If you’re looking for a vibrant, cultural town outside of London, or you don’t live in the capital, Leicester is a surprisingly decent shout.
For any history gonks, like my husband, it’s also where the remains of Richard III were found in a car park in 2012 and close to the site of the Battle of Bosworth.
Leicester is also well-connected to other parts of the UK and a more affordable option than other family-friendly and touristy cities like Manchester, Liverpool, York or Edinburgh.
As well as the city, Leicester is also close to some fab attractions like Twycross Zoo, the National Space Centre, lots of pretty neighbouring villages and the 900-year-old cathedral.
So we decided on a whim to visit for a weekend after Christmas to see what it was all about.
A Last-Minute Family Getaway to Leicester: Zoo, Space Centre and More
Where we stayed
voco Leicester is located – and in fact, connected to – the Leicester Tigers stadium, about a 15-minute walk into the city centre so a good base and not too rowdy for families on non-match days.
It’s a modern, slick four-star property by IHG with a buzzy bar and restaurant and a cool “grandstand” area with bean bags and a giant screen for watching sports.
There’s a fun tiger theme running throughout the hotel, which my son enjoyed, and kids eat free.
There are a variety of rooms including those with hot tubs and balconies and all are spacious, clean with all mod-cons. The restaurant serves great pizza and there was also a variety of lovely cocktails and sparkling English wine by the glass.
Where we ate
Like most UK cities, the main shopping area is chock full of chains so it can be tempting to just head to one of them for less hassle and knowing what you will get. But if you are in Leicester, you must try this fun little treat – the Knight & Garter pub with its hidden restaurant behind a secret bookcase. Compared to the lively bar, the dining area was a pastel-coloured sanctuary. It markets itself as an Italian-inspired steakhouse so beef was definitely on the cards but there was also tasty pasta, seasonal goodies and my personal favourite – pistachio martinis.
The restaurant is very family-friendly with colouring books and a varied children’s menu and the staff are exceptionally bubbly and attentive to kids.
Things to do – Twycross Zoo
One of the biggest draws of the area is Twycross Zoo in Atherstone, Warwickshire, about a 30- minute drive from Leicester city. As well as all the exotic animals that live there – gorillas, orangutans, tigers and giraffes to name a few – there is also Gruffalo Discovery Land, so a must for any Julia Donaldson fans. There’s a special trail that finishes with – yes, a giant Gruffalo and it’s great if your children, like mine, get a bit bored of staring at animals. There is also a vast soft play area and in summer, a splash park.
In the run up to Christmas and beyond into February, the zoo has put on a spectacular winter installation called Lanterns of the Wild. Covering more than a mile, there are 2,000 hand-made lanterns on display, depicting ten immersive wild habitats – so, beautiful and educational at the same time, a double win!
Other things to do in Leicester
The National Space Centre is a short drive from the city and kids love that part of it is actually housed inside its 42-metre Rocket Tower. Over four floors, accessible by wooshy lifts, you can learn all about the history of the Space Race and all you need to know about rocketry.
There’s plenty to do for all ages, tons of exhibitions and interactive games and make sure you visit the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium and the new Tetrastar Spaceport.
For history enthusiasts, the recently opened Jewry Wall and Roman Baths museum is a fun way to wile away a few hours. The space tells the story of Roman Leicester in an engaging, modern way including meeting “local residents” and playing games. Some of the city’s original Jewry Wall ruins can be found in the garden area and there are also lots of Roman artefacts, mosaics and an interactive video. Great cakes in the coffee shop too.
Leicester was an action-packed fun-filled weekend with plenty to do for families. The zoo is a real gem and once you’re out of the city, the countryside is rolling and pretty. It’s small enough to get around without much trouble and everyone we met was full of good cheer.
Definitely recommend!
See more travel reviews here.
