Three minutes from the steam railway, five from the town
There are not many places where you can wake, walk five minutes for a coffee, and be standing on the platform of a working steam railway before the first train of the day pulls out. The Peacock Inn is one of them. Its Loughborough Central entrance, the southern end of the Great Central Railway and the only place in the world where two full-size steam engines pass each other, is about a three-minute walk from the front door, and the market-town centre is barely five minutes the other way. This is a genuine community pub with rooms, the kind of friendly local where the bar pours a CAMRA-recognised Draught Bass and regulars greet you on the way in.
What seals it for most guests is the practical stuff that this part of town rarely offers: free parking on site, so you can leave the car and explore on foot, and a position that puts the heritage line, the mainline station and the shops all within an easy stroll. The staff are the reason people come back, hands-on and accommodating, with two ground-floor rooms that are fully wheelchair accessible if stairs are difficult. It suits steam-railway visitors, couples and solo travellers who want real character and honest value rather than chain-hotel uniformity.
A proper local with rooms above
Settle into the bar of an evening and you get the real measure of the place. This is a long-established Loughborough pub at heart, with a walled beer garden out the back and a games room running to darts, pool and long-alley skittles, the sort of unhurried local where an evening passes easily over a pint of well-kept Bass. Guests tell us repeatedly that the beds are genuinely comfortable and the welcome warm, and that a budget pub room here comes with more character than they expected.
The rooms themselves are straightforward and comfortable, most looking out over the quiet garden side, with flat-screen TVs, tea and coffee trays, free Wi-Fi and heating. Several sit entirely on the ground floor, and two of those are step-free and wheelchair accessible, each with a private bathroom, a fireplace and its own entrance. If you sleep lightly, ask for a garden-side room away from the bar, as live entertainment plays on Saturday evenings and the pub stays lively; pick the right room and you get the best of both, the buzz downstairs and quiet upstairs.
An easy base for Loughborough and beyond
Step out of the door and the best of Loughborough is on foot. The Great Central Railway and its year-round steam galas are a few minutes away, the historic chartered street market and the town's independent shops and cafes a few minutes more, and the mainline station, with direct trains to London St Pancras, Leicester and Nottingham, is under a mile. The Chypsy King chip shop is right outside and the Royal Oak a few doors along when the inn's own bar winds down around ten.
With free parking to fall back on, the wider county opens up too, from Beacon Hill Country Park and the bluebell woods of Charnwood Forest to the National Space Centre in Leicester and Donington Park. Come for a steam gala, a graduation, the November fair or simply a well-placed, well-priced night near the station, and the inn earns its keep. Arrive before ten in the evening, reserve your parking space, and pick a garden-side room if quiet matters, and most guests leave planning a return.
Why book The Peacock Inn
A few honest reasons steam-railway visitors, couples and solo travellers keep choosing this Loughborough local.
On the doorstep of the steam line
The Great Central Railway is about a three-minute walk away, with the town centre and mainline station both an easy stroll.
Free parking and a real-ale pub
Free on-site parking is rare this close to the centre, and the bar pours a CAMRA-recognised Draught Bass with darts, pool and skittles to hand.
Ground-floor, accessible rooms
Two ground-floor room types are fully wheelchair accessible, each with a private bathroom, a fireplace and its own entrance.
Warm welcome, honest value
Guests single out the warm, accommodating team and honest value, praising comfy beds and a welcome that makes the place feel like a home from home.
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Interesting Points About The Peacock Inn
- The Great Central Railway, the only place in the world where two full-size steam engines can be seen passing each other, has its Loughborough Central entrance about a three-minute walk from the front door.
- Free on-site parking is a genuine rarity this close to the town centre, though the car park is small and worth reserving when you book.
- The bar is a real community local, recognised by CAMRA for a regularly stocked Draught Bass, with darts, pool and long-alley skittles in the games room.
- Two ground-floor room types are wheelchair accessible with their own private bathrooms, fireplaces and private entrances, a rare find at this price.
