders

Pilsley is a charming and quaint village on the Chatsworth estate just a mile from Chatsworth Park itself. It’s a great place to visit if you’re holidaying nearby. Chatsworth is one of the best-known historic houses in the Midlands and a must-see in the Peak District! Several well-known movies, including Pride and Prejudice, have been filmed at the estate.

The honeyed stone cottages of Pilsley, many of which are lived in by estate workers at Chatsworth, are set around a traditional green in the centre of the village and boast the most colourful and well cared for gardens.

Head to the Devonshire Arms, a traditional pub serving great food. The Chatsworth House Farm Shop is a great place to buy local and homegrown treats. There are some superb views from the village, to Chatsworth Park and the Derwent Valley.

RECOMMENDED TOUR: 3-Day Yorkshire Dales and Peak District Tour from Manchester

Stratford Upon Avon

Recommended by: Anuradha from Country Hopping Couple

Located in the heart of England along River Avon, Stratford Upon Avon is a perfect place to visit if you are an ardent fan of Shakespeare and English literature. After all, this was the birthplace of the eternal poet! Naturally, the town has been attracting art and theatre fanatics for more than 250 years.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a registered charity that manages all the houses relating to Shakespeare in and around Stratford Upon Avon. It includes Shakespeare’s Birthplace , Anne Hathway Cottage & Gardens, Nash’s House & New Place, Mary Arden’s Farm and Hall’s Croft. Spend the rest of the day along River Avon. You could even hire a traditional canal boat to really make the most of this picturesque river.

Recommended by: Samantha, The Wandering Wanderluster

Birmingham is England’s second-biggest city and one of the best places to visit in the Midlands if you’re looking for a fun and cultured day out for all the family. The city wins no prizes for its looks, but there’s much to see, do and explore.

Dine at one of Birmingham’s 5 Michelin-starred restaurants, break the bank by visiting the biggest shopping centre in Europe, or take a guided city centre walking tour to discover local history. You could also head to the popular family attraction of Cadbury World that sits just outside the city for a fun family trip.

For those interested in Birmingham’s industrial history, a boat ride along the city’s huge canal system or a stroll through the historic Jewellery quarter is an insightful reminder of the city’s Victorian past.

Recommended by: Faith, XYU and Beyond

Kenilworth castle-with-view-of-gardens - Places to Visit in the Midlands

Kenilworth is one of those lovely English villages that dates back to the Domesday Book. The Town itself makes for a perfect day out, with its fabulous boutique shops and perfect cafes to have an afternoon tea break. There’s also the Michelin-starred restaurant The Cross, as well as Kenilworth Castle to visit.

Kenilworth Castle is an imposing red sandstone ruin just on the edge of Kenilworth Town. It’s famous for being the home of Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester who was in love with Queen Elizabeth. CLICK HERE to check ticket prices and book.

Kenilworth is a stunningly beautiful castle, even though much of it has gone to ruin. There are walking trails, grand manor houses and exquisite gardens to visit all within easy reach of the town.

Ironbridge Gorge

Recommended by: Sally Akins, The Getaway Guide

With beautiful landscapes and fascinating history, the Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire is a fabulous destination for a day trip or a longer visit. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known as “the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution”.

There’s something for everyone in Ironbridge . The 10 museums in the Ironbridge Gorge explain the area’s history, and some of them are particularly fun to visit with children.

For a more active break, the Shropshire countryside is perfect for exploring on foot or by bike. Or get a different perspective of the area from the River Severn on a raft tour or in a hired kayak.

You’ll also find plenty of quirky shops to browse, and excellent independent bars and restaurants.

Royal Leamington Spa

Recommended by: Vikki, Family Travel with Ellie

I discovered the beautiful town of Royal Leamington Spa way back when I was a student at Warwickshire College. When my parents came to visit, we would enjoy browsing the lovely array of quality shops, and dining in the gorgeous cafes.

