Birstall Golf Club

The clubhouse sits on high ground just outside Leicester, and even non-golfers can appreciate the proper views across the Leicestershire countryside. Birstall Golf Club is an 18-hole course that's been going since 1894, which means the greens have the kind of character you only get from a century-plus of maintenance and tradition.

You'll need to be a member to play, or you can ring ahead to see if they'll let you in as a guest - best to sort it before you arrive. Allow a full four and a half hours if you're playing, longer if you're slower. The course itself winds through parkland with enough slope to keep things interesting without being punishing. Winter can be wet, so spring and autumn tend to work better.

For a golf holiday based at one of the local caravan parks - Village Farm Getaway is particularly well-rated - Birstall makes for a solid half-day outing. It's close enough to Leicester to not feel isolated, but far enough out that you get proper green space. Families who aren't golfers might find themselves twiddling thumbs in the clubhouse though, so it's really one for the committed golfers in your group.

The real advantage? It's established enough to feel like you're playing somewhere with genuine pedigree, but it won't have the queues or the price tag of a top-tier course. Worth checking their website for current green fees and whether they're taking casual bookings.