Are you on yet another late-night hunt for a unique UK weekend break, scrolling through the same coastal towns and Cotswold villages everyone you know has already been to? Maybe your search history is full of ‘romantic weekend break UK’ and ‘hidden gem getaways’, but every list looks suspiciously similar… same places, same pictures, same crowds?
If you’re wanting somewhere that feels genuinely different (without requiring a passport or a five-hour drive!) stay with me, because I think I’ve found the answer! I went on a press trip to Charnwood on behalf of H&N Magazine and this place, with its steam trains, bellfoundry and deer park, has quietly became one of my favourite places for a unique UK weekend break.
You might have heard of Loughborough; usually in connection with its university or sporting success, but fewer people realise it sits within Charnwood: a quietly beautiful borough in the East Midlands that people usually think of as “the bit you drive past on the way to somewhere else”.
It’s time to think again, as actually this is a place where you can rattle through the countryside on a heritage steam train in the morning, stand beside newly cast cathedral bells in the afternoon and finish the day with a cocktail made from ingredients most of us would usually throw away! If you’re on the lookout for a unique UK weekend break that feels properly different, yet surprisingly easy to reach, Charnwood deserves to step out from Loughborough’s shadow and onto your shortlist.
During my 48 hours in Charnwood, we rode a steam train, toured Britain’s last surviving bellfoundry, walked through a medieval deer park, cuddled guinea pigs, discovered a Michelin-starred restaurant on a family farm and worked our way through a very respectable line-up of pubs and restaurants. For couples or close friends who want a break that mixes history, nature, good food and a hint of geeky joy, Charnwood more than holds its own against the other unique UK weekend breaks, offering something rather different.
So where to visit?
Great Central Railway: all aboard the nostalgia express
We kicked off the weekend with a show-stopper and possibly my favourite part of our trip: Loughborough’s Great Central Railway. It’s a working heritage line, the UK’s only double-track main line heritage railway, which was rescued by volunteers after closure in the late 1960s. Today it runs for around eight miles between Loughborough and Leicester North, complete with period signalling, historic locomotives and beautifully restored stations. It is simply magical to behold and really feels like you are stepping back in time.
You might recognise the setting as the railway has doubled for all kinds of film and TV work over the years because of its impeccably preserved 1950s look. It’s all enamel signs, cream-and-brown carriages and carefully curated historically-accurate platforms which felt like a film set but one I was allowed to sit down in! It’s exactly the sort of quietly joyful experience I’m always hoping for from a unique UK weekend break, but one you rarely find so perfectly packaged.
Loughborough Bellfoundry: where the world’s bells begin
From the outside, the Bellfoundry looks like a cluster of modest brick buildings, but inside you step into Britain’s last surviving bellfoundry. In here, John Taylor & Co. has been casting and tuning bells in Loughborough since 1838. They’ve sent bells to churches, cathedrals and carillons all over the world, and even pioneered true harmonic tuning, (the clever bit of science that makes their bells sound so rich and clear).
On our guided tour, we followed the process from wooden patterns to sand moulds and molten metal, walking through the active workshops that feel like a living museum but have people busy with their craft. You can watch glowing metal being poured into moulds and see bells being painstakingly tuned by hand and by ear, a craft that has changed remarkably little in generations. At one point we stand beside a newly cast bell, and learn from our hugely knowledgeable volunteer guide, that its siblings hang in towers from London to Australia. Rock fans will also spot a fun detail in the museum displays: the paperwork and a replica of the “Hells Bell” was cast here for AC/DC, A pretty cool piece of rock history!
What makes it even more interesting is how close it came to disappearing. When the previous owners went into administration in 2009, the site was at real risk, but a newly formed charity: the Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust, stepped in, secured Grade II listing and helped deliver a multi-million-pound restoration, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The revamped Bellfoundry Museum reopened in 2024 with a modern, immersive exhibition that tells the story of both the building and the people who work there.
If you’re choosing a unique UK weekend break and want at least one experience your friends definitely haven’t done yet, this is a ‘must-visit’ to add to your itinerary.
Loughborough’s Historic Market and Sock Man
After steam and bells, Loughborough’s historic market grounds you firmly back in the here and now. Markets have been held here for around 800 years and you certainly feel that sense of continuity as you wander between stalls in the Market Place.
