Conkers
Set amongst 120 acres of forest and bursting with activities, Conkers provides a fantastic day out for the whole family. There is a myriad of outdoor attractions to get stuck in with, whether tackling the assault course, squelching through the barefoot walk, riding on the Conkerchoo II train, or embarking on one of the ‘experience days’ or ‘adventures’ of ‘bush craft survival’, ‘kata canoeing’, archery, and more.
Indoors, the family can explore the discovery centre, enter the enchanted forest play zone, and engage with over 100 interactive exhibits in the four seasonal zones. If you’re brave enough, there’s also a ‘Hi Ropes Course’, ‘Lo Ropes Course’, ‘Powerfan Descender’, zip wire, and climbing wall to try your hand at.
General admission tickets cost £9.95 for adults and £7.95 for children, the ropes courses, climbing wall, zip wire, and powerfan descender are available as ‘add-on adventures’, if you would like to only partake in these aerial adventures, tickets are available. Conkers is a short twenty-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel East Midlands Airport.
Elvaston Castle Country Park
Spanning 321 acres of open parkland, woodland, and formal historical gardens, Elvaston Castle Country Park provides the perfect location to enjoy a ramble in the countryside and a picnic. There are range of footpaths and trails for walking, cycling, bird watching, and photography. Horse-riding facilities are also available, and for wildlife lovers there’s a local nature reserve. Although closed to the public, Elvaston Castle sits at the heart of the park and is an impressive example of Gothic revival architecture. The park also runs a range of annual events- take a look at the country park programme for more information.
Entry is free but car parking charges apply. The park is open all year round, opening at 9am and closing at 5pm (October-March) and 8pm (April-September). Elvaston Castle Country Park is a short twenty-minute drive from our hotel.
Great Central Railway
Travel back in time and climb aboard a stream train on the UK’s only double track, main line heritage railway. Running trains every weekend of the year, the Great Central Railway takes travellers on a journey from Loughborough through to Leicester North, stopping at Quorn and Woodhouse, and Rothley. There is also a range of dining options on board, from the Griddle Car to ‘Luncheons’. The Great Central Railway run a wide range of special events – take a look at ‘what’s on’ to plan a visit.
A ‘Day runabout’ ticket costs £16 for adults and £14 for children, and the timetable depends on the time of the year. The Great Central Railway is a short twenty-minute drive from our East Midlands Airport hotel.
Attenborough Nature Reserve
Famous for its bird wildlife, the Attenborough Nature Reserve is perfect for a mini ‘nature expedition’ as you explore the many trails of the reserve. The Nature Centre offers a range of facilities, including the Café, Indoor Nature Discovery Centre, and a Nature shop where you can pick up a souvenir. The reserve has free entry and sits a twenty-minute drive from our Leonardo Hotel.
Wollaton Hall & Park
Dating back to the 16th century, Wollaton Hall is a magnificent Grade I listed Elizabethan mansion bursting with history and heritage. Explore the ‘period rooms’ where you can see an example of the Tudor kitchen or the Regency Salon, ramble the 500 acres of parkland in which deer roam with you, or discover the Nottingham Industrial Museum in the 17th century stables block. Whether you embark on the hall tour, attend one of the hall’s events, peruse the Natural History Gallery, or uncover the botanic garden, there’s plenty to see and do for all ages.
Admission to the hall is free, however tours cost £5 and there are car parking charges. The hall is open daily 10am-5pm. Situated just outside Nottingham, Wollaton Hall is a twenty-five minute drive from Leonardo Hotel East Midlands Airport.
