Atherstone

Market towns don't come much more down-to-earth than this working Warwickshire settlement straddling the Watling Street. Despite the postcode confusion that places it administratively in Leicestershire, Atherstone is pure north Warwickshire - a proper market town where the weekly market still matters and the high street hasn't been entirely hollowed out by retail parks.

The town's claim to fame is the annual Shrove Tuesday Ball Game, a medieval free-for-all that sees hundreds of locals battle through the streets for possession of a decorated football. It's been running for over 800 years, making it one of Britain's oldest surviving street games. The rest of the year, things are considerably calmer around St Mary's Church and the Victorian terraces that fan out from the market square.

Merry Miner Brewery keeps the local beer scene interesting, while the back-to-back housing offers a glimpse into 19th-century industrial life. For something completely different, Unique Indoor Golf provides entertainment when the weather turns.

The countryside around Atherstone rolls gently through former mining territory, now largely returned to farmland and woodland. You're well positioned here for exploring both the Leicestershire borders and deeper into Warwickshire's rural heart.

Getting here couldn't be easier - Atherstone sits right on the West Coast Main Line with regular services to London, Birmingham and the north. The M42 runs close by, making it a sensible base for touring the Midlands without the hassle of city traffic. Several holiday parks dot the surrounding area, from traditional caravan sites to more upmarket lodge parks, giving you options whether you want basic touring pitches or something more luxurious.