Discover Oakham: History, Trails and Markets

Oakham combines architectural history and town life with trails, cycling routes and seasonal events. From the Great Hall at Oakham Castle and historic traces to a farm park and the Oakham Canal, you’ll find a range of themes to help plan your trip. Markets on two days of the week add to what’s on offer; a music series takes place on Sundays in summer.

Oakham Castle and Historic Details

The Great Hall at Oakham Castle was built between 1180 and 1190. The grounds of Oakham Castle and the Great Hall are free to visit. Check the current visitor guidelines before your visit.

The capitals—the upper parts of the columns—in the nave of the Church of All Saints depict figures, foliage and biblical scenes. John Speed’s 1611 map of Oakham shows Oakham’s Butter Cross. Oakham Signal Box was built in 1899. These dates mark different historical points of reference: the Butter Cross appears on a map, while the Signal Box date refers to its construction.

Explore Oakham on Foot

The Oakham Heritage Trail is a walking route that offers a way to discover local history. The Oakham Canal Audio Walk offers a different perspective: it is a five-mile circular walk through the town and along the towpaths. Audio tracks for the walk can be played or downloaded; MP3 players can be borrowed from Oakham Library or Oakham Castle. The trail focuses on local history, while the audio walk’s length and circular route shape the walk.

Farm Park and Oakham Canal

Rutland Farm Park is an 18-acre working farm park in Oakham. Visitors can explore the paths, meet the animals and feed them year-round. It is a ten-minute walk from Oakham town centre. Walking paths and encounters with animals offer a different focus from the historic themes of the town’s trails.

An accessible footpath runs along the entire eastern bank of the Oakham Canal. The canal provides a habitat for wildlife, particularly waterbirds. This adds a specific connection with nature to the historical themes of the walks.

Cycling Routes and Events

The “Oakham Cycling Routes” leaflet suggests three rides that start in the town centre. They vary in length and difficulty and, where possible, follow traffic-free cycle paths. These two features are especially useful when comparing the routes; traffic-free sections are included where possible.

Popular markets are held in Oakham on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The “Bands in the park” event series takes place regularly on Sundays throughout the summer at the bandstand in Cutts Close. If markets or music are important to your trip, check the latest dates in advance. The statue of Queen Elizabeth II in the gardens of Oakham Library depicts the monarch with three corgis and can be reached via the town’s footpath.

Discover more destinations: Langham, Uppingham, Greetham, Clipsham, Ashwell, North Luffenham, Empingham, Morcott

For the broader travel overview: Rutland.