Interestingly, Leamington achieved its “Royal “status from Queen Victoria in 1838. A key attraction is the “Royal Pump Room and Baths”.

Fascinatingly, the spa waters were historically known for helping preserve meat and were also believed to cure rabies. A path leading into the River Leam was used by circus people to bathe their animals, including elephants, and much to my daughter’s delight, the Elephant Wash path is still there today.

Cannock Chase

Recommended by: Karen, Marvellous Middle England

Cannock Chase, located between Stafford and Cannock, is the UK’s smallest mainland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This makes it the perfect “off the beaten path” outdoor space to explore, as the crowds flock to its famous neighbours. Don’t let its title fool you, Cannock Chase is home to miles of hiking, biking and running trails, there always seems to be somewhere new to explore.

Thrill-seekers must try the Go Ape high ropes adventure located at Birches Valley Forest Centre, while history fans will love a hike around the many war memorials.

I highly recommend ending your visit with a stay at one of their Forest campsites – the Safari pods offer the perfect opportunity to sleep under the stars.

Recommended by: Kat, Wandering Bird

If you’re looking for places to visit in the Midlands, add Warwick to your list. This beautiful town sits on the banks of the River Avon and is overshadowed by the famous Warwick Castle- founded by William the Conqueror.

The history in the entire area is incredible and Warwick is full of cute cobbled streets and timber-framed buildings which give the entire town a fantastic atmosphere. There are also some brilliant cafes, pubs and restaurants as well as lots of modern and unique shops to explore.

Warwick is also famous for its racecourse. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a motorhome trip , there is a campsite right in the centre with great views of the racing!

RECOMMENDED TOUR: Warwick Castle Day Trip from London

Recommended by: Ania, The Travelling Twins

Shrewsbury is an ancient shire town in the West Midlands. My favourite place in England, with its higgledy-piggledy medieval street plan, narrow passages, and quirky timber frame buildings. They house a variety of pubs, local shops, restaurants and charity shops – those always have a great selection of books.

Shrewsbury is almost completely surrounded by a meander of the River Severn – the longest river in the UK. It wraps around the Old Town and the Quarry – a beautiful 29-acre park. This is the perfect place to unwind after sightseeing and shopping. Talking of the river, you can go for a boat ride or rent a kayak and admire Shrewsbury’s skyline and the magnificent Shropshire scenery from the water.

Recommended by: Dagney from Cultura Obscura

Coventry best places to visit in the midlands

Despite being a major city, Coventry remains off the beaten path for tourists. This is a real shame because Coventry has much to offer! After all, it was voted the UK City of Culture for 2021, a title it most certainly deserves! And you can learn all about why at the city’s numerous museums, including the Coventry Transport Museum and Herbert Art Museum.

For history enthusiasts, one of the top Coventry attractions is the Old Coventry Cathedral, which was completely destroyed by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) during the Blitz in 1940. It was never restored, but today visitors can explore the ruins and learn more about the Blitz’s effect on the city.

Malvern Hills

Although the Peak District is the best-known countryside area in the Midlands, it’s far from the only one! Over in Worcestershire and Herefordshire, the Malvern Hills are an AONB where the numerous hills provide some of the most impressive views in the country.

As well as beautiful landscapes and the quaint English countryside, the Malverns are also known for their idyllic towns and villages. Among them is Malvern itself, a Victorian spa town known for its supposedly healing well waters. While the countryside of the Hills is the perfect place to enjoy walking – whether it’s a gentle stroll or a hardcore hike!

The City of Hereford straddles the banks of the River Wye and amidst the stunning countryside of Herefordshire. It might be a city, but there’s certainly a slower pace of life to enjoy here. Take a stroll along the river, immerse yourself in the historic architecture, or pay a visit to the nearby cattle market for a taste of traditional country life.

Herefordshire is well known for its farm produce, so be sure to try some of the local food – such as Hereford beef, cider, perry, and potatoes. Don’t miss a trip to the Cide Museum to find out how the county’s famous “golden amber” is made!

