Oakham: History, Walks and Experiences

Oakham combines tangible history with walking routes, markets, and excursions into the surrounding area. Anyone planning a trip with different interests can explore historic buildings here, walk along the canal, set off on a cycling tour, or get to know animals at an activity farm. When choosing holiday accommodation in Oakham, it is therefore worth deciding on your personal focus early on: Would you mainly like to experience culture and local history, use the routes by the water, or spend your days on family-friendly activities?

Discover history in the heart of the town

An important point of interest is Oakham Castle. The Great Hall was built between 1180 and 1190. The grounds of Oakham Castle and the Great Hall can be visited free of charge. This makes it possible to include a historic visit in your daily plans without admission costs. Smaller details also give Oakham its distinctive character: Oakham’s Butter Cross is shown on John Speed’s map of Oakham from 1611. Oakham Signal Box was built in 1899 and is also one of the town’s notable historical features.

At the Church of All Saints, the capitals of the nave columns depict figures, foliage, and biblical scenes. Anyone interested in architectural history and church art will find a detail here that differs from a general tour of the town. Another unusual attraction is the Queen Elizabeth II statue in Oakham. It depicts the monarch with three corgis; the statue in the gardens of Oakham Library is accessible via the town’s footpath.

Walks along the canal and through Oakham

For a themed walk, the Oakham Heritage Trail is an excellent option. The walking route places local history at the centre of the journey through the town. The Oakham Canal Audio Walk, by contrast, connects the town and the water: the five-mile circular walk passes through the town and along the towpaths. The audio walk’s tracks can be played or downloaded. MP3 players can be borrowed from Oakham Library or Oakham Castle.

At Oakham Canal, an accessible footpath runs along the eastern bank throughout the entire section. Along this section, the canal provides a habitat for wildlife, particularly waterfowl. This creates a different perspective on Oakham from a purely historical-building tour. If you enjoy travelling at a leisurely pace while paying attention to your surroundings, you can consider the canal as a focus of your trip planning.

Excursions, cycling routes, and regular events

Rutland Farm Park is an 18-acre working farm and activity-farm site in Oakham. Visitors can explore the paths there year-round, as well as get to know and feed the animals. Rutland Farm Park is a ten-minute walk from Oakham town centre. For families wishing to complement their stay with an animal and countryside experience, this is a specific activity with its own distinctive character.

Cyclists also have a clear choice: the “Oakham Cycling Routes” leaflet suggests three cycling tours that begin in Oakham town centre. The tours differ in length and difficulty and, where possible, follow traffic-free cycle paths. This allows you to choose between different route profiles when planning your day without changing your starting point in the town.

The events and community life are also reflected on set days of the week. Popular markets take place in Oakham on Wednesdays and Saturdays. At the bandstand in Cutts Close, the “Bands in the park” event series takes place regularly every Sunday throughout the summer. Such dates may play a role when choosing your travel days, while the historic sites and walking routes allow for different daily plans regardless.

Oakham as a starting point for your selection

When looking for accommodation in Oakham, you can first decide which experiences should shape your days. For further selection of related destinations, Uppingham, Morcott, Clipsham, Cottesmore, Ashwell, North Luffenham, Empingham and Greetham are also available.

For the overarching travel overview: Rutland.