Manchester Airport 1 hr 43
Twycross Zoo (20 min)
Family-orientated nature centre filled with primates, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, plus dining. National Space Centre (27 min)
Themed galleries displaying rockets, satellites and interactive exhibitions about space travel. Leicester Cathedral (26 min)
Medieval building with ornate sculptures, a Georgian spire plus regular tours and choral services. Abbey Park (27 min)
Sprawling, 32-acre grounds with a river and flower displays set on Augustinian monastery ruins. THE NATIONAL FOREST CO (19 min)
Forest, cycling, reservoir, and outdoor recreation Leicester Museum and Art Gallery (29 min)
Victorian museum with Ancient Egyptian and natural history collections and 18th-20th century art. CONKERS (19 min)
Family-friendly centre in the National Forest with play areas, discovery zones and an amphitheatre. National Trust - Calke Abbey (24 min)
Unrestored NT property vividly showing an estate in decline, with walled gardens and orangery. Tropical Birdland (20 min)
Small aviary for getting up close to a wide range of birds, including owls, macaws and kookaburras. Elvaston Castle (31 min)
Grade II listed Gothic Revival castle completed in 1836 in extensive parkland, closed to the public. Bradgate Park (23 min)
Park set in 830 acres, with footpaths, a stream, a playground plus roaming peacocks and fallow deer. Donington Park Circuit (15 min)
F1 race track home to various motoring fixtures, including the British Motorcycle Grand Prix. Great Central Railway (22 min)
The only place in the world where you can see 2 full sized steam trains pass each other. Beacon Hill, Leicestershire (14 min) Ashby de la Zouch Castle (11 min)
15th-century castle, now English Heritage, with Civil War history, a tower and underground passages. | 