Recommended by: Mark at Wyld Family Travel

Leicester - best places to visit in the east midlands

Leicester lies in the east midlands, home to a little over 350,000 people. Leicester is most well known in recent years for its football team The Foxes, who pulled off a miracle when winning the Premier League title in 2016.

Today Leicester draws tourists to multiple attractions in the city centre. You can visit the National Space Museum which is full of rackets and spaceships. You can visit the site Richard 111 was found. Richard was found buried under a car park in Leicester city centre. Leicester Cathedral today houses the remains of Richard.

Leicester has a long history dating back to Roman times. The remains of the baths of Roman Leicester can be seen at the Jewry Wall. Roman Leicester was an important point on the road north to Lincoln for the armies of Rome.

Mablethorpe

Recommended by: Suzy – Yorkshire to do with Kids

Mablethorpe is a seaside resort on the Lincolnshire coastline in the East Midlands. We love that all the main attractions are close together. There’s so much to do in Mablethorpe!

One of our favourites is the sand train – which also goes in the sea for part of the return journey! The beach stretches for miles and it is golden and clean. There are fish and chips to be munched on and donkey rides to be found. Plus there’s a great mini theme park with rides for all, crazy golf galore and a boating lake.

Recommended by: Steph & Lewis from Book it Let’s Go!

Nottingham is a vibrant city full of history, culture, and legends. There are many things to do in Nottingham that make it worth visiting. From the hand-carved caves under the city that have had many uses over the years, and some are still used today… to Nottingham Castle and Sherwood Forest for the legend of Robin Hood.

Nottingham is great for couples or families and there are ample green spaces to enjoy. The most famous is Wollaton Hall, which has free-roaming red and fallow deer. This stunning property was also featured in the 2012 movie Batman Begins.

Nottingham has many cultural events throughout the year including Nottingham Pride, Nottingham Mela and Nottingham Carnival which celebrate traditional Indian and Caribbean cultures, respectively.

Sherwood Forest

No trip to the Midlands is complete without visiting the famous Sherwood Forest . Known for being the home of Robin Hood, this protected forest has been a “legend in the making for over 1000 years”. The forest is filled with giant ancient oaks, such as the celebrated Major Oak. This gnarled old tree has been standing for around 800-1100 so it’s seen a lot of English history!

There are miles of walks and trails around the forest to suit all ages and abilities. They also host many events and guided walks throughout the year.

Chesterfield

Recommended by: Allison, Urbanite Diary

Chesterfield is a historic market town in Derbyshire, renowned for one of the largest open-air markets in England. Chesterfield Market has been trading for over 800 years – since the town received its market charter in 1204 from King John.

The most iconic landmark of Chesterfield is The Church of St Mary and All Saints, also known as the Crooked Spire, made famous for its twisted and leaning spire, an architectural phenomenon built over 657 years ago in 1362. Although science has since explained this twisting, some folklores still believe that it was caused by the Devil!

Other interesting things to do include visits to Chesterfield Canal, Hardwick Hall and Bolsover Castle.

Silverstone

Recommended by: Darek, Darek and Gosia

One of the most unique places to visit in the Midlands is the Silverstone Circuit. The track is located 30 miles northeast of Oxford , near the town of Silverstone.

As home to the iconic British Grand Prix, the circuit has to be visited by any Formula 1 fan. Watch an F1 race, visit the Silverstone Experience or try your driving skills in a single-seater.

The Silverstone circuit is one of the oldest racing facilities not only in Europe but also in the world. Many drivers call it the “Temple of Motorsport” so this really must be one of the best places to visit in the Midlands!

Although not as well known as some of the other cities in the Midlands, Lincoln is one of the best places to visit in the area. This historic city is known for its medieval cathedral, which towers over the red brick houses of the surrounding historic quarter. From 1311-1549 this was the tallest building in the world!

