Hinckley City Guide

Hinckley is a small historic market town filled with independent stores & boutiques, a museum, theatre, golf course, and a selection of restaurants. Situated short distances from Coventry, Leicester, and Birmingham, our Hinckley Island hotel is perfectly place for exploring both charming rural towns and bigger historical cities, as well as a myriad of surrounding attractions from Twycross Zoo to Bosworth Battlefield. For more things to see and do, peruse below our selection of top Hinckley Island attractions.

Staff Recommends

Best Restaurant: Leonardo Hotel Hotel and Conference Venue Hinckley Island boasts one of the top restaurants in the region. The Marco Pierre White restaurant is the ideal location for a gourmet lunch or evening dining experience. 

Best Shopping: Castle Street is filled with a mix of retail outlets and independent stores (many family businesses) that offer friendly customer service and a warm welcome.

Best Kept Secret: Astley Book Farm & Coffee Shop offers a myriad of second-hand books, including antiquarian, rare, and out-of-print books. Find your favourite authors, curl up with a book, and enjoy a warm coffee or hot chocolate.

Culture

Hinckley & District Museum

Filled with artefacts and displays of local history, people and Hinckley life, the Hinckley & District Museum offers a visitors a glimpse into this small town and the surrounding area’s heritage. In addition to the educational displays, the museum offers visitors a friendly welcome, free children’s quiz sheets, a cottage garden to explore, tea room, and souvenir shop.

The museum is open Saturdays (and bank holiday Mondays) 10am-4pm and Sundays 2pm-5pm. Admission costs just £1 for adults and 25p for children. Hinckley & District Museum is a brief eight-minute drive from our our Hinckley Island Hotel.

Arbury Hall & Gardens

Sitting amongst over 100 acres of lakes and parkland, Arbury Hall and Estate is home to a magnificent Elizabethan mansion mixed with an 18th century Gothic style design. The interior rooms offer slightly awe-inspiring architecture as you explore the Gothic Revival structures and design, including particularly impressive fan vaulted ceilings. The gardens still reflect today the late 18th century landscaping of ‘serpentine paths’, artificial l lakes, and rolling lawns. You can also enjoy a traditional cream tea at the tea rooms in the original stable block.

Still a family home, Arbury Estate is only open during bank holiday weekends between April and September, however private groups of 25+ can book a visit on weekdays during this period. Admission costs £8.50 for adults and £4.50 for children. Arbury Hall is a short twenty-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel Hotel and Conference Venue Hinckley Island.

The Battlefield Line

Transporting visitors back in time, The Battlefield Line offers steam, diesel, and railcar train services for a truly unforgettable experience. Running from Shackerstone Station, stopping Market Bosworth Station and finishing at Shenton (or vice versa), the line takes you through the lush countryside and offers the opportunity to explore the quaint rural towns – Market Bosworth is especially charming. The headquarters is housed in the Victorian Shackerstone Station, situated on the northern end of the line. The station is home to a range of stored locomotives, a museum filled with artefacts of the railway’s heritage, the Victorian Tea Rooms, and a souvenir shop.

The Battlefield Line runs a range of special events- take a look at the event schedule or train timetable to plan a visit. Standard return fares cost £10 for adults and £6 for children. Shenton Station is a short fifteen-minute drive from our Hinckley Island hotel.

Warwick Castle

Bursting with history and heritage, Warwick Castle offers adventures of knights and princesses, battles and dungeons, myths and magic, making it an exciting day out for those of all ages. Explore turrets, towers, lavish interiors, historical artefacts, and engaging exhibitions within the castle walls, or immerse in the gardens, playgrounds, and daily shows, including ‘Horrible Histories Wicked Warwick’ and ‘Flight of the Eagles’, amongst 64 acres of grounds. There’s a range of places to grab a bite to eat from pizza and burger restaurants to The Conservatory Tea House.

