Activities

Rutland Marathon

Attractions

Experiences & Hobbies

Family Fun

Outdoors

Shopping

Suggested Itineraries

Walks and Trails

TV presenter Julia Bradbury, known for her work on BBC’s Countryfile and who has travelled across the UK and many parts of the world, is a big fan of the county and believes that we offer something for everyone here.

If you enjoy the great outdoors, then you’ll find lots of thing to enjoy in this rural retreat. Outdoor sports are extremely well catered for with plenty of walking and cycling routes available, plus fishing, golfing and the huge choice of watersports that take place on Rutland Water.

Rutland is a great place to pursue an interest in your surroundings, whether you have a passion for wildlife and nature, an enthusiasm for gardening or a keen interest in photography and landscape painting. There are two nature reserves around Rutland water, with many hides providing a great opportunity to spot a rare bird to two – or you can visit one of the many stunning gardens open to the public. Treat yourself to a trip to the beautiful Barnsdale Gardens – explore the gardens, take a gardening course and buy stunning plants to take home with you for a lovely reminder of happy memories in Rutland.

If you prefer to stay indoors there are plenty of places for you to explore too: theatres, art galleries and shopping in our two Market Towns that offer a huge variety of boutiques, farm shops and family run stores .

Rutland is very proud to offer visitors and locals an abundance of locally produced food and drink. There are numerous award winning pubs, restaurants and hotels in the county, with each able to inform you of the provenance of their menus.

Rutland is also a great base for you if you’re keen to explore the East Midlands. Many of the finest English stately homes are easy to reach from Rutland; museums, concerts, outdoor cinemas, sports facilities, family friendly attractions and things to do make our county a superb choice for you and your family.

Oakham Heritage Trail

Oakham, the county town of Rutland, is a classic English market town, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. It has a castle, market place, butter cross and stocks, a famous old school, all in close association with a magnificent parish church and arranged in a rectangular shape around which the town has grown.

P.K Upholstery & Furniture Shop

High-Quality Upholstery Services and restored furniture sales near Uppingham. Don’t replace your old furniture – give it a new life!

Bat and Bottle Wine Merchants

Bat and Bottle are Rutland’s only specialist importers of Italian wine.  Truly multum in parvo, we are winners of the Decanter Retailers Awards for Best Italian Wine Merchant, and came second for Best Subscription Wine Club, as wel as being the first ever (2020) London Wine Fair Wine Buyers Award for: UKs ‘Best Online Specialist Wine Buyer’. Our small warehouse on Oakham Enterprise Park is packed with artisan wines – shoppers are welcome to drop in whenever we are open; we sell directly to the public and there is no minimum purchase. Our wine club was shortlisted by the IWC as one of the UK’s top two wine clubs, we have even represented UK small businesses at Downing Street… You can be assured that though serious when we buy our wines, you will never find life is too serious when you shop with us.

Rumble Live Action Gaming – Outdoor Laser Tag

Rumble Live Action Gaming, the award-winning live action gaming arena offering outdoor laser tag with state of the art equipment in beautiful woodlands, is now available at Rutland Water, in addition to its existing Grafham Water location.  

Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre

Nestled just next to the picturesque village of Egleton, the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre provides the ideal start point for your visit to Rutland Water Nature Reserve. Here you will find a well stocked gift shop, light refreshments, and friendly staff and volunteers on hand should you need assistance.
Velo CiCLE Tour

Food Map Northern Cycle Route

Part of the new Discover Rutland Food & Drink Map is this Northern Cycle Route of 24 miles, with a shorter 14 mile option. The route follows rural roads.

Normanton Church, Iconic Landmark & Wedding Venue

Rutland’s most famous landmark was saved from flooding when Rutland Water was created in the 1970s. Now with the floor raised almost half way up the church, it is a fascinating building with a unique history.

The Bunny Bandit’s Great Escape!

17/04/2025 - 21/04/2025

Join us this Easter for our exciting BRAND NEW event taking place across the entire bank holiday weekend! Packed with fun activities and challenges, it’s an experience the whole family will love.

Normanton Church

Once part of Normanton Estate, local residents fought to save ‘St Matthew’s Church’ from demolition when the reservoir was created in the 1970’s. Now deconsecrated and with a new floor level, Normanton Church has it’s own embankment making it a prominent feature on the water.

Mindfulness Break: Action-Packed

Keeping our minds and bodies active is vital in the upkeep of our mental health and Rutland is the perfect place to do so. Whether you’re looking to recharge your batteries in the great outdoors and get your brain focused on some arts and crafts, or get some adrenaline pumping with fun activities, you will never be stuck for things to do in Rutland.
Walk

The Perfect Winter Retreat

It’s the perfect time to discover Rutland – let the clean air fill your lungs and focus on relaxing with those you love, you can ease into a slower pace and really savour every experience with mouth-watering meals and Rutland’s unbeatable hospitality.

Burghley House

Visit beautiful Burghley, a magical home of magnificent State Rooms, awe-inspiring works of art and priceless treasures.

The 1760 Brasserie Restaurant at The Barnsdale

The Barnsdale experience is all about enjoying exceptional food and drink. Our homely 1760 Brasserie and breath-taking Orangery, are accompanied by a number of fabulous private spaces.
Rebecca Couture Millinery shop

Rebecca Couture Millinery

Rebecca is a creatively talented milliner based in the market town of Oakham, Rutland. Rebecca is a self-taught milliner, giving her the freedom to experiment with various techniques and materials, discovering what works best for her unique designs.

Oakham Castle

Tucked away off the Market Place in Oakham, and backing onto Cutts Close Park, there is also a cafe on the grounds (check separate opening times).