Saffron Lane Athletics Stadium

The athletics track at Saffron Lane isn't somewhere you'd stumble upon by accident - you'd have to mean to go there. It's a proper working stadium on Leicester's outskirts, hosting track and field events throughout the year, from local club nights to regional championships. The eight-lane synthetic track is decent, the facilities look well-maintained, and if you catch an evening meet on a clear night, there's something oddly compelling about watching athletes push themselves under the floodlights.

This is one for the running obsessed. If your family includes a keen sprinter, middle-distance runner, or anyone serious about athletics, checking the fixture list is worth doing. Spectating is free on most club nights, though larger events might have an entry fee - worth ringing ahead to confirm. You could easily spend an hour or two here, less if you're not particularly into the sport.

It's not a destination attraction, but slot it into a wider Leicestershire trip and it works. Green Acres Caravan Park is only twenty minutes away, and Bradgate Park - which actually has proper walking trails and parkland - sits about six miles north. If you're staying locally and want an evening out that doesn't involve another museum or pub, catching some live athletics is a genuine option. Beats sitting in the caravan.