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England > Heart of England > Leicestershire

(*All images on this page are LINKED to their own appropriate web sites)

Click on the headings to find out more: Leicestershire has many interesting towns and plenty of history. Jordon's Quaker Meeting House (two miles from Beaconsfield) was built in 1688 and arguably the most famous Quaker, Sir William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania) is buried in the graveyard. Nearby is the Mayflower Barn, which is said to be built with timber from the famous Pilgrim Father's ship.

Leicester (pronounced Lester) dates back to Roman times and was where Shakespeare decided King Lear and his daughters should live. World War II bombs and subsequent blinkered architects did much to destroy the town's character, however the 90s saw a real regeneration of the city with extensive new building and regeneration projects

There is a large Asian community in Leicester, which means there are Hindu, Jain, Moslem and Sikh temples and festivals as well as some great places to eat.


The Jain Centre (corner of Oxford St and York Rd) is marble inside and out and has a forest of beautifully carved pillars. The Luddite riots took place in Leicester from 1811 to 1816. They were protesting over the introduction of modern production methods and took their name from an apprentice and part-time village idiot, Ned Ludd. If Ned were around today he'd probably be hurling laptops from windows screaming, "This Internet thing will never catch on!"


All of Leicester's museums have free entry. The Museum of Leicestershire Archeology is home to Roman mosaics and frescoes and is next to the remains of a Roman bath. The adjacent Jewry Wall is one of the country's largest Roman civil structures. The Leicester Museum and Art Gallery has some Egyptian mummies and other interesting exhibits.


The Newarke Houses Museum has reconstructed period shops and there's a whole room devoted to one Daniel Lambert who was once keeper of the local gaol before he outgrew the position. Despite eating only one meal a day, he weighed in at close to 53 stone aged 39. He died that year (1809) and they had to pull down a wall of his house to remove the coffin and 20 pallbearers were needed to give him a send off.

In Guildhall (next to the cathedral), the old police cells have a copy of the last gibbet used to expose the body of an executed murderer.

Fans of steam locomotives can catch a train from North Leicester to Loughborough Central.


"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse" was the cry from the doomed Richard 3rd after being defeated in the War of the Roses by Henry VII on 22nd August 1485. Bosworth Battlefield is where he said it, just southwest of Leicester at Sutton Cheney.

Between Leicester and Derby is a charming little town with the curious name of Ashby de la Zouch that has a castle worth exploring. There's an underground passageway connecting the tower with the kitchen but you'll need a flashlight or lighter to ward off claustrophobia.


Donington Park (at Castle Donington) hosts the annual British Motorcycle Grand Prix and is home to the Donington Collection (motorcycles and racing cars including the largest collection of Formula One Motor Racing cars in the world.)

Belvoir Castle is a baroque and Gothic fantasy and, for some reason, 'Belvoir' is pronounced 'Beaver'. It is celebrating its 500th Anniversary in 2009 - That' s impressive even for England!
GALLERY
Belvoir Castle built in 1509 celebrates its 500th anniversary in 2009
Bosworth Field - the famous battle of Bosworth - the penultimate battle of War of the Roses, 22nd August 1485 where Richard 3rd, the last king of the House of York was defeated and killed by Henry Tudor, thus starting the Tudor Reign in England
National Space Centre in Leicester
Ivor the engine puffing away on the Battle Field Line Railway
Donington Park-Formula 1 Museum - Stirling Moss F1 Racing Car - Winner 1961 Grand Prix- Donington Park is the largest F1 Motor Museum in the World
Beautiful Foxton Locks
The Berkeley Arms Pub in Wymondham, a quintessentially English Pub with excellent food & a great atmosphere
The famous Wymondham Windmill & Tearooms in Wymondham, a lovely picturesque village in Leicestershire
Lovely St Peters Church in the small picturesque village of Wymondham, Leicestershire