Hinckley offers several distinct points of interest for a stay: weekly markets in the town centre, historic buildings, theatre history and the route of the Ashby Canal. There is also a bandstand in Argents Mead and recommended cycling routes for getting around town. You can decide in advance whether markets, architectural history, culture or mobility is most important to you.
Market Days and What’s on Offer
Markets are held in the town centre every week on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. They often feature up to 80 stalls selling food, clothing, jewellery, magazines, electrical goods and fabrics. The selection can vary, so the possible number of stalls and product categories is not guaranteed for every market day. If you are looking for a particular item, consider it a possible part of the selection rather than a guaranteed offering.
Town History on Different Scales
The Hinckley Town Centre Conservation Area focuses on Castle Street, Regent Street and the area around the Baptist Chapel. Many notable buildings from important periods in the town’s history preserve much of its character. A town-centre history trail also highlights historic buildings and makes the many yards and jitties another feature to explore.
The parish church of St Mary's Church is dedicated to Saint Mary and has stood at its present location in Hinckley for almost 900 years. The oldest parts still visible include the tower, nave and chancel; they date from 1240 and 1340. The character of a larger historic area and the long history of a single building thus offer two different perspectives on the town’s heritage.
Theatre and Music
The Concordia Theatre officially opened on 27 April 1973 with the gala performance “The Seven Ages of Man”, produced by Tony Howkins. Its auditorium seats 400 spectators. The opening date places the theatre’s history in context, while the capacity describes the auditorium itself. For theatre enthusiasts, these are two distinct points of interest: the venue’s history and the size of its auditorium.
A bandstand was installed at Argents Mead in 2006 as part of wider improvements. It is available for a variety of local and regional musical performances. Alongside the dated theatre history, it offers another cultural point of interest: a venue for musical performances with local and regional ties.
The Ashby Canal and Cycling Routes
The Ashby Canal runs from its junction with the Coventry Canal near Bedworth for about seven miles northeast through Hinckley. Hinckley Wharf is a notable feature of the canal. Its length and direction provide a sense of the waterway’s route, while the wharf offers a specific point of interest in the canal’s heritage.
Recommended on-road and off-road cycling routes are available for getting around town. The distinction between these two types of route can help you choose how to find your way by bike, while the canal information describes the waterway’s course. This helps separate two different questions for your stay: how you would like to get around Hinckley and how important the Ashby Canal is to your interest in the town.
Discover more destinations: Measham, Goadby Marwood, Lutterworth, Sproxton, Quorn, Markfield, Appleby Magna, Medbourne.
For the wider travel guide: Leicestershire.
