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Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Market Bosworth

Companionship careLeicestershire

Days out in Leicestershire for an older parent

Nine places in Leicestershire that make a good day out for an older parent, from Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre to Twycross Zoo. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre. Photo: David Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nine days out across eight towns

The best places to take an older parent in Leicestershire

Five of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and three confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Market Bosworth

Photo: David Martin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Market Bosworth

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre tells the story of the 1485 Battle of Bosworth, where Richard III was killed and the Tudor age began. There is an exhibition, a café in the Tithe Barn and a country park with a battlefield trail.

There are accessible toilets in the courtyard and café, a platform lift and gentle ramp in the exhibition, and a mobility scooter or wheelchair can be booked in advance.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Market Bosworth

Bradgate Park, Newtown Linford

Photo: NotFromUtrecht, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Newtown Linford

Bradgate Park

Bradgate Park is an 850-acre deer park in Charnwood Forest with herds of red and fallow deer, rocky outcrops, the River Lin and the ruins of Bradgate House, childhood home of Lady Jane Grey. A tarmac drive runs through the park from Newtown Linford.

The park offers Blue Badge holders a concession scheme and has two Tramper off-road mobility scooters to hire by advance booking, though some natural areas are not fully accessible.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, parking charged

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Newtown Linford

Great Central Railway, Loughborough

Photo: It's No Game, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Heritage railway · Loughborough

Great Central Railway

The Great Central Railway runs steam and diesel trains on Britain's only double-track main line heritage railway, between Loughborough and Leicester North. Loughborough Central station is restored to its 1950s look, with a museum and refreshment rooms.

All the stations have accessible toilets on the platform and Loughborough Central has a lift from street level, though as a heritage railway some areas remain traditional.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Loughborough

Foxton Locks, Market Harborough

Photo: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Market Harborough

Foxton Locks

Foxton Locks is a flight of ten locks on the Grand Union Canal near Market Harborough, the longest staircase flight in England, with the remains of the Victorian inclined plane boat lift beside it. The canal museum tells the story of the lift, and there are pubs and a café by the water.

There are disabled parking spaces in the bottom car park and a disabled toilet at the museum, and a carer can plan a flat stroll along the towpath by the bottom lock.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Market Harborough

Charnwood Museum, Loughborough

Photo: Dave Bevis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Loughborough

Charnwood Museum

Charnwood Museum is a free museum in Queen's Park, Loughborough, covering the natural history, geology and people of the Charnwood area. The park around it has the Carillon war memorial tower, gardens and an aviary.

It is free and set in a town-centre park, so a carer can combine a short museum visit with a gentle walk round the gardens.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Loughborough

Ashby de la Zouch Castle, Ashby de la Zouch

Photo: Pahazzard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Ashby de la Zouch

Ashby de la Zouch Castle

Ashby de la Zouch Castle is the ruin of a medieval manor house turned castle by Lord Hastings, run by English Heritage, with the tall Hastings Tower and an underground passage from the kitchen. It featured in Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe.

The castle is close to the town centre, so a carer can plan a short look round the grounds and leave the tower stairs to others.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Ashby de la Zouch

Melton Mowbray, Melton Mowbray

Photo: No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Market town · Melton Mowbray

Melton Mowbray

Melton Mowbray is a market town known as the home of the pork pie and Stilton cheese, with a street market several days a week and a large livestock and produce market. The town centre has old inns, pie shops and the church of St Mary.

Market days give plenty to see within a small area, and a carer can plan a browse of the stalls with a sit-down in a café.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Melton Mowbray

Watermead Country Park, Syston

Photo: Mat Fascione, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Syston

Watermead Country Park

Watermead Country Park is a chain of lakes and wetlands along the River Soar between Birstall and Syston, created from old gravel workings. It is a good place for birdwatching, with paths around the water and a large mammoth sculpture.

It is free and open all year, and the paths beside the lakes allow a carer to plan a short, gentle walk from the car park.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Syston

Twycross Zoo, Twycross

Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Animals · Twycross

Twycross Zoo

Twycross Zoo is a conservation charity zoo in west Leicestershire, known for its great apes including gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos. There are also big cats, a tropical house and several places to eat.

The zoo is spread out, so a carer can plan a shorter route between the ape houses and a café, and check the zoo's access guidance before the visit.

Time to allow
A full day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Twycross

Regular groups and events in Leicestershire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Leicestershire.

  • DancingBallroom and sequence dance eveningsA county listing of ballroom, old time and popular sequence dance events across Leicestershire, including social dances open to any level. A carer can pick a session with seating and a short walk from the car park, and partner or simply keep company for part of the evening.Details
  • Sports · HinckleyA bowls club going since 1908Founded in 1908 and affiliated to Bowls Leicestershire and Bowls England, the club welcomes newcomers as well as county standard players. A carer can drive someone to roll up sessions, carry the woods and stay for the tea afterwards.Details
  • SportsWalking football for older playersThe county FA promotes walking football, a slower version of the game with the same rules except that running is not allowed, aimed at getting older adults playing again regularly. A carer can find a nearby session, sort the kit and transport, and watch from the side.Details
  • VolunteeringMidweek conservation work partiesThe Wildlife Trust's midweek volunteer group carries out practical management work on nature reserves across Leicestershire on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. A carer can take someone along for a half day and agree beforehand which lighter tasks suit.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Leicestershire

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage CentreMarket Bosworthhalf a dayPaid entryYesYesYes
Bradgate ParkNewtown Linfordhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Great Central RailwayLoughboroughhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesAsk
Foxton LocksMarket Harboroughhalf a dayFreeAskYesAsk
Charnwood MuseumLoughboroughan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Ashby de la Zouch CastleAshby de la Zouchan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Melton MowbrayMelton Mowbrayhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Watermead Country ParkSystonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Twycross ZooTwycrossa full dayPaid entryAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Leicestershire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

BottesfordMarket HarboroughHinckleyLutterworthWigston Magna123456789
  1. 1Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Market Bosworth
  2. 2Bradgate Park, Newtown Linford
  3. 3Great Central Railway, Loughborough
  4. 4Foxton Locks, Market Harborough
  5. 5Charnwood Museum, Loughborough
  6. 6Ashby de la Zouch Castle, Ashby de la Zouch
  7. 7Melton Mowbray, Melton Mowbray
  8. 8Watermead Country Park, Syston
  9. 9Twycross Zoo, Twycross

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Leicestershire

Carers in Leicestershire charge £19 to £21 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Leicestershire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Leicestershire

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre in Market Bosworth, Bradgate Park in Newtown Linford, Great Central Railway in Loughborough, Foxton Locks in Market Harborough, Charnwood Museum in Loughborough, Ashby de la Zouch Castle in Ashby de la Zouch, Melton Mowbray in Melton Mowbray, Watermead Country Park in Syston and Twycross Zoo in Twycross. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre describes a step-free route. Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Great Central Railway and Foxton Locks have an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Bradgate Park, Foxton Locks, Charnwood Museum, Melton Mowbray and Watermead Country Park. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 44 of the carers with a rate near Leicestershire drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Leicestershire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Leicestershire

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Leicestershire

Days out in the areas around Leicestershire

Companionship care by town in Leicestershire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Leicestershire

See carers near Leicestershire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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