From sci-fi movies to ancient rocks

British breaks: Leicestershire - Great days out in a diverse county


What's on


Watch opera in the open air. In rolling parkland in south Leicestershire, Kilworth House Theatre (kilworthhousetheatre.co.uk) presents exuberant outdoor performances of the Opera Show from 2-13 September.

Taste cheeses, chutneys, beers and more at the East Midlands Food and Drink Festival (eastmidlandsfood festival.co.uk) on 4 and 5 September. Set in Melton Mowbray, the event includes opportunities to sample pork pies as well as somewhat less traditional bison and ostrich.

Meet Darth Vader, Captain Jack Sparrow, Batman and others at the National Space Centre (spacecentre.co.uk) in Leicester on 26 and 27 September. More than 100 costume characters will be present at a sci-fi movie weekend here that will include a special walkthrough movie exhibition.

See some of the best of British sculptures at the Harold Martin Botanic Garden at the University of Leicester (le.ac.uk/botanicgarden). Until 27 September a Celebration of British Sculpture takes place around the landscaped grounds and features 50 works in varying media.

See the sights

Look out for buzzards circling over craggy hills on the new Charnwood Peaks Walk in the rugged Charnwood Forest of north-west Leicestershire (nationalforest.org). The 15-mile hike starts at Bradgate Park and takes you up four peaks. Along the way you'll pass historic deer parks, see some of the oldest rocks in Britain and take in some stunning views.

For gentler walking, enjoy a leisurely stroll around historic Foxton Locks on the Grand Union Canal near Market Harborough (foxtonlocks.com). A 1.5-mile Discovery Trail has recently been devised on which visitors take in the striking landscape and learn about the natural and industrial heritage of the area. As well as the major attraction of a flight of 10 locks dating from 1810, you'll see elegant brick bridges, a lock-keeper's cottage and the remains of a gigantic boat lift.

Or how about a location vacation? Leicestershire is the backdrop to a number of movies: hotspots include Belvoir Castle (belvoircastle.com) near Melton Mowbray, which recently featured in The Young Victoria and also appeared in The Da Vinci Code; while the heritage steam line the Great Central Railway (gcrailway.co.uk) in Loughborough was a location in The Hours and also appears in Cemetery Junction, Ricky Gervais's directorial debut, scheduled to be released in April 2010.

Families can discover Leicestershire for less on a Stay, Play, Explore package (stayplayexplore.co.uk). A short break for a family of four costs as little as £99 and includes entry to three popular attractions.

Further information

For more ideas and accommodation suggestions go to goleicestershire.co.uk

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Independent Travel Videos
Independent Travel Videos
Simon Calder in Amsterdam
Independent Travel Videos
Simon Calder in Giverny
Independent Travel Videos
Simon Calder in St John's
Independent Travel Videos
News in pictures
World news in pictures
       

ES Rentals

    Independent Dating
    and  

    By clicking 'Search' you
    are agreeing to our
    Terms of Use.

    iJobs Job Widget
    iJobs Travel

    Food Technology Teacher

    £26400 - £36000 per annum: Randstad Education Maidstone: An Independant school...

    Travel Consultant - Career In The Travel Industry!! Full Training Provided!!

    £22k-£25k + comm + benefits: Blue Travel Solutions: LOOKING FOR A CAREER IN TH...

    Caribbean Specialists !! Excellent Salary!!!

    £26k-£29k + excellent comm: Blue Travel Solutions: We have a high-end luxury t...

    Travel Agent

    £23000 - £27000 per annum + (£15K + Uncapped Commission & Benefits): Flight Ce...

    Day In a Page

    The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

    The price of pacifism

    From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
    'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

    Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

    To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
    Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

    Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

    Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
    Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

    Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

    If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
    The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

    The experts' guide to summer

    From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
    Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

    Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

    Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
    Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

    Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

    The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
    Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

    Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

    Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
    Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

    Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

    Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
    One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

    One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

    Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in
    The real thing? Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'

    The real thing?

    Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'
    Gordon Ramsey's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

    Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

    The pugnacious chef finally met a shambolic restaurant he couldn't save. John Walsh on when TV makover refuseniks fight back
    Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

    Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

    Glamorous myth of the flight attendant lifestyle undermined by angry employee's claims of 'exploitation'
    Braising saddles: Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it!

    Braising saddles: How to cook horse meat

    Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it! Will Coldwell hoofs it to the kitchen.
    Why bitters are back on the bar: A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails

    Why bitters are back on the bar

    A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails. No wonder we're learning to love them again...