Leicester

Curry house aromas drift down Belgrave Road while the roar from Welford Road occasionally punctuates weekend afternoons. Leicester might be England's tenth-largest city, but it maintains a proper Midlands grit beneath its multicultural energy.

Fosse Meadows Country Park offers decent walking trails along the River Soar, though it's hardly spectacular. More interesting are the old quarries dotted around the outskirts - Stoney Cove has become a popular diving spot, while Sapcote Quarry provides quieter fishing. The remnants of Sapcote Castle remind you that this area has seen plenty of history, even if most visitors dash straight past on the M69.

Baldwin's Spinney gives you a proper woodland walk without the weekend crowds of Bradgate Park. The city centre itself is a bit of a mixed bag - fantastic food scene, especially around the Golden Mile, but the shopping areas can feel tired midweek.

Getting here couldn't be simpler. Leicester sits bang on the M1, with regular trains from London St Pancras in just over an hour. The M69 connects you to Coventry and Birmingham without much fuss.

Staying at one of the holiday parks scattered around the city's edge makes perfect sense. You're close enough for quick trips into Leicester's curry houses and the Saturday market, yet far enough out to explore the Leicestershire countryside. The nearby villages like Huncote and Stoney Stanton offer traditional pub lunches and peaceful walks between the old Methodist chapels and parish churches that dot this quietly pleasant corner of the Midlands.