Pictures of Loughborough

in the county of Leicestershire

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About Loughborough

The joyous sound of bells made in Loughborough have been rung all over the world since 1858, the date that John Taylor of Oxford moved his foundry to Loughborough. Many famous bells have been cast in this foundry including Great Paul for St.Paul's Cathedral in London. In fact bells are a recurring feature of the town, the famous Carillon Tower built in memory of those of the town who lost their lives in World War I, houses a small museum and gives recitals on its carillon of 47 bells.

Loughborough is also famous for trains, it is one of the few remaining places in the world where scheduled full size steam trains pass each other on a double track. These recreate the romantic age of steam every weekend, with a passenger service operating during the week, there is even the opportunity to enjoy a meal in a dining car just as you could way back in the 1940's and 50's. This rail-line offers many fascinating experiences, not least travelling through fantastic countryside where you are able to enjoy a stop at Swithland Viaduct to take in sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.

Historically, the town's fortunes were founded on wool, knitwear, lace and hosiery, it has a striking Italianate town hall of 1855 in the Market Place - this was partially destroyed by a fire in 1972 but has since been restored. In 1778 a canal waterway was opened, this enabled 19th-century development bringing greater prosperity. Interestingly, this was one of the first towns to have its own proper sewage and drinking water supply.

The Old Rectory is a 13th and 14th-century building with a picturesque gabled front. In the 19th-century various additions were made to the house, but later in the 20th-century these were demolished and what remained of the house was turned into a museum. Other museums in the town are the Railway Preservation Museum, the Charnwood Museum and the Bell Museum.

Places in the town's renowned university are in high demand, this is largely due to its thriving sports faculty which appeals to students from all over.

The parish church of All Saints has a peel of ten bells, and contains a memorial bell to the Taylor family of bell-founding fame. This church dates mostly from the 14th-century, with restoration work carried out by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1962. Some of the church windows date 1300, and the west wall is decorated with 15th-century brasses. The oak roof of the nave is quite spectacular, it has beams which spring from carved musician angels resting on stone supports. This is a lovely church, and is well worth seeing.

Churchgate is one of the oldest streets in the town, it is now pedestrianised so you can easily wander at will and take time to look above the shop fronts to see how attractive these old buildings once were.

Delightful visits include the Beacon Hill Country Park, this is part of Charnwood Forest, and visitors can expect to enjoy quiet wooded walks in beautiful surroundings. From the hill top there are views over undulating countryside.

Carillon Court is a covered shopping mall, there is a good variety of shops with a market held in the town on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Loughborough is situated amidst magnificent Leicestershire countryside with its colourful associations with fox hunting. It is wonderfully rural and a joy to explore.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Loughborough

Great Central Railway	(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)	Pictures
Beacon Hill Country Park	(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Ulverscroft Priory	(4.8 miles, 7.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Old John Tower	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction S)	Pictures
Bradgate Park	(5.4 miles, 8.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Cropston Reservoir	(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction S)	Pictures
Cossington Meadows Nature Reserve	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Grace Dieu Priory	(6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction W)	Pictures
Watermead Country Park	(7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Snibston Discovery Park & Nature Reserve	(8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Hough Mill	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Rushcliffe Country Park	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction N)	Pictures
Donington Park	(8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens	(8.5 miles, 13.6 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Thornton Reservoir	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SW)	Pictures

All attractions in Loughborough
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Recommended towns near Loughborough

Quorn, in the county of Leicestershire (2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction SE)
Quorn can be found between Leicester and Loughborough, it is surrounded by magnificent countryside and a wealth of visitor attractions.
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Rothley, in the county of Leicestershire (5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction SE)
Rothley is a delightful village with two village greens, one is flanked by some of the country's finest timber framed houses. The village shows a graceful selection of architecture including pretty Cruck Cottages.
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Anstey, in the county of Leicestershire (6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction S)
One of the most attractive features of Anstey is the famous 14th century five arched pack-horse bridge crossing the River Wreake.
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Queniborough, in the county of Leicestershire (8.4 miles, 13.6 km, direction SE)
A lovely village, where round every corner there is another visual delight.
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Long Eaton, in the county of Derbyshire (9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction N)
Long Eaton is a small town lying on the River Trent around 8 miles east of Derby. The town has a history stretching back to the 7th century, but was for many centuries naught but a sleepy agricultural village.
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Leicester, a Historic City in the county of Leicestershire (9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction S)
Leicester is famed amongst other things for its fine parish church which was raised to Cathedral status in 1927.
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Staunton Harold, in the county of Leicestershire (10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction W)
Staunton was mentioned in the Doomsday Book when it was held by Henry de Ferrers.
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Beeston, in the county of Nottinghamshire (10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction N)
Beeston is mostly remarkable for being the place where the Ist Lord Trent started work in his mother's herbal shop at the age of 14.
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Ashby de la Zouch, in the county of Leicestershire (11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction W)
This town takes its name from the La Souche family, lords of the manor from about 1160. The Norman prefix distinguishes Ashby from other towns of similar name.
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Swarkestone, in the county of Derbyshire (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction NW)
Swarkestone is a small enchanting village which grew up on the reeeded banks of the River Trent.
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Nottingham, a Historic City in the county of Nottinghamshire (12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction N)
The City of Nottingham is famed for fine lace, the romance of Maid Marion and Robin Hood and as the birthplace of the founder of the Salvation Army, General William Booth (1829-1912).
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Trowell, in the county of Nottinghamshire (12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction N)
Modern day history records that this was the village chosen as The Festival of Britain Village, at the time it was considered to epitomise the spirit of British rural community life.
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Melton Mowbray, in the county of Leicestershire (13.4 miles, 21.6 km, direction E)
An historic market town famous for its Pork packed pies and Stilton cheeses, both are savoured all over Britain and in many other countries.
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John O'Gaunt, in the county of Leicestershire (13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction SE)
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Ilkeston, in the county of Derbyshire (14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction N)
Within this pretty hilltop town you will find the ancient church dedicated to St.Mary, it was built around 1150 and has a beautiful clock-face tower.
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Nearby travel help

Loughborough Station	(0.7 miles, 1.1 km)
Barrow upon Soar Station	(2.6 miles, 4.3 km, direction SE)
M1 Junction 23	(3.0 miles, 4.9 km, direction W)
M1 Junction 23A	(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction NW)
East Midlands Airport	(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction NW)
Birmingham International Airport	(31.3 miles, 50.4 km, direction SW)
Loughborough to London	(98.6 miles, 158.7 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Loughborough

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Loughborough center
Ramada Loughborough Hotel	(0.1 miles, 0.1 km)
The Beauchief	(0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Old Manor Hotel	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
The Great Central Hotel	(0.5 miles, 0.8 km)
The Cedars Hotel	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)
Imago At Burleigh Court	(1.5 miles, 2.4 km, direction SW)
Quality Hotel Loughborough M1 Junction 23	(1.7 miles, 2.8 km, direction W)
Quorn Country Hotel	(2.7 miles, 4.3 km, direction SE)
Quorn Grange Hotel	(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction SE)
The Grange Courtyard	(3.3 miles, 5.4 km, direction W)
All hotels in Loughborough