Site of St. Mary & St. Lazarus Hospital

What remains of St. Mary and St. Lazarus Hospital is essentially a patch of Leicestershire countryside that most people drive past without a second glance. But if you know what to look for, it's a genuinely absorbing archaeological site just outside Melton Mowbray - the sort of place that rewards a bit of detective work and imagination.

This was a medieval hospital, one of those charitable institutions that cared for the genuinely destitute and infirm from around the 12th century onwards. The physical remains are modest - earthworks and foundation traces mostly - but they tell you something real about how healthcare and charity functioned in medieval England. It's the kind of site where you need to stand still for a moment and let your mind do the heavy lifting.

Historians and archaeology enthusiasts will find this worthwhile, though families might struggle to keep kids engaged for long without some prior research or a good guidebook. The setting is pleasant enough - open Leicestershire countryside - but there's no visitor centre or interpretation board to hold your hand.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks like Eye Kettleby Lakes or Greendale Farm, this makes a solid afternoon ramble combined with a proper look around Melton Mowbray itself. Don't expect dramatic ruins or a cafe. Do expect to feel like you've actually discovered something that matters, even if it's just a field.