Famed for its horseshoe-filled castle hall, Oakham lies in the East Midlands between Leicester and Peterborough. It’s on the doorstep of one of Europe’s largest man-made lakes, Rutland Water, a Ramsar-listed wetland renowned for its migratory birdlife.
Things to do in Oakham
Dominating Oakham’s townscape is the spire of All Saints’ Church, which was restored in the mid-19th century by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Gaze up at the Gothic tower and spire, which are believed to date from the 14th century, then step inside to see the intricately carved column capitals depicting floral and faunal motifs.
One of Oakham’s most important architectural landmarks is the surviving hall of its Norman castle, which was constructed in the late 12th century as part of a fortified manor house. It’s renowned for its Romanesque ornamental details, including beautiful carvings of musicians, and houses an impressive collection of massive horseshoes. On the northern side of the hall is all that remains of the castle’s outer bailey, which now encompasses the children’s playground, skatepark and bandstand of Cutts Close.
A short walk from Oakham Castle is the Rutland County Museum, which occupies an 18th-century building that once served as a riding school of the Rutland Fencible Cavalry. In addition to vintage tools, tractors and wagons, the collection includes the portable gallows that were used to hang people in Oakham during the 19th century. The museum is also home to a Lincolnshire-built box wagon that dates from 1755.
Getting around Oakham
Oakham is around 35 minutes’ drive from Leicester and 1.5 hours from Birmingham Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Oakham railway station and buses travel throughout the town. The centre of Oakham can easily be explored on foot.