Loughborough

Student life dominates the rhythm here, with Loughborough University's red-brick campus spreading across the southern edge of town. Term time brings energy and late-night takeaways, while the holidays leave the streets surprisingly quiet. The town centre feels properly Midlands - functional rather than flashy, with a covered market that's been trading since medieval times and a mix of chain stores and independent shops along the pedestrianised Carillon Court.

Loughborough's claim to fame lies in its bells and railways. The world's largest bell foundry, John Taylor & Co, has been casting church bells here since 1784, though tours are limited. More accessible is the Great Central Railway, Britain's only double-track heritage line, where steam trains chuff through the Leicestershire countryside to Leicester North. The Carillon Tower, built to commemorate the Great War, houses a 47-bell carillon that rings out across town on special occasions.

Head out of town and you're quickly into proper countryside. The surrounding area is dotted with plantations and spinneys - Top Town Plantation and Old Wood offer decent walks if you fancy stretching your legs. Wymeswold, a few miles east, has retained more village character with its Methodist Church and the curious Village Pound, a small archaeological remnant where stray livestock were once penned.

The M1 runs close by, making Loughborough an easy drive from most of the Midlands. East Midlands Airport sits just down the road, bringing the occasional rumble of aircraft overhead. Leicester's only twenty minutes south for bigger-city attractions, while Nottingham's a similar distance north.

Staying at one of the local parks makes perfect sense for exploring this slice of middle England. You get the countryside feel while being within easy reach of both the town's amenities and the wider region's attractions.