Leicester to Nottingham drive: Distance, time & best stops
The best stops near the Leicester to Nottingham drive are Bradgate Park, the Great Central Railway and the East Midlands Aeropark. The distance from Leicester to Nottingham by car is 31 miles, with a 52 minute driving time.
The drive from Leicester to Nottingham connects the two biggest cities in the East Midlands.
Leicester offers scavenger hunts and the National Space Centre.
Top Nottingham experiences include a guided Victorian architecture walk and a Robin Hood-themed treasure hunt.
Leicester to Nottingham distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Leicester to Nottingham is 31 miles. This makes for a driving time of around 51 minutes. The quickest route goes via the A50, M1 and A453.
The best road trip attractions to add to the Leicester to Nottingham drive are Bradgate Park, the Great Central Railway and the East Midlands Aeropark. All require a short detour off the main route.
Leicester to Nottingham road trip attractions: Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park, just to the north of Leicester, is a medieval deer park. The deer still wander around, but they’re joined by plenty of walkers. Covering 830 acres, this park is deliberately kept wild. Along the trails, you’ll find huge, gnarled oak trees – some of which are thought to be more than 500 years old.
The main landmark is the Old John Tower, and 18th century hilltop folly.
Leicester to Nottingham drive: Great Central Railway
University town Loughborough isn’t overblessed with attractions, but vintage train fans will enjoy the Great Central Railway. It proudly boasts that it is the country’s only double track mainline heritage railway.
The trains run to Leicester, and it’s one of the easiest opportunities to ride a steam train in England. There’s also an opportunity to drive one of the steam trains, with the Great Central Railway’s Drive A Loco package.
Best stops between Leicester and Nottingham: East Midlands Aeropark
The East Midlands Aeropark at East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington is partly a viewing gallery where you can watch planes take off and land. But it’s also an aviation museum.
Some of the planes on display are inside the hangar, but most are outside. How much you enjoy the experience will largely depend on whether you care about the difference between a De Havilland Vampire T11 and a BAe Nimrod R1.
More Leicester road trips
Leicester to Cambridge | Leicester to Coventry | Luton to Leicester | Leicester to Milton Keynes | Northampton to Leicester | Leicester to Nottingham.
More Nottingham road trips
Nottingham to Birmingham | Nottingham to Bradford | Coventry to Nottingham | Doncaster to Nottingham | Nottingham to Leeds | Nottingham to Newcastle | Nottingham to York.