More than 230 ornate ceremonial horseshoes give Oakham Castle’s Great Hall its distinctive character. They were donated by nobles and peers of the realm. Built between 1180 and 1190, the hall is considered the best-preserved example of Norman secular architecture in Europe. Its construction history and collection make a visit an encounter with two very different traces of the past. Oakham Castle grounds and the Great Hall are free to visit. Check access information before your visit.
Discover architecture and history
Rutland County Museum also takes visitors deep into the region’s history: its archaeological exhibits explore Rutland’s early past. It is also home to the only surviving New Drop Gallows in England. The museum runs children’s workshops during half-term and school holidays; check the dates when planning your visit.
At Lyddington Bede House, you can discover another chapter in the history of architecture. The building was once a wing of a palace belonging to the Bishops of Lincoln. Visitors can explore the Bedesmen’s rooms, with their small windows and fireplaces, as well as the striking timber roof and the bishops’ great chamber with its carved Tudor cornice. Here, different architectural features can be seen in the rooms themselves, rather than appearing only as abstract stylistic terms.
Waterscapes and distinctive habitats
Rutland Water Nature Reserve regularly hosts more than 25,000 waterbirds. Two walking trails lead from the Lyndon Visitor Centre through woodland and meadows and along the bay. Both trails are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. If you would like to get your bearings first, the Rutland Water Visitor Centre provides information about the reservoir’s history and the wildlife of the nature reserve; maps and information about cycle routes are also available there.
Ketton Quarry is a different kind of natural area, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Grassland, scrub and woodland reclaimed by nature provide habitats for butterflies, moths, wildflowers and reptiles. Summer is considered the best time of year for a walk in the quarry. Rutland’s natural attractions are therefore quite distinct: Rutland Water centres on waterbirds and wetlands, while Ketton is known for the diversity of its reclaimed habitats.
Railway heritage, gardens and experiences
Rocks by Rail brings railway history together with a changing landscape. The open-air museum covers 19 acres of a restored quarry with railway tracks. It has the UK’s only comprehensive collection of locomotives and rolling stock from standard-gauge quarry railways. Visitors can explore nature trails, take train rides, drive a historic locomotive and join workshop tours. Check operating days before making plans. The Oakham Loop cycleway passes the museum site.
For a different kind of discovery, Rutland Farm Park is a working 18-acre farm in Oakham. Visitors can explore the trails and meet and feed the animals. Barnsdale Gardens, by contrast, focuses on designed spaces: the site comprises 38 small, themed garden rooms. Both places offer a tangible glimpse of different aspects of rural life, without needing to focus on the same kind of outing.
Local produce is also part of what the region has to offer. Mallard Point in Essendine is a family-run vineyard with its own single-vineyard site, as well as a distillery. It produces local gins, still wines and sparkling wines, and also offers tours. Check the current tour options before visiting. The range of things to discover therefore spans architecture and collections, nature and railways, gardens and Rutland produce.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Morcott, Oakham, Lyddington, Uppingham, Ashwell, Greetham, Clipsham, Cottesmore, Langham, Seaton, Empingham, North Luffenham.
Return to the main travel guide: East Midlands.
