Leicestershire County Cricket Club

Grace Road in Leicester is where Leicestershire County Cricket Club has made its home since 1877, and stepping through those gates feels like walking into a proper slice of English sporting tradition. The ground itself is modest compared to flashy new stadiums elsewhere - there's genuine character in the pavilion and the stands, and on match days the atmosphere crackles with the kind of local pride you don't often find anymore.

Cricket fans will get the most from a visit, obviously. Watching a County Championship match here is a different experience from the international circus - it's intimate, knowledgeable crowds, proper cricket talk, and you can actually hear what's happening on the pitch. The ground offers tours when fixtures aren't on, which give you access to the dressing rooms and a proper behind-the-scenes look. Allow an hour or so for a tour, longer if there's a match on and you want to soak up the day.

For families with kids who know their cricket, it's worth the trip. Younger children might find a full day a bit much unless they're genuinely into the sport - there's not loads of entertainment outside the actual cricket. Free admission to the ground itself, but match tickets vary depending on what's being played.

If you're basing yourself at Green Acres or The Paddocks just a couple of miles away, Grace Road is barely a detour. Even better if you combine it with a walk around nearby Bradgate Park, which offers something completely different - parkland rather than sport - making for a proper mixed day out.