During the Second World War, Lincoln was the heart of “bomber country”. The city was home to numerous air bases and Lincoln Cathedral was a popular navigational beacon. You can explore this history at various museums, as well as the new International Bomber Command Centre which opened in 2018.

Recommended by: Angharad, This Bristol Brood

Visiting the eye-popping-ly picturesque market town of Stamford in Lincolnshire is a bit like walking into a Pride and Prejudice movie (incidentally the Keira Knightley version was filmed here). Cobbled streets, narrow alleyways, a meandering river, 600 listed buildings and a spire-filled skyline (there are a total of 11 churches) imbue the town with an olde worlde charm that has remained unchanged for centuries.

No first-time visit is complete without a visit to Burghley House, which hosts the annual Burghley Horse Trials. Vast grounds surround the mansion, however, the magical Sculpture Garden is well worth paying to explore.

You should also make sure to pay a visit to The George Hotel – an atmospheric old coaching inn – for afternoon tea, grand ice creams or impossibly festive decorations and roaring log fires at Christmas.

Recommended by: Helen on her Holidays

Water intake at mill in Cromford, England

Cromford is a small village in Derbyshire, only a few miles from the Peak District. These days it’s a tranquil place, but 250 years ago it was a busy hub of innovation. The inventor and entrepreneur Richard Arkwright chose Cromford for his revolutionary spinning mill – the first water-powered mill anywhere in the world.

Today Arkwright’s Cromford Mills form part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mills are open for visitors and you can also take a guided tour.

When you visit Cromford Mills, don’t miss visiting the village centre. The old mill pond in the middle of the village is really pretty – you might even see a kingfisher.

Lincolnshire Wolds

Last, but by no means least, the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB is definitely one of the best places to visit in the East Midlands. This is a sprawling area of quaint English countryside , boasting some of the most beautiful and unspoilt scenery in the East Midlands.

With rolling hills, hidden valleys, gentle streams and picturesque villages, there’s a lot of beauty to explore.

This is also the highest land in eastern England between Kent and Yorkshire, so there are some fabulous views of the coast in the east and the Pennines in the west! Perfect for hiking, rambling, cycling, horse riding, or simply village-hopping… don’t miss this gorgeous AONB in the East Midlands.

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Are there any more places to visit in the Midlands of England that you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments!

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26 of the Best Places to Visit in the Midlands England

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Central England and the Midlands

A view of Lincoln Cathedral at dusk from the Castle.

Visit Central England to see areas of outstanding natural beauty, the home of William Shakespeare, and England’s second city, Birmingham. Central England is a place steeped in art, history, and culture. See one of Britain’s architectural jewels, Lincoln Cathedral, or visit the hometown of William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can also see the inspirations for one of his most beloved plays, the battlefields and tomb of Richard III in Leicestershire. It’s not all history though, with the Peak District, cosmopolitan Birmingham, and the traditional seaside resort of Skegness there’s guaranteed to be plenty going on when you visit.

In this section

Explore Central England and the Midlands

Looking for places to visit in Central England? Why not go climbing and hiking in the Peak District, see the famous Cathedral in Lincoln, or enjoy yourself in England’s second biggest city, Birmingham.

Explore streets lined with Victorian redbrick houses leading to heritage museums, mega arenas and space-age stores, with barges drifting down sleepy canals.

Man smiling at Coventry's independent Fargo Village

With tempting street food, a thriving arts scene and a groundbreaking cathedral, Coventry has shaken off its industrial roots to become 2021's UK's City of Culture.

Chatsworth House in the Peak District, a famous historical landmark.

Looking for things to do in Derbyshire? This East Midlands county is all about the great outdoors with its national park of craggy peaks, sweeping hills, and vast swathes of dense untamed woodland.

The River Wye crossed by a stone bridge and Hereford Cathedral in the near distance

Herefordshire

Visit Herefordshire to see areas of outstanding natural beauty, one of England’s most filmed country manors, and sample some of the best cider in the world.

