Major city · United Kingdom
Loughborough
Give Loughborough one full day: the Carillon, the bell foundry tour and the Great Central Railway. Sleep in the town centre, not by the station.
Loughborough is a Leicestershire market town built on hosiery and engineering, now dominated by its university. The centre is compact and walkable, the station sits about a mile north-east of it, and the town works best as a one-day stop or a base for the Great Central Railway and Bradgate Park. Term time is busy and young; July to September is quiet.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Dec–Feb (short, wet days)
- Airport
- EMA
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Loughborough999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Loughborough, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyA normal English market town and one of the safer places in the county.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers999 or 112 police, fire, ambulance · 111 NHS non-urgent · 101 police non-urgent (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportEMA East Midlands Airport (About 7 miles north-west; Skylink bus is the direct link, more useful than the train via East Midlands Parkway.).
- Getting aroundThe centre is small enough to walk.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee£3–4 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
- BeerPint of draught beer£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi, station to town centrecheck£6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
- Metro or bus rideTown bus farecheck£2–3 (≈ US$3–4)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week£8–15 (≈ US$11–20)
- Budget bedFamily room (up to 4), a night, per room£90 (≈ US$120)
- Mid-range bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per room£85 (≈ US$120)
- High-end bedChain-hotel double room, a night, per room£130 (≈ US$180)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £160 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- EMA East Midlands Airport (About 7 miles north-west; Skylink bus is the direct link, more useful than the train via East Midlands Parkway.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Apr
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
May
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Jun
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jul
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Aug
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Sep
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Oct
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest May (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Loughborough: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
10 rd
Mar
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
11 rd
Apr
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
10 rd
May
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
Jun
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
9 rd
Jul
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Aug
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Sep
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
9 rd
Oct
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
11 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
11 rd
Dec
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
12 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is small enough to walk. Kinchbus runs the town services, with Arriva, Trent Barton and Centrebus covering the surrounding area. Loughborough station is about a mile north-east of the centre; taxis wait outside. National Cycle Route 6 passes through, and the Grand Union Canal reaches Loughborough Wharf at the north edge of the centre.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 45 min
East Midlands Railway from Loughborough, about 15–20 min
Use it for the cathedral, the Richard III centre and the market.
Bradgate Park
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Bus or car south towards Leicester, then walk in
Former royal deer park; wear boots, the paths are rough.
Castle Donington
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
Car or bus towards East Midlands Airport
Mostly useful for Donington Park race days and the airport.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Bus or car north-west on the A512
Castle ruins and a small market town.
Coalville
cautionDoor to door: About 30 min
Bus or car south on the A511
Gateway to the National Forest; little to see in the town itself.
Melton Mowbray
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Car or train with a change
Pork pies and Stilton country; market day is Tuesday.
Market Harborough
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Train towards Leicester, then change; or car on the A6
Georgian town centre and a good Saturday market.
Appleby Magna
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Car on the A444
Sir John Moore school is the draw; hard without a car.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (Market Place and High Street)
Walk to the market, the Carillon and the pubs; the station is about a 20-minute walk away.
Station and canal side
Convenient for the Great Central Railway and early trains; quieter in the evening.
Barrow upon Soar
Village south-east of town with its own pubs and a riverside walk; needs a bus or car.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–75 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- £75–130 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
- High
- £130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Chain-hotel double room1 × 1 night × £85 | £85 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £85 | £170 |
| Skylink bus, East Midlands Airport both ways2 × £12 · check | £24 |
| Bell foundry tour2 × £13 | £25 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 | £20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £32 |
| Trip total≈ £178 per person per day, bed included | £356≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in pounds; long-distance travel excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | £3–4 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Pub main course | £12–18 (≈ US$16–25) |
| Pint of draught beer | £4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Town bus farecheck | £2–3 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Taxi, station to town centrecheck | £6–9 (≈ US$8–12) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | £8–15 (≈ US$11–20) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The station is about a 20-minute walk from the centre: allow for it with bags, or take a taxi.
- The bell foundry tour must be booked ahead and needs flat, fully closed shoes.
- The Carillon tower keeps seasonal opening: afternoons plus Saturday and Thursday mornings from Good Friday to the end of September; check before you go.
- Summer is quiet because the students leave: some cafés and bars cut their hours.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 999 or 112
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
- Police non-urgent
- 101
Pocket card
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LoughboroughLoughborough
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance999 or 112
- NHS non-urgent111
- Police non-urgent101
Embassy
No embassies in Loughborough; they are in London. The nearest US consulate-general is in Edinburgh, and there is a US embassy in London (check current addresses).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Skylink bus, East Midlands Airport → Loughborough: about £6 (≈ US$8), about 30 min (check)
- Taxi, Loughborough station → town centre: £6–9 (≈ US$8–12)
- Train, Loughborough → Leicester: about £7–9 (≈ US$10–12) off-peak return, 15–20 min (check)
Say or show
- Please — Please (pleez)
- Thank you — Thank you (thank yoo)
- Excuse me — Excuse me (ik-SKYOOZ mee)
- How much is it? — How much is it? (how much iz it)
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card? (kan eye pay by kard)
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet? (wair iz thuh TOY-let)
Tipping: 10–12.5% in restaurants if no service charge is added; not expected in pubs.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Loughborough. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (short, wet days) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 8 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares