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.

The place to buy your luxury foods and indulgent treats, making it a top destination for foodies!
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.
If you’ve been inspired by our ‘Perfect Rural Escape’ tourism film, then here is a handy itinerary which includes all of the places featured.

Start Date: 01/01/2018

Supplying wines, beers and spirits to the local area and also to our online community. We pride ourselves in the quality of fine French wines, and only source from the very best suppliers in Europe, the US, Australia and beyond.
Crowning a hill outside the county of Rutland, the Castle’s turrets and towers rise over the Vale of Belvoir like an illustration in a romantic fairy-tale. The name Belvoir – meaning ‘beautiful view’ in French, and pronounced today as ‘beaver’ – dates back to Norman times.

Start Date: 01/01/2019

Enjoy learning a new skill, hobby or language in our informal hands-on workshops! ​ Develop your skills, confidence and knowledge and try new things.
Baines Bakery are a small traditional family run bakers, situated in an early 17th century building in the market town of Uppingham. A true local favourite,  the bakery has been passed down five consecutive generations of the Baines family and continues to produce quality bread, cakes, sandwiches and more, all of which are made on the premises.
If you find yourself staying in Oakham and looking for a reasonably flat walk to see the picturesque Rutland Water, then this is for you. It stays on pavements and hard footpaths so should never get muddy.
Part of the new Discover Rutland Food & Drink Map is this Southern Route of 23.7 miles. The route follows rural roads and an option to join the Rutland Water cycle paths.
This beautiful market town is listed as one of the top 20 most desirable places to visit in the UK (The Times) and its high street has been voted one of the top five in Britain. Uppingham offers a rare glimpse of traditional English rural life that is abundant in culture, heritage and history.
A family business, we have been selling art worldwide for over 40 years. We stock thousands of prints, paintings, drawings, ceramics and sculptures across a very wide range of top British, American and European artists.