Recently, the market has had a bit of a glow-up and the traditional stalls have been upgraded with sturdier structures and colourful canopies as part of wider investment in the town centre. Traders talk about how much more resilient it is to bad weather now and we found that whatever the weather, it’s the perfect place to grab a coffee, do some gentle people-watching and ease back into town life between the more headline attractions.
And then there’s Sock Man. Officially called The Sock, this bronze statue has been perched in the Market Place since the late 1990s and is a must for a selfie! He’s a mostly naked bloke sitting casually on a bollard, wearing just one sock in a playful nod to Loughborough’s historic hosiery trade. Locals use him as a meeting point and over time he’s become an unofficial emblem of the town.
Bradgate Park
Next I visited BradgatePark, which is just a short drive away. First enclosed as a deer park in the 13th century, it now covers hundreds of acres of rugged countryside north of Leicester, all rocky outcrops, winding paths and wide views.
Famous for its deer, they are magnificent. It’s rutting season right now so you hear them before you see them! Bradgate is now the only remaining enclosed medieval deer park in the East Midlands still in its original form, home to around 550 red and fallow deer. There’s a particular kind of magic in seeing a stag appear out of the mist, it’s a spectacular sight.
The park is also home to the ruins of Bradgate House, which was once a magnificent Tudor mansion and one of the earliest big brick-built country houses in England. Built around 1499 by Thomas Grey, 1st Marquis of Dorset, it later became the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, the “Nine Days Queen”, before falling into ruin in the 18th century. Today you can still trace its outline on the skyline.
The history here runs deep. There’s evidence of people living in this landscape for around 15,000 years, and by 1241 Bradgate had been formally enclosed as a deer park. Over the centuries the Grey family rose to serious political prominence before the estate eventually shifted from family seat to sporting playground.
In 1928, local industrialist Charles Bennion bought Bradgate and gifted it “for the quiet enjoyment of the people of Leicestershire”, and today the estate is run by the Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood Charity as a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Stonehurst Farm: tractors, guinea pigs and a Michelin surprise
On paper, including a farm visit in a grown-ups’ weekend away doesn’t seem an obvious choice. However Stonehurst Farm is pure joy and should certainly be included in your trip, as it is a proper working family farm where you can hop on a tractor and trailer ride, wander between paddocks and meet friendly cows, sheep and pigs. You can also hold baby animals like rabbits and guinea pigs (which I absolutely did, no children required!).
Stonehurst is also home to a vintage motor museum featuring a surprisingly wonderful collection of classic cars and motoring memorabilia tucked away on site. Having a motor museum in the middle of a family farm is a delightful surprise here, and it’s not the only unusual thing about the farm. You will also find John’s House here. This is Leicestershire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, run by chef John Duffin, located in the 16th-century farmhouse where he grew up. The menus are farm-to-plate, using seasonal produce from Stonehurst itself. I don’t see it in action this time, (our visit is firmly tractor-ride-and-animal themed), but I am planning a future visit.
For anyone plotting a unique UK weekend break that combines muddy boots with serious dining credentials, this is a very appealing mix!
Where to Stay
Our base for the weekend is Burleigh Court Hotel & Spa, set within the grounds of Loughborough University. On paper, “hotel on a university campus” sounds a bit conference-y, however in reality, Burleigh Court is a contemporary four-star retreat that just happens to have world-class sports facilities next door.
I stay in one of the standard double rooms and it’s exactly what you want for a short break: modern, fresh and with everything you need for a couple of nights away. There’s a desk, good Wi-Fi, a proper bathroom and plenty of plug sockets; although coffee obsessives should note there’s no in-room coffee machine. I survived (just) thanks to the tea tray and the bar downstairs.
I also tried out the leisure facilities, a great way to start the day with a swim, a warm-up in the sauna and a dip in the jacuzzi. It’s not a flashy spa, but it does exactly what you want it to, the sort of ritual that makes a weekend away feel like a reset rather than just ‘a night in a different bed’.
Location-wise, this is a dream spot. The hotel may be located on campus but it is a destination in its own right, with easy access to the town centre, nearby attractions and major routes. Charnwood is pretty much the definition of ‘central’ when you look at a map of England, which is very handy for a UK weekend break when you’re trying to meet halfway.
Burleigh Court is also part of Loughborough University’s family of venues, so its profits are gift-aided back into the university, helping to fund teaching and research. For a couples’ or friends’ break it is ideal.