Leicestershire

Looking for things to do in Leicestershire? With a mix of exciting city life, wild countryside, and a surprising amount of water for an inland county, Leicestershire has something to offer for everyone.

Lincoln has a catchy vibrancy you'll find in the Cathedral Quarter streets lined with half-timbered houses, farmers' and arts markets in city squares and marina bars bursting with conversation.

Lincolnshire

Looking for things to do in Lincolnshire? There are bracing North Sea beaches, undulating glacier-carved landscapes, and cathedral cities, all for you to explore.

Northamptonshire

Visit Northamptonshire to see nature at its finest. Elizabethan mansions perched in romantic deer parks, sleepy canals, and earls’ residences hidden in English farmland.

Medieval castles, royal concert halls, bustling shopping areas and underground caves. Nottingham is cultural on so many levels. Start your Robin Hood trail at the castle with its towers and gatehouses.

Nottinghamshire

Visit Nottingham to explore deep forests steeped in folklore and medieval castles that conjure up the legends of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Dark Age-era underground caves, and the National Water Sports Centre.

Peak District

Climb to the tallest peak and take in panoramas across dales and moors in the Peak District National Park. You'll stumble upon canals, secret caves, natural springs and woodlands on the way.

Visit Rutland to see its impressive nature reserves bursting with birdlife and country houses. Rutland may be small, but it makes a big splash with its vast man-made lake Rutland Water being the perfect getaway.

Woman holding shopping bag walking through Shrewsbury Square

Visit Shropshire to see the golden age of steam, the industrial revolution, and areas of outstanding natural beauty. This landlocked western county has it all, with a UNESCO World Heritage Site to cap it all off.

“Skeggy” – as it’s affectionately known – has all the hallmarks of a traditional English seaside resort. The donkey rides, the pier, the crazy golf. But there's yet more to this Lincolnshire town.

Staffordshire

Visit Staffordshire to see England’s glorious industrial heritage, miles of canals, and haunted castles which will keep you on your toes. For thrill-seekers it's also the home of Alton Towers theme park.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Immerse yourself in everything Shakespeare in this riverside market town. Start your days behind the scenes at his timbered birthplace museum or at his wife's quaint thatched cottage.

Warwickshire

Looking for things to do in Warwickshire? With the horrible histories of Warwick Castle, the home of William Shakespeare, and the birthplace of rugby, Warwickshire is never short of activity and adventure.

The Jewellery Quarter. Historic buildings of the Georgian square, St Paul's Square. Clock Tower.

West Midlands

The heart of England is always a bustling hive of artistic activity. Enjoy ballet or comedy at the Birmingham Hippodrome and stand in awe at baroque architecture and an impressive collection of pre-Raphaelite art.

Worcestershire

Visit Worcestershire for ornate cathedrals, glorious hills, and towns sitting on spring water wells. This western county boasts a rare architectural ensemble at Worcester Cathedral and wooded nature reserves.

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Novo-peredelkino.

Visit Novo-Peredelkino

Popular places to visit.

You can learn about the history of Moscow with a trip to Red Square. Experience the area's fascinating museums and acclaimed theater scene.

Moscow Kremlin

Visit the most iconic square in Russia, which is bordered by many of the city’s most famous landmarks.

St. Basil's Cathedral

Think of Russia and you probably picture this iconic building, whose onion-shaped domes overlook the Moscow skyline.

Bolshoi Theatre

A centerpiece of the Russian arts scene, this theater’s magnificent auditorium and top-tier productions will impress even the most jaded theatergoer.

Lenin's Mausoleum

Mourners and curious visitors stream to the grave to see the embalmed Vladimir Lenin, the famous revolutionary and one-time leader of the Soviet Union.

Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy

Learn about the events happening at Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy during your trip to Moscow. Wander the parks and gardens while you're in the area.

