Netherhall Library

Netherhall Library sits quietly in the Leicestershire countryside near Hungarton, the sort of place you'd only find if you were specifically looking for it - or got properly lost on a country drive. It's a working library housed in what was once a country house, which immediately tells you this isn't your typical high street branch with fluorescent lighting and self-checkout machines.

What makes it worth a stop is exactly that charm. You get actual librarians who know the stock, a collection that leans into local history and heritage, and the kind of atmosphere where you can actually think. The building itself has character - the bones of its previous life still visible in the architecture. If you're the sort who gets genuinely excited about old books, local archives, or just the idea of a library that hasn't been stripped down to its corporate skeleton, you'll find something here.

Realistic expectations matter though. This isn't a tourist attraction in the traditional sense. There's no café, no gift shop, no crowd. You're visiting a functioning community resource, which means opening hours can be limited and you should check ahead before making the journey. It works brilliantly as a quiet afternoon break if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots like Reas or Cossiwild Camping - gives you somewhere purposeful to go that isn't just another walk around a park.

Best suited to book lovers, local history enthusiasts, or anyone needing an hour of genuine peace away from their holiday park. Families with fidgety kids might find it a bit of a slog.