Where to Eat
The Griffin Inn, Swithland
You can’t have a weekend away without a great, standout pub meal, right? Well, The Griffin Inn in Swithland definitely delivers. It’s an 18th-century village gastro pub which is co-owned by cricketers Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney. Having picked up multiple awards, it sits within easy reach of both Swithland Reservoir and Bradgate Park, perfect if you’re looking for a walk-then-wine combo.
The décor is gorgeous, cosy and chic with beams and soft lighting. The menu is very much modern British; generous Sunday roasts, seasonal dishes, polished pub classics and puddings. If you’re shortlisting for a UK weekend break where the food is as memorable as the activities, having somewhere like The Griffin on your doorstep is a big bonus.
Fifty The Street at Burleigh Court
Back at Burleigh Court, the on-site restaurant Fifty The Street takes sustainability seriously. Around half the menu is plant led (hence the ‘fifty’ in the name) and there’s a strong focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.
What’s really usual here – and something I have never come across before – are the sustainable cocktails. The bar’s ‘sustainable sipping’ range takes what most kitchens would bin, such as carrot tops, citrus peels and tomato trimmings, and turn them into inventive drinks. Super fun and very unique!
The Manor House, Quorn
We round things off at The Manor House in Quorn, a country pub with rooms that is just a couple of miles from Loughborough. It’s very warm and welcoming with fireplaces, cosy nooks and a menu packed with polished takes on pub favourites using local ingredients.
Upstairs, there are boutique bedrooms ideal for turning lunch into an overnight stay. Rooms are pitched squarely at staycations and weekenders, and the location (close to main routes, but tucked in a pretty village), makes it a handy alternative base if you prefer cottages and church towers over campus.
Why Go (and where to book)
So why Charnwood, when the internet is already full of lists of ’must-visit’ destinations? Because this little pocket of Leicestershire offers exactly what many of us want from travel now: unique experiences that feel fun but real, which give you unusual stories you’ll still be talking about months later! For couples or friends chasing a unique UK weekend break that feels both special and accessible, that combination is hard to beat.
To plan your own version of this trip, see details below or you can head to Discover Charnwood, the area’s official visitor site. It pulls together attractions, places to stay, walking routes and events across the borough, making it easy to build an itinerary that fits your style. Don’t be surprised if Charnwood quietly slides onto your list as a favourite UK weekend break though, you have been warned!
Great Central Railway: heritage steam railway between Loughborough and Leicester North
Typical price (Nov): adult day return from around £23 – Website: www.gcrailway.co.uk
Loughborough Bellfoundry (John Taylor & Co / Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust): Britain’s last surviving bellfoundry and newly restored museum
Typical price (Nov): Classic Tour + Museum around £20 per adult, £15 concessions – Website: loughboroughbellfoundry.org / bellfoundrytrust.org
Loughborough Historic Market & Market Place: centuries-old market at the heart of the town
Typical price: Free to browse: you just pay for whatever you buy – Website: search “Loughborough Market” via Charnwood Borough Council or Visit Leicester
Sock Man (The Sock): iconic bronze statue celebrating Loughborough’s hosiery heritage
Typical price: Free: find him in the Market Place – Website: see discovercharnwood.co.uk (search “The Sock” or “Sock Man”)
Bradgate Park: medieval deer park and historic landscape
Typical price (Nov): park entry free; parking from about £4–£6 depending on day and duration – Website: www.bradgatepark.org
Stonehurst Family Farm & Motor Museum: working farm with tractor rides, guinea pigs and vintage motor museum
Typical price (Nov): adult around £9.50; children about £8.50; family ticket about £32 – Website: www.stonehurstfarm.co.uk
John’s House: Leicestershire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant on the Stonehurst estate
Typical price (Nov): 3-course set lunch from around £49; tasting menus from about £100–£120 per person – Website: www.johnshouse.co.uk
Burleigh Court Hotel & Spa / Fifty The Street: four-star hotel and sustainable restaurant on Loughborough University campus
Typical price (Nov): standard double room from around £130–£150 per night – Website: www.burleigh-court.co.uk
The Griffin Inn, Swithland: award-winning gastro pub near Bradgate Park
Typical price (Nov): starters from around £8; mains broadly in the £15–£24 range – Website: www.thegriffininnswithland.com
The Manor House, Quorn: country pub with rooms and restaurant
Typical price (Nov): mains typically £11–£23 – Website: www.themanorhouseatquorn.co.uk
Discover Charnwood: official visitor information and inspiration for the borough
Website: www.discovercharnwood.co.uk
Review and images by Victoria Reddington @vic_reddington
Feature image supplied