Rooms & Accommodation at The Peacock Inn
Triple Room with Private Bathroom
Sleeps 3 · 3 single beds · Ground floor · Accessible
The most flexible room at the inn, with three single beds, sleeping three or two adults with a child. It is entirely on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible, with a private bathroom, a fireplace and its own entrance, plus a flat-screen TV, a tea and coffee tray, free Wi-Fi and a garden outlook. Best for small families or steam-railway visitors who want step-free access and a bit of room to spread out.
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Twin Room with Ensuite Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 2 single beds · Ground floor · Accessible
Two single beds and a private en-suite bathroom, all on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible, with a fireplace and its own entrance. It comes with a flat-screen TV, a tea and coffee tray, heating, free Wi-Fi and a quiet garden view. Best for two travellers who want step-free access and their own bathroom, and interconnecting rooms can be arranged for larger groups.
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Double Room with Private Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 1 double bed · Ground floor · Garden door
A characterful ground-floor double with a private bathroom and its own door out to the garden, so you can come and go without passing through the bar. There is a flat-screen TV, a tea and coffee tray, heating and free Wi-Fi. Best for a couple who want a quieter, garden-side room with easy step-free access after a day on the heritage line.
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Twin Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 2 single beds · Shared bathroom
Two single beds in a comfortable upstairs room with a garden view, sharing a bathroom that comes stocked with towels and a hairdryer. It has a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee tray, heating, free Wi-Fi and the option of interconnecting rooms. Best value for two friends or colleagues happy to share facilities, with the steam railway and town centre both a short walk away.
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Double Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 2 · 1 double bed · Shared bathroom
A double bed in a simple, comfortable room with a shared bathroom along the landing, stocked with towels and a hairdryer. It comes with a flat-screen TV, a tea and coffee tray, heating, a wardrobe and free Wi-Fi. The keenest double rate at the inn, best for a couple who plan to spend their days at the railway and in town rather than in the room.
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Single Room with Shared Bathroom
Sleeps 1 · 1 single bed · Shared bathroom
A neat single with a garden view, sharing a bathroom along the landing that is kept stocked with towels and a hairdryer. It has a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a tea and coffee tray, heating, a wardrobe and free Wi-Fi. Best for a solo traveller or steam-railway visitor who wants a clean, warm room and an early start, with the heritage line a short walk away.
Check PricesIs The Peacock Inn right for you?
Best Suited For
- Steam-railway visitors who want to walk to the Great Central Railway
- Couples and solo travellers after character and honest value
- Drivers who need free parking close to the town centre
- Guests who need a step-free, wheelchair-accessible ground-floor room
- Real-ale fans who like a genuine community pub on the doorstep
Worth Considering Alternatives If
- You want a quiet night every night, as Saturdays bring live entertainment from 21:00
- You may arrive after 22:00, when there is no staffed check-in
- You are looking for a modern hotel with a restaurant and round-the-clock reception
Facilities at The Peacock Inn
Rooms & comfort
- Free Wi-Fi throughout
- Flat-screen TV with cable channels
- Tea and coffee tray
- Heating
- Wardrobe
- Carpeted rooms
- Ironing facilities on request
- Towels and hairdryer
- Room service
Food & drink
- On-site bar serving CAMRA-listed Draught Bass
- Wines and spirits
- Tea and coffee tray in every room
- Chip shop and cafe-bar a few steps away
- Not available: On-site restaurant
Property & services
- Walled beer garden
- Games room with pool, darts and skittles
- Live entertainment and pub games
- Ground-floor, wheelchair-accessible rooms
- Reception via the bar (no staffed check-in after 22:00)
- Not available: Swimming pool
- Not available: Gym
- Not available: Lift
Getting around, parking & pets
- Free private on-site parking (reserve ahead)
- Three-minute walk to the Great Central Railway
- Under a mile to Loughborough mainline station
- Non-smoking rooms throughout
- Not available: Pets
Location: Factory Street, by the steam railway
The Peacock Inn stands at 26 Factory Street in Loughborough, a university and market town in Charnwood, Leicestershire, with more than 800 years of history. Its biggest draw is right on the doorstep: the Great Central Railway at Loughborough Central, the UK's only double-track main line heritage railway and the only place in the world where two full-size steam engines can be seen passing each other, is about a three-minute walk away. The chartered street market and town centre are barely five minutes on foot, and Loughborough mainline station, with direct trains to London St Pancras, Leicester and Nottingham, is under a mile. Further afield lie Beacon Hill Country Park, the bluebell woods of Charnwood Forest and the National Space Centre in Leicester. For arrival times, parking or a quieter room, call the inn on +44 1509 214215.
