Leicester Lions

Leicester Lions is the speedway team that races at Beaumont Leys stadium, just outside the city centre. If you've never watched speedway before, it's properly thrilling - four riders on 500cc bikes with no brakes, throwing up clouds of shale as they jostle for position around a tight oval track. The noise is immense, the racing surprisingly tactical, and you'll find yourself on your feet even if you came in skeptical.

It's a solid night out for families with kids old enough to sit through two hours and anyone who fancies something different from the usual tourist attractions. The local crowd is friendly and genuinely knowledgeable about the sport - you'll pick up the tactics just by listening to the person next to you. Speedway runs seasonally, so you'll need to check their fixture list before planning a visit.

Admission is modest compared to football matches, making it decent value if you time it right. Allow three hours from arrival to leaving, including parking and grabbing a drink. The track is accessible from Leicester town centre, so it works well if you're based at one of the nearby parks like Green Acres or The Paddocks for a longer Leicestershire break.

Truth is, speedway won't suit everyone - some find it repetitive, others think the engines are too loud. But if you want to see something genuinely local and a bit different, it's worth the visit.