Leicestershire made world headlines when the bones of Richard III, England's last Plantagenet king, were found beneath a Leicester car park and reburied in the cathedral — and the county tells that story superbly. But there's far more to it: the wild bracken and ancient oaks of Bradgate Park, where Lady Jane Grey grew up; the battlefield of Bosworth where the Wars of the Roses ended; and, out east, a fairy-tale castle and the town that gave the world the pork pie and Stilton cheese. This is a gentle two-day weekend of the lot.
The city and museums are easy going; the parks, battlefield and castle involve walking over uneven ground and the odd climb. We note access where it's confirmed and say "not yet checked" where it isn't, rather than guess.
Melton Mowbray is the spiritual home of the pork pie and Stilton — time day two to catch its Tuesday or Saturday market, and buy a proper hand-raised pie from the source.
Day one — Leicester and Bosworth
The Richard III story and its ending. The visitor centre built over the king's grave, the cathedral where he was reburied, the space centre for a change of pace, and the battlefield at Bosworth where his reign ended in 1485.
King Richard III Visitor Centre
The story of Richard III's life, death and astonishing 2012 rediscovery, built over the very grave where he lay for 500 years.
In 2012 archaeologists lifted a council car park in Leicester and found a king, and this centre, built directly over the Greyfriars site, tells that story superbly. One half covers Richard III's life, the Wars of the Roses and his death at Bosworth; the other walks you through the dig and the forensic detective work, from DNA matching to the twisted spine, that proved the identity beyond doubt. The emotional finish is the grave itself, preserved under glass where he lay for over five centuries. Allow a couple of hours, and pair it with the cathedral opposite, where he now rests. It's step-free and well laid out, in the heart of the old town.
Our tip Do the visitor centre first, then cross to the cathedral to see the tomb, the story lands in the right order.
Access
Step-free / wheelchair access
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
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Leicester Cathedral
The medieval church-turned-cathedral where Richard III was reinterred in 2015, freshly restored and at the heart of Leicester's Cathedral Quarter.
Leicester's cathedral is an ancient parish church that grew into a cathedral in the 20th century, and it now holds one of England's most visited modern monuments: the tomb of King Richard III, reinterred here with great ceremony in 2015 after his rediscovery across the road. The tomb itself is starkly beautiful, a block of fossil-flecked Swaledale stone above a deeply cut cross. The building has recently emerged from a major restoration, brighter inside and with new visitor and learning spaces, and the surrounding Cathedral Gardens are a pleasant spot to pause. Entry arrangements are visitor-friendly, but it remains a working church, so check for services before you visit. The Guildhall is next door.
Our tip Look down as well as up, the polished floor around the tomb reflects the light from the east window.
Access
Step-free / wheelchair access Accessible toilets
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
Worth watching
- A wheelchair accessible city break to Leicester Spin AT Lightspeed
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National Space Centre
The UK's biggest space attraction: real rockets in the famous tower, spacecraft, hands-on galleries and a top-class planetarium.
You can see the Space Centre's bubble-wrap rocket tower from across Leicester, and inside it delivers: genuine Blue Streak and Thor-Able rockets standing full height, a real Soyuz spacecraft, moon rock and six floors of galleries covering everything from the Space Race to living aboard the ISS. The planetarium shows are excellent and included in the day, though you should grab show times as soon as you arrive. It's a solid half-day, easily a full one with space-mad children, and almost everything is indoors, a reliable wet-weather banker. Book ahead for school holidays. The Victorian Abbey Pumping Station is literally next door and makes a brilliant contrast, so do both.
Our tip Book planetarium show times the moment you arrive, the best slots go early on busy days.
Access
Step-free / wheelchair access Accessible toilets
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
More Official site · Wikipedia
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre
The award-winning heritage centre and country park telling the story of the 1485 battle where Richard III fell and the Tudor age began.
On 22 August 1485 Richard III rode down from this countryside into battle and never rode back, and Henry Tudor picked the crown of England out of the aftermath. The heritage centre on Ambion Hill tells the story with real flair, armour to try, finds from the field, and an honest account of how archaeologists finally pinpointed the true fighting ground on the plain nearby, including the silver boar badge that likely marked Richard's last charge. Walk the battlefield trail out to the memorial sundial and flags for the full experience. Living-history weekends and guided walks are worth planning around, and the country park and café are pleasant in their own right.
Our tip Allow time for the outdoor battlefield trail as well as the exhibition, the landscape is half the story.