- Great Central Railway (Loughborough Central): ~3-minute walk · the UK's only double-track main line heritage steam railway
- Loughborough town centre & street market: ~5-minute walk · historic chartered market town with shops and eateries
- Loughborough mainline station: ~0.9 miles · Midland Main Line to London, Leicester and Nottingham
- Stonehurst Family Farm & Motor Museum: ~3.8 miles · working family farm with a vintage motor museum
- Beacon Hill Country Park: ~4.5 miles · one of the highest points in Leicestershire, with wide Charnwood views
- Stoneywell (National Trust): ~7 miles · an Arts-and-Crafts cottage full of character
- National Space Centre, Leicester: ~9 miles · the UK's largest space attraction, under its 42-metre Rocket Tower
- Donington Park: ~10 miles · historic motor-racing circuit and motorsport museum
Getting to Key Locations
Photo: Dave Hitchborne, CC BY-SA 2.0
Great Central Railway
3 min walk
The UK's only double-track main line heritage railway, where full-size steam engines pass each other, is about a three-minute walk from the inn.
View on Map
Photo: Mat Fascione, CC BY-SA 2.0
Beacon Hill Country Park
15 min drive
One of the highest points in Leicestershire, with panoramic Charnwood views, about a 15-minute drive from the inn.
View on Map
Photo: Ned Trifle, CC BY-SA 2.0
National Space Centre
20 min drive
The UK's largest space attraction, marked by its 42-metre Rocket Tower, is about a 20-minute drive away in Leicester.
View on MapGetting to The Peacock Inn
- From Loughborough mainline station: It is roughly a 15-minute walk, about 0.9 miles on mostly level pavements: head from the station toward the town centre and Nottingham Road, then turn for Factory Street. A taxi is a four-to-six-minute ride, and local Kinchbus services link the station and centre if you have luggage.
- From the Great Central Railway: Loughborough Central, the heritage steam railway's terminus, is about a three-minute walk from the inn, so you can leave bags and be trackside in minutes.
- From East Midlands Airport: The airport is about 8 miles away. The 24/7 Skylink bus runs to Loughborough in 35 to 40 minutes for an adult single of £4.09, or a taxi takes around 20 minutes.
- By car: Loughborough is just off the A6 and close to the M1. Reserve one of the few free on-site parking spaces when you book and arrive early on gala and event weekends, as the car park is small.
A quick guide to Loughborough
Loughborough rewards visitors who like their history hands-on. The headline draw is the Great Central Railway, the UK's only double-track main line heritage railway, with year-round steam galas; the inn sits about three minutes' walk from its Loughborough Central entrance, which is exactly why steam enthusiasts book here. The town is also home to John Taylor & Co, Britain's last major bell foundry, and to a chartered street market with roots back to a 1221 royal charter. Time a visit for a steam gala, a university graduation or the November fair, and you will find a livelier town; come midweek and it is an easy, good-value base. For food, the inn's own bar pours a well-kept Bass, the Royal Oak is a few doors along, and the wider town centre, five minutes away, has a strong independent dining scene.
A walking tour of Loughborough
A walking tour of Loughborough, an 800-year-old university and market town, taking in the historic street market, the John Taylor & Co bell foundry and the Great Central Railway station near the inn.
Is The Peacock Inn worth it?
Yes, if you want a friendly, great-value pub with rooms a three-minute walk from the Great Central Railway, with free parking and a proper real-ale bar. Guests warm to the accommodating team and honest value, and steam-railway visitors, couples and solo travellers leave happy. Skip it if you need a quiet night every night or might arrive after 22:00, since Saturdays bring live music and there is no late staffed check-in.
What guests say about The Peacock Inn
Scores and review counts are aggregated from verified guest bookings on major travel platforms.
