Hinckley Golf Club

Hinckley Golf Club sits just outside Leicester, a proper 18-hole course that's been around since 1890. It's the sort of place where you turn up, pay your green fees, and get a round in without the usual stuffiness of some clubs - visitors are welcome on weekdays and weekends, though you'll want to ring ahead to book a tee time.

The course itself is reasonably testing without being brutally unfair. Tree-lined fairways, a handful of water hazards, and greens that demand a bit of thought. If you're a bogey golfer, you'll find it satisfying. If you're after championship-level difficulty, look elsewhere. The clubhouse is functional rather than fancy, but that means decent value.

Obviously this is for golfers only, not the wider family. You're looking at three to four hours minimum. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter and cheaper if you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Mallory Meadows or Fortway Farm are only 3.5 miles away, which makes it a convenient option if you fancy mixing a round with a caravan break in the area.

It's a solid local course that works well as part of a longer Midlands trip rather than a pilgrimage destination. Worth fitting in if you're based nearby and looking for a round, but not worth detouring specifically to play.