Library

Leicester's main library sits right in the city centre, a proper focal point if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby caravan parks like Cossiwild Camping or Bradgate Park. It's a working library - not some tourist attraction - which means you get the real thing: local history collections, a decent reference section, and actual Leicestrians going about their business.

What makes it worth a visit depends entirely on what you're into. History buffs will find the local studies department genuinely useful - Richard III materials, medieval Leicester records, that sort of thing. There's also a reasonable children's section if you've got young ones who need quietening down on a rainy afternoon. The building itself is functional rather than stunning, but it does the job.

Free to browse, though you'll need a library card to borrow anything - takes five minutes to set up if you've got ID and proof of address from your caravan. Allow an hour maximum unless you're serious about the archives. It's best visited mid-week when it's less rammed.

For a camping holiday in the area, it's a useful backup plan rather than a main event. Pop in when the weather's poor, or if you want to research something about the region before heading out to Bradgate Park's woodland walks or the various farms around Meadow Farm Marina. Honestly, most visitors will find one visit enough, but it beats sitting in the tent when it's drizzling.