Market Harborough

The Saturday market still draws crowds to the cobbled square, just as it has for over 700 years. Market Harborough keeps that proper market town feel without feeling like a museum piece - independent shops line the Georgian streets, and the old grammar school building now houses a decent coffee shop that does proper breakfast rolls.

Wander up to the Buttercross and you'll get the best sense of the place. This 17th-century timber structure sits right in the heart of things, with The Angel Hotel looking on from across the square. It's a working town that happens to be rather lovely, not the other way around.

The surrounding countryside is classic Leicestershire - rolling fields, scattered villages, and more footpaths than you can shake a walking stick at. Hallaton's just a few miles east, worth the trip for Hallaton Museum and the ancient earthworks at Castle Hill Motte & Baileys. The village also has one of those proper country pubs that does excellent Sunday lunch.

North of town, Crossburrow Hill offers cracking views across the Welland Valley on clear days. Hallaton Wood makes for a decent afternoon walk, especially in spring when the bluebells are out. The area's dotted with small villages like Blaston, each with their own parish church and bit of history.

Getting here's straightforward - Market Harborough sits on the A6 between Leicester and Kettering, with decent rail links to London St Pancras in about an hour. The town makes a sensible base for exploring this corner of Leicestershire, with several campsites scattered around the countryside offering everything from basic pitches to glamping pods. Brook Meadow and Village Farm Getaway both put you within easy reach of the town centre while keeping you in proper countryside.