Tickets are available on the gate for £24.60 for adults and £21.60 for children, however, online prices are considerably cheaper at £17.22 for adults and £15.12 for children. Prices are subject to change depending on the time of the year. Opening times vary depending on the time of year but are usually between 10am and 4/5pm. Warwick Castle is a leisurely twenty-five minute drive from our hotel.

For a richer Hinckley experience, explore our Hinckley City Guide, where you will find a wealth of exciting ideas for things to see and do.

Days Out

Tropical Birdland

Home to over 250 birds and nestled amongst six and half acres of countryside, Tropical Birdland is bursting with a range of exciting things to see and do. With parrots from around the world flying freely and chicks hatching in the chick room, this attraction is overflowing with unique wildlife experiences. You can visit the ‘walkthrough’ aviaries and spend hours looking for a variety of different species, or you can head into the woodlands to enjoy the native wildlife (can you hear the woodpeckers?) and greenery of the area. There’s also a play area for kids, ‘tea cabin’ for food and drink, and gift shop to pick up a bird themed souvenir.

The ‘nature lover’s wonderland’ costs £7.75 for adults and £5.25 for children. During March – October the Birdland is open 10am-5.30pm, closing at 3pm from November to February. Tropical Birdland is a twenty-five minute drive from our Leonardo Hotel and Conference Venue Hinckley Island.

Drayton Manor Theme Park

Drayton Manor Theme Park is bursting with over 200 fantastic family-friendly rides and attractions, from the Buffalo Coaster to the thrilling Stormforce 10. Thomas Land is home to a range of great rides for young children, while the rest of the theme park caters for different ages and interests. The park also includes the world's first ever stand-up tower drop,dodgems, a museum, and a shop. Whether you enjoy the many rides, explore the zoo, or immerse in the 4D Cinema experience - a day at Drayton Manor Park offers fun for all!

Admission to the park starts from £15 to £27 for children and £20-£36 for adults. Drayton Manor Park is a thirty-minute drive from our Hinckley Island hotel.

Tunnel Brewery

Oozing countryside charm and reviving the ‘traditional craft of hand-brewing local beers’, the Tunnel Brewery uses local raw materials to create a range of Real Ales and Seasonal Real Ales. The welcoming on-site pub is home to their ‘portfolio’ of ales as well as a selection of imported artisanal beers if you want to sample a variety of different beers. A tour of the brewery is also available by appointment and costs around £12.

Tunnel Brewery is a short 23-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel Hotel and Conference Venue Hinckley Island.

Bosworth Water Park

Overflowing with exciting activities, Bosworth Water Park is the perfect oasis for those of all ages. Whether you love sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing, prefer a tranquil fishing spot or sun tanning on the beach, the park has something for all interests. For young children, there’s the ‘Black Pearl Adventure Playground’, Pirate Island Crazy Golf, and a Pedalo Treasure Hunt. The park is home to the Water’s Edge Café and Bar for those wanting to grab a bite to eat. Prices are charged by vehicle, and depend on time spent in the park, day of the week and time of the year. The park is open daily 9am- 5pm.

Enjoy a stroll around the 50 acres of parkland, lie in the sand on the Blue Lagoon beach, or learn how to sail, all just a twenty-minute drive from our Hinckley Island hotel.

For an even deeper dive into Hinckley's charm, make sure to consult our Hinckley City Guide. It offers a comprehensive source of recommendations and ideas to ensure you experience Hinckley’s best attractions, activities, and hidden gems.

Shopping

Hinckley Market

Dating back to 1311, if not earlier, Hinckley Market has played an important part in the town’s history and character. The market runs on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays 9am-4pm. Bustling with up to 80 stalls, visitors can peruse a wide selection of food, clothes, jewellery, collectables, and more.

Our Hinckley Island hotel is a short eight-minute drive from Hinckley Market.

Britannia Shopping Centre

Home to a range of stores, Britannia Shopping Centre in Hinckley can help you with a variety of shopping needs from beauty to fashion. Situated on the pedestrianised High Street, Britannia Shopping is a short eight-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel and Conference Venue Hinckley Island Hotel.