Top 10 Historic Sites in East Midlands, England

June 21, 2021 Fernanda Pittenger

Discover the best top things to do in East Midlands, United Kingdom including Heage Windmill, Tolethorpe Hall, Burghley House, The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints, Hardwick Hall and Gardens, Althorp House, Leicester Guildhall, Lincoln Cathedral, Calke Abbey, Newstead Abbey.
Restaurants in East Midlands

1. Heage Windmill

Chesterfield Road Heage, Belper DE56 2BH England +44 1773 853579 [email protected] http://www.heagewindmill.co.uk
Excellent
80%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 171 reviews

Heage Windmill

Our 18th Century Windmill is the only surviving Six Sailed Stone Built Windmill in the Country! We give visitors an insight into the life of a miller back in the day and how the windmill works. The restored windmill is working again and produces flour that can be bought in the shop on site! We look forward to welcoming you to the windmill soon, and we'd like to take the time to thank you for visiting our TripAdvisor Page

Reviewed By 997briant - London, United Kingdom

What a beautiful and historic landmark this is, sitting high up on a grassy ridge overlooking the verdant Derbyshire countryside. It was built in 1797, and after various periods of natural disasters, dereliction and restoration (the latest being in 2002) it stands proud, sails to the wind, and continues to grind flour from local wheat, as it did when it was first built. Apparently it is the only remaining six-sail windmill in England. With the current pandemic the windmill is currently closed to visitors. In normal times you can visit the windmill on weekends between April and October, and also take an inexpensive little tour which is offered. I’ve visited previously, when it was open, and bought a bag of the stone-milled flour ground at the windmill. It’s an excellent rustic strong bread flour. I understand that the flour is available at local farmers’ markets. On this visit we could only view its graceful stone exterior. For the best views of the windmill, follow the public footpath that leads into a grassy field to the left, just before the entrance gate. From this vantage point you will be able to appreciate its grandeur. The windmill is down a laneway off Chesterfield Road (the B6013) near the village of Heage, though we walked on a public footpath from Heage. It’s a beautiful landmark and worth a visit.

2. Tolethorpe Hall

Tolethorpe Hall, Stamford PE9 4BH England +44 1780 754381 http://stamfordshakespeare.co.uk/tolethorpe-history/
Excellent
87%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 38 reviews

Tolethorpe Hall

Reviewed By diandruss2016 - Ipswich, United Kingdom

Went to see The Merry Wives of Windsor and it was fantastic, the cast were wonderful, funny and very professional, love, love love!!! The venue tolethorpe hall is just magical, this is a wonderful night out.

3. Burghley House

Stamford PE9 3JY England +44 1780 752451 [email protected] http://www.burghley.co.uk/
Excellent
63%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,593 reviews

Burghley House

This historic Elizabethan house (circa 1587) features a serpentine park that was designed by Lancelot Brown and a gothic greenhouse and stables.

Reviewed By 450ianf - London, United Kingdom

An amazing house with wonderful interiors and very fine art. I think we saw 32 rooms and every one contained items of beauty and great interest. Right from the start we received a warm welcome (worth mentioning Jack who was so friendly and helpful). So much to see. Spent over 3 hours here taking it all in. I recommend this place and also recommend you allow enough time to take a leisurely look at everything. This is not a place to be rushed.

4. The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints

Church Way, Chesterfield S40 1XJ England +44 1246 206506 http://www.chesterfieldparishchurch.org.uk
Excellent
66%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 686 reviews

The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints

Reviewed By D768TCjohnb

From J Boy of Derby The largest church in Derbyshire and also one of the most impressive. It's more like a cathedral than an ordinary parish church. Magnificent stained glass windows each with there own story, many tombs and memorial plaques are on display. This time of the year is the annual Christmas tree festival, a most impressive display with over a hundred trees from various organisations across the town and surrounding area. It's an impressive display trees lit up against the background of this beautiful church, with a pianist to add to the atmosphere. At certain times of the year in the afternoon it's possible to climb with a guide to the top if the tower and see for first hand the famous spire that makes the town so famous. Well worth the climb, an interesting commentary is given by the guide.

5. Hardwick Hall and Gardens

Doe Lea, S445QT England +44 1246 850430 http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick
Excellent
65%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,480 reviews

Hardwick Hall and Gardens

Reviewed By Ceyzeriat - Chesterfield, United Kingdom

Hardwick Hall is one of the most important houses historically in the whole of the UK. It's not for me to say whether or not people will like what they find there but it should be on everyone's 'bucket list'! The location is stunning (forget the M1) and as the sun sets in the west, reflecting on the thousands of window panes you can imagine how the local peasantry must have marvelled at the opulence of it all.The National Trust have gone to great lengths to retain the atmosphere of an Elizabethan house and the restoration of the tapestries has been (and still is) a true labour of love. We're so lucky to live nearby and to be able to 'pop in' whenever we have a spare afternoon - we can appreciate both house and gardens in the ever changing seasons. Not to be missed and lots of things for the children to do.

