Tilton Playing Field

Tilton Playing Field doesn't announce itself with fanfare. It's a modest nature reserve just outside Leicester that locals know about and tourists tend to miss, which is rather the point. The mix of grassland and woodland gives you proper value if you're after a quiet walk without the crowds you'd get at the bigger country parks.

Walkers will find it decent enough - the paths are straightforward, there's enough green space to stretch your legs for an hour or so, and it's the sort of place where you might actually spot something interesting if you go early or late in the day. Children get bored if you stay longer than ninety minutes, to be honest, unless they're the type who genuinely enjoy spotting birds and insects rather than playground equipment.

The site works well as a loose end to tie up if you're camping at Emily's Cut just down the road. Less than a mile away, it means you can slip off for a morning stroll without faffing about with the car. It's free and open during daylight, though there's nothing here in terms of facilities - no café, no visitor centre, just you, the grass, and whatever's in the undergrowth.

Realistically? It's a bonus rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with a proper day out at one of Leicester's better parks if you're making a weekend of it, and use Tilton for quieter moments.