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Oakham
ℹ️Practical info — Oakham
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Oakham Castle has a unique 500-year-old tradition where visiting Peers of the Realm must forfeit a horseshoe.
- In Rutland, horseshoes are traditionally hung with the tips pointing down to let the luck fall on those below.
- Don't miss the 17th-century Buttercross in the Market Place, which still houses the town's original wooden stocks.
- Be aware that many independent shops in town still follow the tradition of closing early on Thursday afternoons.
- Take advantage of being just minutes away from Rutland Water, one of Europe's largest man-made lakes.
🍽 Food
A Michelin Bib Gourmand award winner known for exceptional seasonal British dishes and local produce.
for real ale enthusiasts, located right next to the station with beers brewed on-site.
A lesser-known spot tucked down a passageway, famous for its Swedish-inspired pastries and cinnamon rolls.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
A landmark independent department store stocking high-end designer fashion and homeware.
A beloved family-run bookshop that has been a staple of the high street for over 50 years.
Visit the traditional market held every Wednesday and Saturday in the historic Market Place.
Located behind the castle, this park features a Victorian bandstand and is first-rate for a quiet stroll.
A peaceful woodland on the edge of town offering tranquil paths and views over the countryside.
Water temperature…
Oakham is the historic and bustling county town of Rutland, England's smallest unitary authority. The town's focal point is Oakham Castle, which features one of the finest examples of late 12th-century Norman domestic architecture in its Great Hall. The castle is world-renowned for its unique collection of over 200 horseshoes, presented by peers of the realm upon their first visit to the town, a tradition dating back centuries. Oakham is also a renowned educational hub, home to the independent Oakham School, founded in 1584. The town retains a traditional English character with its historic marketplace, buttercross, and independent shops. Just to the east lies Rutland Water, a massive man-made reservoir that serves as a premier destination for water sports and wildlife conservation, specifically famous for its successful osprey reintroduction programme.
- Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Top sights: Oakham Castle · All Saints Church · Rutland County Museum
- Nearby: Melton Mowbray (15 km)
- Population: ~11.267
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 4 |
| Rain mm | 58 | 50 | 49 | 44 | 59 | 66 | 69 | 73 | 49 | 72 | 66 | 64 |
Geography
Facts
- Date of the Castle's Great Hall: built around 1180.
- Total number of horseshoes in the collection: over 230.
- Founding date of Oakham School: 1584.
- Distance to the edge of Rutland Water: approx. 1 mile.
- Weekly market days: Wednesday and Saturday.
- Area of the county of Rutland: 147 square miles.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Oakham (12)
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