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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

River Trent Beeston, Nottinghamshire, looking towards Clifton.

Beeston

in the county of Nottinghamshire

Snape Church

Snape

a Seaside Town in the county of Suffolk

Pictures of Loughborough

in the county of Leicestershire

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.

Recommended towns & villages near Loughborough

Rothley Railway Station

Rothley (12 Pictures) in the county of Leicestershire

(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction SE of Loughborough)

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...

St Mary de Castro Church, Leicester

Leicester (362 Pictures) a Historic City in the county of Leicestershire

(9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction S of Loughborough)

Leicester is famed amongst other things for its fine parish church which was raised to Cathedral status in 1927...

Staunton Harold Church and Hall, Leicestershire

Staunton Harold (22 Pictures) in the county of Leicestershire

(10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction W of Loughborough)

Staunton was mentioned in the Doomsday Book when it was held by Henry de Ferrers...

Beeston parish church, Beeston, Nottinghamshire.

Beeston (270 Pictures) in the county of Nottinghamshire

(10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction N of Loughborough)

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...

Mary Queens of Scots slept here - Ashby-de-la Zouch Castle, Derbyshire. - November 2004

Ashby de la Zouch (41 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Leicestershire

(11.1 miles, 17.8 km, direction W of Loughborough)

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...

All towns & villages in Leicestershire
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Nearby attractions..

Letting off Steam on the Great Central Railway

Great Central Railway (48 Pictures)

(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)

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The Old Man of Beacon, Beacon Hill Country Park, Leicestershire

Beacon Hill Country Park (24 Pictures)

(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction SW)

The second highest point in Leicestershire at 245m (802 feet) and containing a Bronze Age hill fort, Beacon Hill Country Park.....

Old John, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire

Old John Tower (10 Pictures)

(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction S)

Standing on a hill overlooking Bradgate Park, Old John Tower folly.....

Bradgate Park, Leicester, leicestershire

Bradgate Park (257 Pictures)

(5.4 miles, 8.8 km, direction S)

Comprising of 850 acres of land with roaming deer, Bradgate Park is Leicestershire's largest and most popular country.....

A picture of Watermead Country Park

Watermead Country Park (174 Pictures)

(7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction SE)

..

Thornton Reservoir, Leicestershire.

Thornton Reservoir (13 Pictures)

(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SW)

..

Staunton harold hall & Church, Leicestershire

Staunton Harold Church (6 Pictures)

(9.2 miles, 14.7 km, direction W)

Imposing church built in 1653, with fine panelled interior, set in attractive parkland...


All attractions in Loughborough
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