Leicestershire is famed for its cathedral city, historic battlefields and stately houses. Belvoir Castle in the east is a fascinating Regency period castle in picturesque gardens that commands stunning views of 16,000 acres of woodland in the Vale of Belvoir. Rockingham Castle at Market Harborough was built by William the Conqueror and stands on the edge of an escarpment giving dramatic views over five counties and the Welland Valley below. The market towns of Hinckley and Market Bosworth are atmospheric and surrounded by beautiful rolling countryside and pretty villages. Leicestershire’s waterways including the River Soar and the Grand Union Canal wander gently through some beautiful countryside – don’t miss Foxton Locks, the largest flight of staircase locks on the English canal system with two impressive ‘staircases’ of five locks bustling with gaily painted narrowboats. Leicester is a cathedral city with a 2000-year history, a modern university and enough theatres and live entertainment to satisfy culture vultures. Melton Mowbray is a traditional English market town with a rich history of farming and the surrounding pastures fuel the region’s famous cheese and iconic pork pie offerings.