Good
Guests come back for the friendly, accommodating staff, the unbeatable position by the Great Central Railway and the town centre, and strong value, with the cosy attached pub and its real ale winning people over and the beds rated more comfortable than expected. The lower scores cluster around noise on entertainment nights and small maintenance niggles such as fiddly door locks rather than service or cleanliness. For travellers who want character and warmth over chain-hotel polish, and who pick a quieter garden-side room, the inn delivers well above its price tier.
On a handy two-night stay he rated the free parking and the convenient spot for the steam railway, though he found it too noisy to sleep well.
2026-06-27Singled out how clean the room was and the short hop into the town centre.
2026-06-19Called it a cute place to stay with lovely, accommodating staff, and liked that a cosy pub adjoins the rooms.
2026-06-12Loved the setting, the welcoming staff and regulars, the friendly dogs, a decent-sized room and very comfortable beds; her only gripe was a fiddly door lock.
2026-06-10Kept it short and warm, praising the friendly team and the locals.
2026-05-29Rated it good value and close to the heritage railway and town, with excellent Bass on tap, noting that Room 9 faces the road and can be noisy.
2026-05-23Thanked the owner for flexing when their train ran late and liked the comfy beds, the in-room kettle and the showers; a room that was not ready and locks that would not fasten let it down, but he stressed the railway entrance is roughly three minutes from the door.
2026-05-28Enjoyed the lovely staff and a room with its own door to the garden, but found parking tricky at the busiest times.
2026-05-19Good to Know Before You Book
Arrive before 22:00
The bar doubles as reception and there is no staff for check-in after 22:00, so plan your journey to arrive in good time and message your arrival ahead.
Pick your room for sleep
Live entertainment runs on Saturday evenings from 21:00 and the pub is lively, so if you sleep lightly, ask for a quieter garden-side room rather than one facing the road, such as Room 9.
Reserve your free parking
On-site parking is free but the car park is small and fills at busy times, so reserve it when you book and arrive early on gala or event weekends.
Cancellation and deposit
Cancellation and deposit terms vary by the rate you choose; the exact policy shows before you confirm. Photo ID and a payment card are needed at check-in, and the inn asks you to confirm your arrival time in advance.
Photos of The Peacock Inn
The Peacock Inn FAQs
The Great Central Railway's Loughborough Central entrance is about a three-minute walk from the front door, and the town centre and street market are barely five minutes the other way. It is one of the closest places to stay for the heritage steam line.
Yes. There is free private on-site parking, a real rarity this close to the centre. The car park is small and fills at busy times, so reserve a space when you book and arrive early on gala or event weekends.
You can check in any time from 14:00, and rooms need to be vacated by 10:00 on the morning you leave. The bar doubles as reception, with no staffed check-in after 22:00, so plan to arrive before then and confirm your arrival time in advance.
Yes. Two room types, the Twin Room with Ensuite Bathroom and the Triple Room with Private Bathroom, are entirely on the ground floor and wheelchair accessible, each with a private bathroom, a fireplace and its own entrance. Other rooms are on upper floors reached by stairs.
No, pets are not accepted in the rooms. Friendly pub dogs do come and go in the bar downstairs, but guest rooms are not pet-friendly.
Breakfast availability is date- and rate-dependent, so check the options shown for your chosen dates rather than assuming it is included. The bar serves real ale and drinks but there is no restaurant; a chip shop is right outside, a cafe-bar a few doors along, and the town centre's dining is a five-minute walk.
The pub is a lively local and live entertainment runs on Saturday evenings from 21:00. If you sleep lightly, ask for a quieter garden-side room away from the bar and the road, and bear in mind the bar winds down around 22:00.
From Loughborough mainline station (about 0.9 miles) it is a 15-minute level walk or a short taxi ride. From East Midlands Airport, about 8 miles away, the 24/7 Skylink bus reaches Loughborough in 35 to 40 minutes, or a taxi takes around 20 minutes.
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Ready for a stay by the Loughborough steam railway?
Free parking, a real-ale bar and a three-minute walk to the Great Central Railway, from a friendly traditional inn that steam-railway visitors, couples and solo travellers come back to.
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