Charnwood

Charnwood district sits in north‑west Leicestershire, centred on the town of Loughborough. The area includes market towns and villages along the River Soar and stretches into the Charnwood Forest plateau. Loughborough University is a major local employer and research centre, known for engineering and sports technology, and the Great Central heritage railway runs from the town. Industry ranges from light manufacturing to quarrying around Mountsorrel, where granite extraction and its processing remain part of the local economy. The district’s geology is visible in roadside outcrops and parkland, and the Precambrian rocks of Charnwood Forest hold some of the oldest fossil impressions found in Britain.

Much of Charnwood is rural, with woodlands, commons and parkland such as Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill Country Park offering walking routes and open space. Town centres host weekly markets, local shops and historic churches that reflect development from medieval lanes to 19th‑century mills and rail links. Community events, clubs and sports facilities are active across the district, while conservation groups work to manage heathland and river habitats alongside ongoing local development.