Check Novo-Peredelkino hotel availability

Other neighbourhoods around novo-peredelkino.

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Moskovskiy and surrounding area, you can visit Vnukovo Airport Public Museum of Battle and Labor Glory and State Memorial Museum of Bulat Okudzhava.

Rumyantsevo

While Rumyantsevo might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Prince Plaza and Orlov Museum of Paleontology.

Western Administrative Okrug

If you're spending time in Western Administrative Okrug, check out sights like Victory Park or Museum of the Great Patriotic War and hop on the metro to see more the city at Yugo-Zapadnaya Station or Prospekt Vernadskogo Station.

Tyoply Stan District

While you're in Tyoply Stan District, take in top sights like Troparevsky Forest Park and jump on the metro at Konkovo Station to see more of the city.

Konkovo District

While you're in Konkovo District, take in top sights like Orlov Museum of Paleontology and jump on the metro at Belyayevo Station to see more of the city.

South-Western Administrative Okrug

While you're in South-Western Administrative Okrug, take in top sights like Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Uzkoye or Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, and hop on the metro to see more the city at Konkovo Station or Yasenevo Station.

Places of interest
Hotels in top Moscow neighborhoods
Other vacations you might like
Crocus City Hall
Armoury Chamber
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Victory Park
New Tretyakov Gallery - Museum of Modern Art
Minin and Pozharsky Monument
Sparrow Hills

Other Hotels near Novo-Peredelkino, Moscow

Moskovskiy Hotels
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Novomoskovsky Administrative Okrug Hotels
Rasskazovka Hotels
Solntsevo Hotels
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Things to do

I only need accommodations for part of my trip

Things to Do in Elektrostal, Russia - Elektrostal Attractions

Things to do in elektrostal.

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4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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Good for Kids
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Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Electrostal History and Art Museum

2. Statue of Lenin

3. Park of Culture and Leisure

4. museum and exhibition center.

5. Museum of Labor Glory

7. Galereya Kino

8. viki cinema, 9. smokygrove.

10. Gandikap

11. papa lounge bar, 12. karaoke bar.

Statue of Lenin
Electrostal History and Art Museum
Park of Culture and Leisure
Museum and Exhibition Center
Museum of Labor Glory

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26 Places to Visit in the Midlands, England
10 Best Things to Do in East Midlands
26 Places to Visit in the Midlands, England
The East Midlands Travel Guide
East Midlands
26 Places to Visit in the Midlands, England

