Loughborough campsites

This market town nestles in the rolling countryside of Charnwood where you can enjoy plenty of good walks through Charnwood Forest and see Britain's oldest rocks, spot wild deer and meet the Charnwood Forest alpacas. Children can meet and feed these fleecy friends, before rounding the day off with tea and a bite of caje in the cafe.

Beacon Hill Country Park is another pleasant place for walks, while Whatton House & Gardens offers stunning gardens and a historic country house. The market is a bustling and lively place where you can sample local produce, pop round the stalls and pick up a local memento. It's held every Thursday and Saturday, while the vibrant Farmers Market is every second Wednesday and the Vintage Market every Friday.

There are also plenty of boutique and high street shops and three shopping centres. In the summer the market place becomes a virtual seaside area, complete with sand and deck chairs for the family, which kiddies love.

Get under the skin of the town's history at Charnwood Museum -  there are plenty of interactive exhibitions which children will enjoy. The Loughborough Tower and Carillion -a fascinating war memorial is also worth a visit, and you'll chime in with a good word for the John Taylor Bellfoundry Museum, where you'll see exactly how bells are made.

Rev up your engine at F1 Karting where you can race in their karts, or simply watch others whizz around the tracks. The Great Station Railway is the only heritage railway one of its kind that runs as a mainline service and is well worth a visit. You could help your little one drive a locomotive, dine in first class with a five course feast or just enjoy the ride on a full size steam engine.

Loughborough is directly in between the bustling cities of Nottingham and Leicester, so why not try an urban break?