Leicestershire is the most central inland English county, bounded on the north by
Nottinghamshire, on the northeast by
Lincolnshire, on the east by
Rutland, on the south and southeast by
Northamptonshire, on the southwest by
Warwickshire, on the west by
Staffordshire, and on the northwest by
Derbyshire. It lies almost in the exact center of the Midland Plateau and is divided by the Soar River valley. Its surface is varied, valleys and plains alternating with low hills. Charnswood Forest extends across the northwest part. Rivers besides the Soar include the Wreak,
Avon, Wellandl, and
Trent, which is the county's northern boundary.
The heart of fox-hunting country is located around Melton Mowbray, Market Harborough, and Loughborough. Leicester is the county seat. Other important towns are Hinckley and Lutterworth.
