Best Decorated Street Loughbough Monitor Coronation Competition 1953

The streets of Loughborough wore their finest ribbons and bunting in 1953 when the town threw itself into the Coronation spirit with genuine abandon. What began as a local competition to find the best decorated street became something rather special - a snapshot of post-war Britain at its most optimistic and community-minded.

You won't find much fanfare about it now, but traces remain dotted around town if you know where to look. Some roads still have photos and plaques marking their moment of glory, and locals who remember the event can point you towards the winning streets. It's less about a formal visitor attraction and more about understanding what mattered to Loughborough people seventy years ago - pride in their neighbourhood, a collective effort, the chance to show off.

History buffs and anyone interested in 1950s Britain will find it worth a wander, particularly if you're already exploring Loughborough's industrial heritage. Families with children studying the period might enjoy hunting down the surviving evidence. You'll need time to chat with locals though - this isn't something you can dash through in an hour.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Proctors Park is closest at under three miles away - a morning spent hunting down Coronation Street decorations makes for an unusual bit of local colour before heading out to bigger attractions. It's the kind of thing that teaches you more about a place than any glossy heritage centre could.