Why Buy in Shepshed? New Homes, Schools and Local Life

With countryside on the doorstep, excellent connections and the amenities of Loughborough just a few miles away, Shepshed is fast becoming a jewel in Leicestershire’s crown. This historic town offers a more relaxed pace of life while keeping Leicester, Nottingham and Derby within easy reach, making it particularly well suited to families and commuters.

For homebuyers, there’s plenty of choice too. Alongside Shepshed’s established housing market, new developments are bringing a wider range of modern, energy-efficient homes to the area. So, whether you’re already familiar with this corner of Leicestershire or have only recently started looking at homes for sale near Loughborough, here’s why now is a great time to buy in Shepshed.

A choice of homes for different buyers

Shepshed offers buyers a varied property market, from traditional terraced and semi-detached homes to larger detached properties and newly built family homes.

Alongside the established market, buyers can also consider a growing choice of new homes. Allison Homes’ Finney Meadows development sits on the outskirts of the historic town, surrounded by beautiful Leicestershire countryside and within easy reach of the town’s amenities.

Finney Meadows offers a choice of nine house types, with two, three and four-bedroom properties designed around modern lifestyles. Homes feature contemporary layouts and energy-efficient design, with a range of options suited to everyone from first-time buyers and couples to growing families.

Finney Meadows offers a range of two and three-bedroom homes to suit different needs. The two-bedroom Rosebury combines a front-facing kitchen with an open-plan living and dining space opening onto the garden, while three-bedroom options such as the Milford, Penford and Radford offer generous open-plan layouts, separate living areas and practical features including en-suites, parking and, on selected homes, a garage.

With different layouts, plot positions and bedroom configurations available, the development gives buyers looking for new build homes in Shepshed plenty of choice. See more about our specification and current available properties here.

A laid-back but connected lifestyle

Life in Shepshed offers a comfortable balance between town and country. Independent shops, traditional pubs, cafés and local facilities make for a friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere. It’s somewhere you can enjoy the conveniences of everyday life without the pace of a larger town or city.

The surrounding countryside is a big part of the appeal. Charnwood Forest is close by, while Beacon Hill and Bradgate Park offer opportunities for weekend walks, family days out and time outdoors. Within Shepshed itself, parks and green spaces galore, mean there are plenty of places to walk the dog, take the children to play or enjoy some fresh air closer to home.

For commuters, Shepshed is particularly well positioned. Loughborough is around four miles away, while Junction 23 of the M1 provides convenient road connections towards Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. East Midlands Airport is also around seven miles away, useful for both business trips and holidays.

There’s plenty of things to do with the kids in Shepshed too, with play areas, sports facilities and activities at Shepshed Library and Glenmore Community Centre. And when the weekend comes around, the combination of countryside, nearby towns and attractions means families have plenty of options without having to venture too far.

Perhaps most importantly, Shepshed still feels like a community in its own right. With centuries of history behind it and the Leicestershire countryside on the doorstep, it offers a relaxed place to call home while keeping larger towns, cities and transport connections within easy reach.

Independent Shops, Great Food and Proper Local Pubs

Shepshed has plenty to discover when it comes to shopping, with a good mix of independent businesses and traditional local favourites. Shoppers can browse Armstrong’s Mill Department Store, a longstanding destination in the town, or hunt for something a little different among the treasures at the House of Antiques.

There’s a varied food scene to ger your teeth into too. Livios Italian Restaurant & Art Galleries is a favourite for its Italian dining with a creative twist, while Meet’n’Eat, Café Leo’s and Chocalatte offer relaxed spots for coffee, lunch and daytime treats.

For a heartier meal, The Horse is a popular choice for pub and steakhouse-style food, with the Railway Hotel adding to the town’s selection of family friendly places to eat.

Shepshed also keeps its renowned traditional pub culture alive with contemporary and established watering holes including micropub The Hall Croft Tap, the Bull & Bush, The Black Swan and The Pied Bull giving locals plenty of options for a relaxed drink close to home.

A great choice of local schools

Families moving to Shepshed have a choice of schools within the town, including Newcroft Primary Academy, St Winefride’s Catholic Primary, Oxley Primary School and St Botolph’s CE Primary School.

Newcroft Primary Academy received Outstanding judgements across all areas assessed in its latest Ofsted inspection, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

St Winefride’s Catholic Academy has been part of the Shepshed community for more than a century. Rated Good by Ofsted, it welcomes children aged 4-11 from different faith backgrounds and those with no faith with an emphasis on a supportive, nurturing environment.

For older pupils, Iveshead School provides secondary education within Shepshed for students aged 11 to 19, meaning sixth-form provision is available locally too. The school received a Good rating across all assessed areas at its 2024 Ofsted inspection.

Students considering different routes after GCSEs also have further options nearby. Loughborough College provides a broad range of further-education and post-16 courses in Loughborough, while Loughborough University means one of the UK’s best-known universities is just a few miles from Shepshed.

Having primary, secondary and sixth-form provision within the town, with further and higher education nearby, adds another advantage for families considering making Shepshed their long-term home. To find out more about schools in Shepshed and surrounding areas visit Locrating.com for the full lowdown.

Find your new home in Shepshed

Combining countryside, community and excellent road connections, Shepshed offers plenty for buyers looking for a well-connected Leicestershire location without sacrificing access to green space.

At Finney Meadows, buyers can enjoy those benefits alongside the comfort and energy efficiency of a brand-new home, with a choice of two, three and four-bedroom properties available.

Like the sound of life in Shepshed? Head to our Living in Shepshed blog for more info and explore our latest new build homes in Shepshed to find a home that’s perfect for you!

Allison Homes Web Article: 15th September 2026