Shepshed Library

Shepshed Library sits in the heart of this Leicestershire mill town, a proper working library rather than a tourist spectacle. It's the sort of place you'd pop into to escape the rain, grab a book, or use the computers - functional, welcoming, no pretence. The building itself is modest, but it serves the local community well and offers a genuine glimpse of how small English towns keep their cultural services running.

For families with young children, the children's section usually has a decent selection and regular story times depending on the season - worth checking ahead. Adult readers will find the usual mix of fiction and non-fiction you'd expect from a council library. History buffs might appreciate the local studies section if they're researching the area's textile heritage. It's not a destination in itself, but if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Midshires Way Campsite or Field of Dreams Glamping, it's a handy refuge on a wet afternoon.

Admission is free, naturally. Allow 30 minutes to an hour depending on what you're after. The real draw of staying around Shepshed is the walking - the Midshires Way runs through the area, connecting you to proper countryside routes. The library is useful as a planning stop rather than a main event. Leicester is only ten miles south if you want something more substantial to visit.