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12 Most Beautiful Places in The East Midlands to Visit
Discover the timeless charm of Ashford in the Water, one of the most beautiful places in The East Midlands. 2. Bakewell. Bakewell is a market town that's as sweet as the famous tart it gave birth to. The Bakewell Tart, a delightful concoction of jam, frangipane, and almonds, is a must-try when you're in town.
Things to Do in East Midlands
See way to experience (1) 2023. 7. Poole's Cavern & Buxton Country Park. 1,959. Nature & Wildlife Areas. Poole's Cavern is the most spectacular natural cavern in the Peak District. The cavern is famous for the spectacular and unique crystal formations including the longest stalactite formation in the region.
Top 10 places to visit in the East Midlands
Eyam is famous as the plague village whose self-imposed quarantine prevented the spread of the Black Death but to the deaths of 260 villagers. Visit the museum in Eyam to learn more. Edale is located at the start of the famous Pennine Way walking trail. Stretching for over 268 miles the trail ends in Kirk Yetholm near the Scottish border.
10 Best Days Out in the East Midlands
2. Day out at Warwick Castle. Warwick Castle is firmly on our list of the most fascinating castles in England to visit, which makes it one of the best days out in the East Midlands in our book. A day out at Warwick Castle offers the chance to uncover over 1,100 years of history, as you explore one of Britain's best medieval fortresses and all ...
11 Interesting & Beautiful Places to Visit in the East Midlands
Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park. While Wollaton Hall is actually located in Nottingham, we believe it deserves its own entry as one of the best places to visit in the East Midlands. It's an impressive and stately 16th-century Elizabethan country house surrounded by parkland. Wollaton Hall was famously used for exterior shots of Wayne ...
10 BEST Days Out in the East Midlands: My Top Picks (2024)
10. Family-Friendly Museums and Galleries in the East Midlands. The East Midlands houses a diverse range of museums and galleries that cater to families and people of all ages. Chatsworth House is a gorgeous stately home in Derbyshire. With immaculate grounds and lavish interior design, it's a great place to come for a day out.
The 10 Most Charming Towns in the East Midlands
A TravelMag survey of UK travel experts has revealed the ten most charming towns in the East Midlands. We invited 100 travel writers, photographers and selected professionals to name the towns they consider the most appealing. Those surveyed were asked to name their three favourites - with populations between 3,000 and 50,000 - before we […]
Visit East Midlands
Legendary Summer 2023. Experience legendary drama at one of our blockbuster historical events taking place across the country this summer. From lavish houses and palaces to invigorating walks and spectacular views from hilltop castles, a day out in the East Midlands is an adventure for all the family this season.
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These are the best places for kid-friendly sights & landmarks in East Midlands: Gridline Racing Indoor Karting Centre; TeamSport E-Karting Nottingham; Catanger Llamas; Charnwood Forest Alpacas; The Alpaca Centre at JandJ Alpacas; See more sights & landmarks for children in East Midlands on Tripadvisor
THE 10 BEST East Midlands Scenic Walking Areas
THE 10 BEST East Midlands Scenic Walking Areas. We perform checks on reviews. 1. Dovedale Stepping Stones. ... walk along the river dove and past the stepping stones is a joy, beautiful scenery everywhere, well worth a visit. 2. Lovers' Walk. Lovers Walk along the escarpment edge, electrifying, stunning views, sweet tasting clean air, on top of ...
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Places to visit in East Midlands. Top Things to Do in East Midlands, England. Places to Visit in East Midlands. Enter dates. Attractions. ... (for the day). A great place for families and some good interaction displays and dressing up. Read more. Review of: Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre. Written 9 April 2024. This review is the ...
The East Midlands Travel Guide
The Lincolnshire coast. Heading east from Lincoln on the A158, it's about forty miles to Skegness, the county's biggest - and brightest - resort.From here, a thick band of bungalows, campsites and caravans marches up along the seashore beside and behind a sandy beach that extends, with a few marshy interruptions, north to Mablethorpe and ultimately Cleethorpes.
The 24 Best Historic Houses in the East Midlands
Burghley House, Stamford. Built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, the main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first floors. There are more than 80 lesser rooms and numerous halls, corridors, bathrooms and service areas.
THE 30 BEST Places to Visit in East Midlands (UPDATED 2024)
Places to Visit in East Midlands. Explore popular experiences. See what other travellers like to do, based on ratings and number of bookings. See All. Bus Tours (5) Full-day Tours (3) Theme Parks (19) ... Good value, great info in the excellent outdoor tour of the cathedral. Took the outdoor tour in April 2024 with volunteer guide Les Parker.
East Midlands Places To Visit
East Midlands Places To Visit. DERBYSHIRE - LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND - LINCOLNSHIRE - NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - NOTTINGHAMSHIRE. The rolling landscape of the East Midland were England's traditional 'hunting' counties, in easy reach of the cities of Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham. Many of the key battles of the English Civil War were ...
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Things to Do in East Midlands, England: See Tripadvisor's 2,453,147 traveler reviews and photos of East Midlands attractions. ... you a 12 month return as many times as you want entry), you do have to pay for parking. £2.50 (for the day). A great place for families and some good interaction displays and dressing up. Read more. Review of ...
26 Best Places to Visit in the Midlands, England
Recommended by: Darek, Darek and Gosia. One of the most unique places to visit in the Midlands is the Silverstone Circuit. The track is located 30 miles northeast of Oxford, near the town of Silverstone. As home to the iconic British Grand Prix, the circuit has to be visited by any Formula 1 fan.
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Best Places To Visit in East Midlands. 1. Nottingham: Known for its rich history and vibrant culture, Nottingham is a must-visit city in the East Midlands.Explore the famous Nottingham Castle, which offers stunning views of the city, and delve into the legend of Robin Hood at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre.The city also boasts a thriving arts scene, with numerous galleries and theaters to ...
Explore Central England and the Midlands
Visit Central England to see areas of outstanding natural beauty, the home of William Shakespeare, and England's second city, Birmingham. Central England is a place steeped in art, history, and culture. See one of Britain's architectural jewels, Lincoln Cathedral, or visit the hometown of William Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can also see the inspirations for one of his most ...
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Elektrostal
In 1938, it was granted town status. [citation needed]Administrative and municipal status. Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Elektrostal City Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, Elektrostal City Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Elektrostal Urban Okrug.
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Things to Do in Elektrostal. 1. Electrostal History and Art Museum. 2. Statue of Lenin. 3. Park of Culture and Leisure. 4. Museum and Exhibition Center.
Cheap Flights from Moscow Zhukovsky to East Midlands
Compare and find cheap flight tickets from Moscow (ZIA) to Nottingham (EMA). Book directly with no added fees.

