Enjoy Loughborough

Loughborough is a centrally located Market and University Town, situated just off J23 of the M1.

Surrounded by beautiful countryside, our town is ideally based for visitors to explore Charnwood and its great parks, including Charnwood Forest and Bradgate Park which is home to the ruins of Bradgate House, birthplace of Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England in 1554 for just nine days!

Shopping

Loughborough offers a great shopping experience, with big names such as TK Maxx, New Look, Topshop and Next, sitting side by side with an eclectic mix of independent boutiques. You will find all the big names in the Carillon and The Rushes Shopping Centres and across our pedestrianised Market Place.

But wander a little further or turn a corner and you will find yourself amongst a mix of eclectic boutiques, cafes, gift shops and eateries. Look out for these areas:

Cattle Market/Wards End/Bedford Square/Devonshire Square
Church Gate/Church Gate Mews/Biggin Street/Baxtergate
Swan Street/High Street/Leicester Road

Eating and Drinking

If you like spice, you’ve come to the right place! Loughborough is only a short distance from the Curry Capital of England and their great flavours can be found here too! Check out our selection of Indian and Asian cuisine, as well as continental, fine dining and good old pub grub!

With a population of approximately 60,000 (including around 16,000 students from Loughborough University and College) the town has a great mix of young, vibrant bars and clubs as well as more relaxed, laid back restaurants. We also have a wonderful Theatre at Loughborough’s Town Hall which stages great shows throughout the year.

After all that shopping you may want to take a break – well look no further than our very own Queens Park, right in the town centre, with its iconic war memorial – the Carillon, stood at its centre. Charnwood Museum is also based within the Park and has a great café where you can sit and watch the world go by…

Heritage

In 1841, Loughborough was the destination for Thomas Cook’s first package tour from Leicester.

We had the world’s largest bell foundry — John Taylor Bellfounders, which made the bells for the Carillon war memorial in the Queens Park as well as the Great Paul for St. Paul’s Cathedral and York Minster.

Loughborough is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book.

Great Central Railway – Britain’s only double track steam line, runs regular trips to Leicester at weekends and throughout the summer.