Welcome to the town I grew up in. I spent about 10 of my teenage and young adult years here, and whilst I thought it incredibly boring at the time – I’ve grown to absolutely love Bosworth. I now love going back, and it does really feel like home. Market Bosworth, a historically important market town, is located in the Midlands near Leicester and is an easy day trip from many places around England.
Getting to Market Bosworth requires a car as there is no train station in the town, and whilst you can visit it by bus from Leicester, it isn’t easily accessible or with hugely regular routes. Parking is fairly easy, with a few decent sized and reasonably priced car parks around the town (other than on a Monday when most places are closed).
You could also stay overnight in Bosworth and discover more of the local Leicestershire walks and surrounding areas, or visit Leicester itself to explore the city.
Once in Market Bosworth, here are the best things to do and see.
Things to do in Market Bosworth
1. Explore the pretty market town
In the centre of town are some picturesque shops and a lovely market square which are nice to flan around. There are also plenty of chocolate box cottages for beautiful photos, and a number of traditional English pubs for lunch – including The Old Black Horse.
2. Get on the history trail and visit the Bosworth Battlefield Centre
About a 10 minute drive outside of the town square, you can visit the site of a momentous battle for the English throne. Market Bosworth was the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 – many of you will have heard of the Wars of the Roses between the Houses of Lancaster and York in the 1400s for control of the English crown – but did you know Bosworth is the site of the final battle? In this battle, King Henry VII defeated Richard III- forever commemorated in Shakespearian literature through the line, ‘A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!’
The Battlefield Centre covers the history of the Wars of the Roses and the Battle of Bosworth itself, plus is great for children with lots of armour and weaponry to pick up and play with. There are also often events on at the site with actors/stall holders in traditional dress giving talks on medieval fighting methods or serving a hog roast. The cafe on site is also big, in an old tithe barn. Lovely.
3. Hike the Ambion Way from the Battlefield Centre
Full route: HERE
From the Battlefield Centre, there are loads of beautiful walks around the countryside nearby. You could chose a short circular walk down to the Ashby Canal and back, or you could make a decent hike of it and complete the 14km Ambion Way, my personal choice to take you around some gorgeous scenery.
4. Ride a traditional steam train
Near the Battlefield centre is the aptly named Battlefield Line, which is the last remaining part of the former railway line opened in 1873. It runs from Shackerstone to Market Bosworth. You can take the steam train up to Shackerstone, have a tea and cake in the Victorian tea room there and then come back to Bosworth, if that’s your kind of thing.
5. Stroll around the Country Park
Within a short walk from the main Market Square in Bosworth is the Country Park. Here you can stroll down to the lake and feed the ducks, explore in the woodland and grassy meadows and probably even meet a few friendly cows. If you come in May you can also see the lovely bluebells covering the ground. Perfect for burning off a bit of that pub lunch!
6. Enjoy the Ashby Canal (by walking or canal boat)
You can easily walk to the Ashby Canal from Bosworth Town Centre (or the Battlefield Centre), and enjoy a leisurely walk along the water front. I love spotting all the different boats, especially the coffin boat which can often be spotted in Spring and Summer!
7. Hike the Leicestershire Round
Full Route: HERE
One of the most famous walking routes in the Midlands is the Leicestershire Round, the 160km long route passes through Market Bosworth. You could walk the relevant section in a day, taking in a lot of the town and its surroundings.
8. Take a local trip
If you’re in Bosworth for more than a day, there are loads of options for interesting trips within 1hrs drive.
- Head in to the Peak District for a nice hike
- Visit a local stately home – you could try Calke Abbey, Coughton Court, or the Shugborough Estate
- Explore the National Memorial Arboretum, inspired by Arlington in America
- If you have children in tow, Twycross Zoo is a great option
- Head in to Leicester to visit the Richard III Exhibition, perhaps with a stop at Bradgate Park on the way
- Explore any of the beautiful surrounding little villages
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the post, and if you find yourself in Leicestershire, be sure to add Market Bosworth to your list. Stay safe and happy travelling.
Barney Travel Technologies
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