Loughborough is a historic town, now known mostly for its university and colleges. Charnwood Museum, in the centre, has a range of exhibits looking at local history and industries.
The John Taylor Bellfoundry Museum tells the story of a craft that goes back to the 13th century, and sits alongside the working factory. The largest bell in Britain, which hangs in St Paul’s Cathedral, was cast in Loughborough.
You can take a ride on a steam train along the Great Central Railway, which once linked the area to London. Nearby is Bradgate Country Park, where red and fallow deer roam over 850 acres of wood and parkland.