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Photo of Foxton Locks, a landmark in Leicestershire, central England.

Foxton LocksPhoto Archie McDougall / Unsplash

Places to explore near Leicester

Roman Ratae stood where the Fosse Way crossed the River Soar, and Leicester has been a crossroads ever since — a hosiery and engineering city that drew the world's attention when Richard III's lost grave turned up beneath a car park. Charnwood Forest lifts to the north-west, some of England's oldest rock breaking through the fields at Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill, where deer graze among ancient oaks. West lies Bosworth Field, where Richard fell in 1485, and the Grand Union Canal threads south into the Northamptonshire uplands.

86 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 2 are national icons.

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Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of the Grand Union Canal, a 137-mile canal running from Brentford to Birmingham, England.Highlight

Grand Union Canal

Canal

London to Birmingham by water — the trunk route of the canal age, with arms reaching Leicester, Aylesbury, Northampton and Paddington.

0.3 km W · spans 9 counties

Photo of National Space Centre, a visitor attraction in Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

National Space Centre

Attraction near Leicester

Leicester's landmark space museum under a soaring inflated rocket tower, with the UK's largest planetarium.

1.9 km N

Photo of Bradgate Park and Swithland Woods, a country park near Newtown Linford, Leicestershire, central England.Iconic

Bradgate Park and Swithland Woods

Country park near Newtown Linford

Ancient deer park, ruins and folly tower.

6.4 km NW

Photo of Old John, a folly near Newtown Linford, Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

Old John

Folly near Newtown Linford

The stubby 18th-century tower crowning the high point of Bradgate Park, a landmark for miles around.

8.7 km NW

Photo of Wistow Maze, a visitor attraction near Great Glen, Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

Wistow Maze

Attraction near Great Glen

A giant summer maize maze cut to a new design each year, part of the Wistow rural complex south of Leicester.

10.3 km SE

Photo of The Outwoods, a landmark near Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

The Outwoods

Landmark near Woodhouse Eaves

Ancient hillside wood above Loughborough, famous for its spring bluebells and views across Charnwood.

13.3 km NW

Photo of Great Central Railway, a visitor attraction near Quorn, Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

Great Central Railway

Attraction near Quorn

Britain's only double-track heritage main line, running steam and diesel trains between Loughborough and Leicester North.

16.2 km N

Photo of Battlefield of Bosworth Country Park, a country park near Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

Battlefield of Bosworth Country Park

Country park near Market Bosworth

Where Richard III fell and the Tudors rose.

17.7 km W

Photo of Foxton Locks, a landmark in Leicestershire, central England.Iconic

Foxton Locks

Landmark near Foxton

A staircase of ten locks climbing the Grand Union Canal, with the remains of a Victorian boat-lift inclined plane.

18.6 km SE

Photo of Burrough Hill Country Park, a country park near Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

Burrough Hill Country Park

Country park near Burrough on the Hill

A country park in Leicestershire.

18.8 km E

Photo of Battlefield Line Railway, a visitor attraction near Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

Battlefield Line Railway

Attraction near Market Bosworth

Preserved single-track country railway running from Shackerstone past the Bosworth battlefield country.

21 km W

Photo of Hallaton, a village in Leicestershire, central England.Highlight

Hallaton

Village

Conical-spired village of thatch and a butter cross, home to the riotous Easter Monday Bottle Kicking and the Hallaton Treasure hoard.

21.4 km E · Leicestershire

Photo along the Macmillan Way, a 290-mile long-distance path running from Boston to Abbotsbury, England.Highlight

Macmillan Way

Long-distance path

Boston to Abbotsbury down the limestone belt — 290 miles waymarked in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

22 km SE · spans 10 counties

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo of the River Soar, a 24-mile river navigation running from Trent Lock to Leicester, central England.

River Soar

River navigation

Leicestershire's river navigation, winding from the Trent through Loughborough to Leicester's West Bridge.

0.3 km SW · Leicestershire & Nottinghamshire

Photo of St Mary de Castro, Leicester, a church in Leicestershire, central England.

St Mary de Castro, Leicester

Church near Leicester

Grade I collegiate church in the bailey of Leicester Castle, begun in 1107 and rich in Norman detail.

0.5 km S

Photo of Abbey Park, a Grade II* registered house & garden in Leicestershire, central England.

Abbey Park

House & garden near Leicester

A grand Victorian park of 1882, laid out around a medieval abbey's ruins.

1.1 km N

Photo of Watermead Country Park, a country park near Thurcaston, Leicestershire, central England.

Watermead Country Park

Country park near Thurcaston

A country park in Leicestershire.

4.3 km NE

Photo of University of Leicester Botanic Garden, a garden near Oadby, Leicestershire, central England.

University of Leicester Botanic Garden

Garden near Oadby

Sixteen acres of themed beds, glasshouses and mature trees at Oadby, used for teaching and open to the public.

4.6 km SE

Photo of Saffron Hill Cemetery, a Grade II* registered house & garden in Leicestershire, central England.

Saffron Hill Cemetery

House & garden near Leicester

A formal Thomas Mawson cemetery of 1931, with avenues and Georgian-style lodges.

5 km S

Photo of Everards Brewery, a brewery near Enderby, Leicestershire, central England.

Everards Brewery

Brewery near Enderby

Solar-powered brewery at Everards Meadows near Fosse Park, with a Beer Hall taproom and 90-minute brewery tours.

5.7 km SW

Photo of Kirby Muxloe Castle, a ruined castle near Anstey, Leicestershire, central England.

Kirby Muxloe Castle

Castle near Anstey

A medieval castle in Leicestershire.

5.9 km W

Photo of Brocks Hill Country Park, a country park near Great Glen, Leicestershire, central England.

Brocks Hill Country Park

Country park near Great Glen

A country park in Leicestershire.

5.9 km SE

Everything else within 25 km (64) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.