Pretty little villages near Leicester?

[Chelsea26]

Wondering if someone can help me?

DP and I are visiting friends in Newcastle over Easter (we’re from London), on the way back we want to stop off for a couple of nights somewhere.

Looking for a country inn type thing in a little village with a few shops, couple of pubs and maybe somewhere to have a walk.

Anyone know a good little place?

Rothley is lovely- not much going on- but a nice little village

Newtown linford is beautiful so is Woodhouse Eaves

Finch's Arms - Hambleton on Rutland Water

Nevill Arms - Medbourn

Just north of Leicester I’d say Newtown Linford, Cropston or Woodhouse Eaves as youve got Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill Country Park which are lovely to walk around.

South of the city I’d say maybe around Catthorpe or Shawell / The villages around Lutterworth.

Or as an alternative if you’re going to be travelling on the A1 then around Oakham and Rutland water is beautiful

I live on the Leics/Rutland border.

I'd search for places between Melton (but not Melton itelsef) which is Leics and Oakham (which is Rutland).

My village has no pub and is teeny but you could try www.afoxinexton.co.uk/
or barnsdalelodge.co.uk/pages/home

Definitely Oakham or hambleton. Market Harborough but a bit bigger. And Langar hall on the border is beautiful!

My vote would be Newton Linford, then you could walk in Bradgate Park.

Wow thanks all! Lots to look at here - i’ll have a little google now...

I'd concentrate your search on Rutland. It's full of little villages with country inns but it does get busy at peak times.

I don't know of any country inns with rooms exactly but there's lots of great walks, the Bradgate Park area would be a good starting point. If you don't mind a premier inn there's quite a few options on the outskirts of Leicester

Stamford is a lovely town too. Lots of cute b&bs and couple of hotels.

Also look at Quorn. Near Woodhouse Eaves, but with a few more pubs / things going on. The pub at Woodhouse Eaves was always decent for food, but the Blacksmith Arms in Barrow upon Soar (also round the corner from Woodhouse Eaves) was better.

Also echo recommendations for Bradgate Park, but make sure you leave the linear tarmac flat path that the majority seem to stick to!

Yes. Newtown Linford. Don't know where you can stay though.

It's been at least 5 years since Iv visited either but I enjoyed both ashby de la zouch and quorn

In your shoes if you want a couple of nights and shops, that rules out most villages, which will, at most, have a pub (with or without rooms) and possibly a tiny grocery I'd stay in Stamford, a handsome town of 17th and 18thc buildings, with independent shops, places to eat and a lot of history -- technically on Lincolnshire, but right on the border of Rutland and (I think) Northamptonshire, and just off the A1.

The George is the obvious place (the courtyard is lovely for lunch) but there are lots of former coaching inns, little hotels and inns in the vicinity. It's also close to Burghley House.