Access not yet checked — please confirm with the venue before you travel.
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Day two — Charnwood, Belvoir and Melton
Forest, castle and cheese. The ancient deer park of Bradgate, a heritage steam line through the National Forest, the towering Belvoir Castle, and the market town of Melton Mowbray with its pies and Stilton.
Bradgate Park
Leicestershire's best-loved open space: a medieval deer park of crags and bracken, with the ruins of Lady Jane Grey's childhood home at its heart.
If you only do one outdoor thing in Leicestershire, make it Bradgate. This is a genuine medieval deer park, over 800 acres of bracken, ancient gnarled oaks and rocky outcrops, with herds of red and fallow deer roaming free. At its centre stand the brick ruins of Bradgate House, childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, the nine-days queen. Climb to Old John, the hilltop folly tower, for views across half the county. The surfaced central drive suits buggies and wheelchairs; moorland paths are rougher. Keep dogs on leads near the deer, and arrive early on fine weekends, the Newtown Linford, Hunts Hill and Hallgates car parks fill fast.
Our tip Enter from the Hunts Hill car park for the shortest, easiest climb up to Old John tower.
Access not yet checked — please confirm with the venue before you travel.
Worth watching
- Wheelchair & accessible walks at Bradgate Park, Leicestershire Valentina Adventures
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Great Central Railway
The UK's only double-track main-line heritage railway, running steam trains between Loughborough and the edge of Leicester through period stations.
The Great Central is the UK's only heritage railway where full-size steam locomotives pass each other on double track, just as they did on a 1950s main line. Trains run between Loughborough Central and Leicester North, calling at lovingly dressed period stations at Quorn & Woodhouse and Rothley, each one styled to a different era, complete with vintage advertising and waiting-room fires in winter. Loughborough is the place to start, with its engine shed and museum atmosphere. Tickets generally allow you to hop on and off all day, and dining trains and gala weekends are worth planning around. Check the running calendar before travelling, as timetables vary through the year.
Our tip Sit on the west side heading south for the best view over Swithland Reservoir from the viaduct.
Access
Accessible parking
Access last checked 5 Jul 2026 — always confirm with the venue.
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Belvoir Castle
The Duke of Rutland's spectacular Regency castle crowning a wooded ridge above the Vale of Belvoir, with fine staterooms, gardens and a retail village at the gates.
Belvoir, say 'beaver', is the seat of the Dukes of Rutland yet sits proudly in Leicestershire, crowning a wooded ridge with views across the vale that gave it its Norman-French name, 'beautiful view'. The present castle is a Regency fantasy of turrets and towers, and the staterooms inside deliver: the Elizabeth Saloon, grand staircase and picture collection are as rich as anywhere in the Midlands. Outside, formal and woodland gardens drop away down the slopes, and the Engine Yard village by the gates offers food and shopping without a castle ticket. Castle opening is seasonal and more limited than the grounds, so check open days carefully before travelling; the gardens alone reward a visit.
Our tip Check castle open days before you set out, the gardens and Engine Yard open more often than the staterooms.
Access not yet checked — please confirm with the venue before you travel.
Worth watching
- Inside England’s Fairytale Castle: Belvoir Castle Tour Xploreheritage
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Melton Mowbray
The self-styled Rural Capital of Food: home of the Melton Mowbray pork pie and Stilton cheese, with a proper working market and a magnificent parish church.
Melton Mowbray is a pilgrimage for anyone who takes British food seriously. This is the home of the protected Melton Mowbray pork pie, buy one at Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, where Dickinson & Morris have baked for generations, and a stronghold of Stilton, made in the villages around and sold across the town. Market days bring one of England's oldest street and livestock markets to life and are the best time to visit. Between tastings, St Mary's is among the grandest parish churches in Leicestershire, and the little Melton Carnegie Museum covers the town's fox-hunting, pie-making heyday. Combine with Burrough Hill's hillfort, fifteen minutes south, to walk off lunch.
Our tip Come on a market day and buy your pork pie from Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe, still warm if you time it right.
Access not yet checked — please confirm with the venue before you travel.
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Before you set off
Leicester's centre is compact and walkable, with the cathedral, Guildhall and King Richard III centre all together. Belvoir and the Vale of Belvoir are properly rural — check the castle's opening days, as it closes for parts of the year. And if you'd like to add the National Forest at Conkers or Ashby Castle, or apply your own access needs across the trip, open it in the planner and make it yours.