Houses for sale in Leicester

Desford appears in the 1086 Domesday Book and the village has archaeological links back to both the Saxon and Roman periods. In Victorian times, coal was discovered close by and a mine sunk. A railway that was designed by Robert Stevenson to take the coal to Leicester is the third oldest railway in the world. When the colliery closed, the vast colliery wheel was taken down and it now has pride of place in the High Street as a striking piece of street art.

Desford was voted Best Village Site of the Year in 2009 and the medical centre is among the top one per cent of practices in the country.

In the main shopping streets of Desford there is a range of shops and facilities including a village store, supermarket, Co-op, Post Office, café, restaurants, takeaways and four pubs. There is more shopping and lively nightlife in Leicester nine miles to the east.

There are also two schools – a primary school and Bosworth Community College – and the Tropical Birdland aviary in the village.

Picturesque Thornton Reservoir is situated just a few miles from Desford and offers an enjoyable and relaxed family day out. Surrounded by rolling farmland and woodland, there are abundant quiet country trails and purpose built cycle ways for walkers and cyclists to explore, whilst the 75 acre reservoir is an excellent spot for fly fishing, boasting its own Fishing Lodge and boats available for hire daily.

Golfers in Desford are spoilt for choice as the nearest club is only two miles away. There are also miles of footpaths and bridleways from the village and the nearby Billa Barra Hill is popular for walking.

When the bright lights of the city beckon, Leicester provides plentiful entertainment opportunities including a wealth of high street shops and independent boutiques, as well as a vast array of restaurants, bars and clubs. Home to the renowned University of Leicester and De Montfort University, Leicester is an ideal location for cultural enthusiasts and offers a selection of museums, theatres and cinemas.