John Merricks' Lake

The lake sits quietly on the outskirts of Leicester, a proper spot for a morning walk if you're staying in the area. It's small enough not to feel overwhelming, but there's enough water to draw the usual suspects - ducks, swans, the odd fisherman who looks like he's been there since dawn. The path around it takes maybe forty minutes if you're not dawdling, though the whole thing works better as part of a longer loop rather than a destination in itself.

Families with young kids will find it decent enough for an hour or so. The path is flat and manageable, and there's enough water action to keep them interested without needing a full day's entertainment. It's the kind of place where you could genuinely see everything worth seeing in under two hours.

If you're glamping at Reas Glamping Retreat just down the road - and it's a solid five-star spot - this makes an easy morning outing before heading back for breakfast. It's free to visit and there's parking nearby, though nothing fancy. Best avoided in the height of summer when it gets a bit busy with families, and honestly, late autumn or early spring is when it feels most pleasant. The water's cleaner-looking then, and you get the place more or less to yourself. Worth doing once if you're nearby, but don't rearrange your plans to get here.