Hinckley 

Between the industrial Birmingham and bustling Leicester lies the town of Hinckley. Offering a reprieve from its neighbouring towns, Hinckley provides a slightly slower slice of life. You can tell that it must have its fair share of history, for you'll find lots of tiny alleys connecting street to street, giving you plenty of short cuts to get around. Indeed, Hinckley is home to one of the regions' museums that covers the history of the area from pre-historic times to the present and everything in between, and the building it's in is a great example of an early timber and brick structure. This quaint old English market town, with it's beautiful church and open memorial gardens, is a lovely place to walk around with changing scenery and building styles. Castle Street is the main shopping street in this expansive town, and its here you'll find a good sized market sprawled up and down the street a few days a week. All your shopping needs are covered, from upmarket clothes shops to gift shops, from department stores to charity shops, and it's easy to find an eatery to your taste, from lovely cosy cafes to traditional English diners. There are a few gems to be found too; from specialist clothing shops to a good old traditional sweet shop selling the kind of sweets you may have thought didn't exist anymore. Hinckley's also home to a couple of fantastic extreme sports shops for the young at heart. Hotels are available for a longer stay, and there are plenty of lovely restaurants offering a variety of cuisines to end that perfect day trip.