
Town in Leicestershire, England
Photo: Chris J Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Loughborough (pronounced "LUFF-burra") is a market town in Leicestershire.
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Market Place hosts the towns much criticised, but now much loved 'Sockman' statue. It's the work of Glaswegian artist Shona Kinloch and commemorates the once thriving hosiery industry within the town.
Carillon Tower (universally mispronounced ca-ri-li-on) in Queen's Park is the town's war memorial and the outstanding landmark. The tower is open every afternoon plus Saturday and Thursday mornings from Good Friday to the end of September. The Carillon is a musical instrument of static bells played operated by a keyboard. Recitals are given on Thursdays lunchtimes and Sundays afternoons through the summer.
A preserved steam mainline railway running on the old Great Central from Loughborough to Leicester North.
collection of the world's largest working bell foundry. It may be possible to tour the foundry. Two hour tours of the foundry should be booked in advance. Visitors must wear flat, completely closed shoes.
The small Charnwood museum occupies the old swimming baths in the Queen's Park. It contains displays on the history and geology of the area and some of the current industrial base of the town along with temporary exhibits.
Loughborough Carillon is a carillon and war memorial in Queen's Park, and is a well-known landmark, visible from several miles away. It is 152 feet (46 m) high.
Loughborough Meadows is a 60.5 ha biological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the northern outskirts of Loughborough. An area of 35.3 ha is managed as a nature reserve by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. Lapwings and redshanks breed in the area.
Holds a number of arts and entertainment events.
By train
Loughborough station about a mile north-east of the town centre and is served by East Midland Trains travelling from London St Pancras International to Sheffield and London St Pancras International…
By car
Loughborough sits on the main A6 road between Leicester and Derby and adjacent to the M1 motorway (at junction 23).
By bicycle
Loughborough is on National Cycle Route 6.
By narrow-boat
The refurbished Loughborough Wharf at the northern edge of the town centre links to the Grand Union Canal.
The main bus services within the town are provided by Kinchbus. Services to surrounding areas are provided by Arriva, Trent Barton, South Notts, Centrebus & Paul Winson.
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