Top 10 places to visit in the East Midlands

Visit the Peak District National Park

Tissington Trail

Cromford Mills ( UNESCO World Heritage Site)

11 Interesting & Beautiful Places to Visit in the East Midlands

Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park

Sherwood Forest

The Peak District

Northampton

Althorp Estate

Melton Mowbray

Chatsworth House

Have we missed any of your favourite places to visit in the East Midlands?

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10 BEST Days Out in the East Midlands: My Top Picks (2024)

Quick Summary: My Favourite 3 Days Out

10 Best Days Out in the East Midlands

1. Exploring the Peak District National Park

2. Theme Park Family Fun

3. Discover Nottingham Castle and Wollaton Hall

4. Leicester’s Space and Science Adventures

5. Uncovering Lincoln’s Rich Heritage

6. Outdoor Activities in the East Midlands

7. A Taste of Market Town Life

8. Wildlife Encounters and Nature Reserves

9. Learn About England’s Industrial Past at Derwent Valley Mills

10. Family-Friendly Museums and Galleries in the East Midlands

FAQs About Things to Do in the East Midlands

Where can I take my 4-year-old in East Midlands?

What is the East Midlands accent?

What is good about the East Midlands?

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Final Thoughts: East Midlands Days Out

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The 10 Most Charming Towns in the East Midlands

Latest Articles

THE 10 BEST East Midlands Scenic Walking Areas

1. Dovedale Stepping Stones

2. Lovers' Walk

3. StarDisc

4. Cascades Gardens

5. Brayford Pool

6. Old Dairy Farm Craft Centre

7. Three Shires Heads

8. Wolfscote Dale

9. Welford Wharf

10. The Hermitage

11. The Stanwick Lakes to Rushden Lakes walk

12. Crich Walk

13. Apple Blossom Yurt At Walcot Hall Estate

14. The Thrapston-Islip walk

15. Erewash Canal

16. Oxendon Tunnels

17. Rufford Abbey

18. Boddington Reservoir

19. Blidworth Woods

20. King's Cliffe Walk

21. Easton Labyrinth and Peace Garden

22. Beaurepaire Garden

23. The Green Line

25. Hazel & Thoroughsale Woods

26. The River Nene Walk

27. Belper Walks

28. Spa Trail

29. The Big Track

The East Midlands Travel Guide

Around Northampton

Tailor-made travel itineraries for England, created by local experts

Fotheringhay

Breedon-on-the-Hill

Church of St Mary and St Hardulph

Brief history

Leicester festivals

The Lincoln imp

The Lincolnshire Fens

Long Sutton