6. Althorp House

Althorp House Rugby Rd. off the A428, Northampton NN7 4HQ England +44 1604 770107 [email protected] http://www.spencerofalthorp.com
Excellent
56%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 721 reviews

Althorp House

Reviewed By H1922OUchristopherw - Banbury, United Kingdom

Great house fantastic grounds immaculately kept with a fascinating history through the age's that has been well continue by the pressent Earl Spencer

7. Leicester Guildhall

Guildhall Lane, Leicester LE1 5FQ England +44 116 253 2569 [email protected] http://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/lc/leicester-city-museums/museums/the-guildhall/
Excellent
54%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 535 reviews

Leicester Guildhall

Leicester is privileged to have one of the best-preserved timber framed halls in the country dating back 600 years. The Guildhall is a historic building and the oldest building still in use in the city. It was Leicester’s first police station and between 1876 and the 1900’s and saw many unsavoury characters pass through its doors. The Great Hall itself was built in about 1390 as a meeting place for the Guild of Corpus Christi (a small but powerful group of businessmen and gentry) and it’s also believed that Shakespeare performed here during Tudor times. Today, the Guildhall is best known as an excellent performance venue, attracting acts from across the country. It’s also known as a museum where visitors can step back in time and come face to face with Crankie Gemmie and Emma Smith, two of Leicester's notorious pick-pockets who can be found lurking in the Victorian police cells. The museum is also home to the Medieval Leicester galleries and The White Rose Cafe.

Reviewed By nataliehF1833SA

This guildhall was interesting and had many original features from the time of use. The mayor's room was amazing. The little signs regarding not touching anything were even very funny. This was a free admission and even had activity sheets for children to add it. The old hall was lovely too and to think it was in use until the 20s shows the longterm use of the building. Fantastic little museum.

8. Lincoln Cathedral

Exchequergate House 18A Minster Yard, Lincoln LN2 1PX England +44 1522 561600 [email protected] http://lincolncathedral.com
Excellent
79%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6,159 reviews

Lincoln Cathedral

'I have always held and proposed against all comers to maintain that the Cathedral of Lincoln is out and out the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles' - John Ruskin Lincoln Cathedral was for almost 300 years the tallest building in the world. Yet, in spite of its size, it is filled with intricate detail. Remigius, the Bishop who built the earliest part of the Cathedral in the Norman style, came over with William the Conqueror. Later, in Lincoln Cathedral the architects of the gothic style perhaps reached the pinnacle of their art. Everywhere you look there is the most intricate detail, walls, roofs elaborated by the finest carving. From the time of the death of the saintly Bishop of Lincoln, Hugh of Avalon who so lovingly restored the Cathedral after an earthquake in the 12th century, thousands of people have come on pilgrimage to this place of pilgrimage, holiness and prayer. In 1215 another Hugh Bishop of Lincoln, Hugh of Wells, was present at Runnymede along with Lincolnshire's Cardinal Archbishop Stephen Langton. When King John agreed to the barons' demands, copies of Magna Carta were made and distributed to sheriffs and cathedrals throughout England. Lincoln Cathedral's Magna Carta is one of only four from the original distribution still in existence. It is the only one to bear the name of its city.

Reviewed By X1381UAmichaels

Tour guides are excellent and this is a beautiful place in every sense Helpful and welcoming staff Enjoyed the cafe and exhibits We went back on several occasions Roof tour and floor tour worthwhile and look for the light coming through the stained glass windows and reflecting on the floor and columns

9. Calke Abbey

Ticknall DE73 7LE England +44 1332 863822 [email protected] http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke-abbey/
Excellent
60%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,450 reviews

Calke Abbey

Historic great house, which has remained largely unchanged for most of the 20th century, features unique collections, a landscaped park and walled gardens.

Reviewed By 378lizh - Lichfield, United Kingdom

This is an exceptional place to visit. There are lots of walks to try and it is close to the pretty Staunton Harold reservoir. On the estate are a large country house, preserved in the state in which it was acquired by the National Trust, an estate church, gardens, various greenhouses, such as for ferns etc, gardeners’ tunnels and an ice cave. It ended up being more than we could explore in one day, so a return visit will not be too far away.

10. Newstead Abbey

Newstead Abbey Newstead Abbey Park, Ravenshead NG15 8GE England +44 1623 455900 [email protected] http://www.newsteadabbey.org.uk/
Excellent
53%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 672 reviews

Newstead Abbey

Originally built in 1164 as an Augustinian priory, this became the ancestral home of poet Lord Byron.

Reviewed By Natalya1

Not so long ago I moved to Ravenshead Village and to my delight, literally on the door step, I have the most beautiful place to go to for my daily walks with my dog. I fell in love with this magical place with amazing sunrise and sunsets, noisy and curious peacocks, Canadian Geese, Swans, beautiful waterfalls, lakes and ponds and the most amazing gardens! I don’t know any gardener personally to say a big thank you for keeping the Abbey grounds so beautiful, but their hard work definitely shows and is highly appreciated ! By pure chance I came across on Instagram to one of the gardeners page adavison.gardener and I’ll take a chance to say Thank you , you doing really great job! I highly recommend Newstead Abbey for a simple stroll around beautiful grounds, for walk with dogs, for tranquility and meditation in Japanese Garden, for bird listening and watching, photography, picnics, running , cycling and much much more ! 10/10!!!!

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