Things to do in Loughborough Leicestershire With Kids

Last Updated on June 19, 2024 by Suzy McCullough

Loughborough is a town in the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire. There’s plenty in the town and the nearby surrounding area to enjoy a full day out. Here are some ideas below for things to do indoors and outdoors.

Bradgate Park

Average time of visit – 1-2+ hours. Outdoors
Bradgate Park was first enclosed as a deer park around 800 years ago. It provides 830 acres of publicly accessible countryside. The Park offers a wild and rugged landscape with dramatic rocky outcrops and gnarled old oak trees, many of which are well over 500 years old. The landscape offers some of the finest views and is rich in change throughout the seasons. You can walk amongst the free-roaming deer.

The lower part of the Park is easily accessible, with a tarmac carriageway running through this area, which is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Our Visitor Centre is in the heart of the Park, alongside the carriage-way at the Deer Barns, where you will also find one of our two Tearooms. 

Beacon Hill Country Park – Located south of the town

Average time of visit – 45 minutes to 1 hour. Outdoors
Enjoy magnificent views, woodland walks, and open heathland. Discover the rhododendron labyrinth and the many unique wooden sculptures. Learn how sheep, protected by alpacas, and cattle help maintain the heathland. Visit the new children’s play area near the lower car park and discover the hazel maze and log train in the Natural Play Area.

Charnwood Museum

Average time of visit – Up to 1 hour. Indoors
Charnwood Museum includes exhibits reflecting the history, geology, archaeology and industries of Charnwood and the surrounding area. It is a popular family-friendly museum set in the heart of the beautiful Queens Park in the centre of Loughborough.

Queens Park

Average time of visit – Up to 1 hour. Outdoors
Opposite the Charnwood Museum, you will find Queens Park. The park is home to a variety of facilities including an Under 12s play area with challenging activities for young people involving balancing, swinging and climbing. Bowling Green, Carillon Tower War Memorial and Museum, bandstand, aviaries and a swan Maze.

Great Central Railway

Average time of visit – 1 hour +. Indoors and outdoors
The Great Central Railway is the UK’s only double-track, main-line heritage railway. It’s the only place in the world where full-size steam engines can be seen passing each other – just as it was when steam ruled the rails. Trains run every weekend of the year, bank holidays and selected weekdays through the summer.

In addition, First Class Restaurant Car Services provide five-course meals whilst travelling between Loughborough and Leicester. Childhood dreams can come true with a Drive a Locomotive Experience when you can take the regulator on a mighty steam locomotive or notch up on a powerful diesel. They also run many special events

Laser Quest Loughborough

Average time of visit – 1-2 hours. Indoors
Experience the thrill and adrenaline of the ultimate laser adventure in Loughborough. ​Put on your pack and step into the future. Battling for supremacy with your fellow humans in an experience that lasts up to 20 mins taking you through a journey of sounds, lights and smoke. There can only be one winner in this real-life video game. You can purchase additional games.

Odeon Cinema Loughborough

Average time of visit – 2 hours +. Indoors
We have 6 screens of film magic showing stunning RealD 3D and enjoy super speedy ticket pick up from our 2 fast ticket machines in the foyer.

Cineworld Loughborough

Average time of visit – 2 hours +. Indoors
State-of-the-art 8-screen multiplex cinema and Starbucks store in the Baxter Gate leisure development in the heart of Loughborough town centre.

The Climbing Station – Outskirts of Loughborough

Average time of visit – 1-2.5 hours. Indoors
The Climbing Station is a bouldering centre in Loughborough run for climbers, by climbers. They know what makes a great indoor-climbing experience and we put 100% into making sure that you’ll have an amazing day. There is over 800 sqm of bouldering surface, covering almost every angle that you can possibly think of. They have a top rope wall that can be used by both kids and adults to learn the basics of roped climbing.

Archery Legends Experience

Average time of visit – 1-3 hours. Indoors
Archery Legends is a one-of-a-kind, arrow shooting, bow twanging, indoor archery activity centre for everyone who would like to try shooting a bow and arrow. Discover the enjoyment and challenge of archery. Can you learn the skills, discipline and focus needed to hit the gold? Can you hit our swinging targets?  Join us and we’ll help you find out if you have what it takes to become the next Archery Legend. Designed for individuals, groups, birthday parties, team building. No experience is necessary. Ages 7-80!”

Prices and opening times vary. Please check the websites before visiting.