A bus service (not Sundays) at 2 - 3 hour intervals until the early evening links the village with Melton Mowbray and Oakham, Uppingham and Corby. Bus and rail links to the rest of the country are available from Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Grantham, along with taxi services to the villages.

The nearest airport is East Midlands, between Loughborough and Derby. A National Express coach service links Leicester with East Midlands Airport, as well as Heathrow, Gatwick and others.

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The village has a population of about 500 with older houses built of honey-coloured ironstone and local brick with roofs of slate or pantiles. More thatched roofs were also in evidence in earlier centuries. Most of the 20th century construction isn't particularly sympathetic to the existing built environment, but new building is more closely controlled.

There are Grade-II Listed Buildings ranging from Japonica Cottage and the adjoining old bakehouse on Main Street to The Priory and The Manor House. Photographs of these are already included in the album, and will eventually appear on the English Heritage Images of England website.

The village awaits with interest the final decision on the former Space Foods site, the redevelopment of which could increase Wymondham's population by 10 percent. There are several old chapels and barn-like buildings dotted around the village, which were used for storage by Space Foods or the late Dr Hill.

Wymondham lies in a dip with Edmondthorpe Road, The Old Rectory and the east end of the village being the lowest points. There are quite steep rises to the north up Butt Lane towards the windmill; south to Edmondthorpe; and east along the Drift. The village feels noticeably warmer than the surrounding highspots during the summer.

Main Street runs from east to west past the village green, which has ancient market rights. Most buildings are to the south of Main Street with a stream running further to the south, at a distance of a field's length. Where it approaches the village from the north-east this stream has been known as Stanley's Beck, after Mr Stanley the farmer, with beck being a northcountry term of Scandinavian origin.

The stream crosses under the road known as the Drift at a spot called the Washdyke. The Drift is the route of the old cattle-drovers' road to the Great North Road (A1), and where cheeses from the village and surrounding area would have left for Stilton and London. A natural water source is found closer to the centre of the village at the end of Spring Lane, and there were once plans to bottle water from underground streams at the former Space Foods site.

A dis-used railway track lies to the north of the village, with the old station (now a home) and other buildings off Butt Lane. The railway embankment is visible beyond The Manor House and the field known as The Park.

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At the west end of the village is St. Peter's Church of England aided Primary School (Headteacher: Mrs Anne Boyce; telephone/fax 01572 787658; email). Please see www.st-peters-wymondham.leics.sch.uk (external site; opens in a new window) for further information. There's children's play equipment and the Sir John Sedley Educational Centre nearby. On the edge of the village is the 19th century grammar school (now a home) which was funded by the Sir John Sedley Trust. It's the first building passed when entering the village if travelling from Melton Mowbray.

The original primary and grammar schools and the village hall are close to St. Peter's Church, along Church Lane at the centre of the village. Church Lane was known as School Lane a century ago. Bell ringing practice takes place at the church on Monday evenings. The doctor's surgery is held at the village hall on Monday and Wednesday mid-afternoons - telephone 01572 767229. The village hall is also the venue for dances and private parties, parish council meetings, bazaars, clubs, rehearsals by the Wymondham Players and performances of their pantomime and murder mystery plays.

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Mail is collected at 4:20pm on weekdays and at 10:00am on Saturdays and 11:00am on Sundays from the box outside the Post Office. There are other boxes along Main Street, and at Edmondthorpe. Sally and Jennifer have chief responsibility for delivering the mail around the village.

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Opposite the bus-shelter and the village green is Old Bakery Antiques. Antique and collectors' items bought and sold, houses cleared, cottage antiques, interesting items and collectables including advertising and kitchenalia. Open 10:00am - 5:30pm, closed Thursday and Sunday.

Telephone 01572 787472.

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Along Sycamore Lane, off the village green, is The Old Rectory where Isabel Smeaton offers a high standard of Bed & Breakfast accomodation (English Tourist Board Commended). No smoking or pets.

Telephone 01572 787583 or Fax 01572 787347.

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Travel up Butt Lane (next to the Berkeley Arms) and at the Windmill you will find a tearoom and a variety of activities.

Telephone 01572 787304 for further details about:

• Hot meals, snacks & traditional afternoon teas, with homemade cakes & scones
• Children's parties, with an optional bouncy castle
• Groups & parties catered for

Also at the windmill are small craft and retail units, including Melinda Designs (gifts & home wares), Clothes in the Attic (ladies' clothes), J&K Frames (picture framing & gifts) and Rejuvenate (holistic beauty therapies).

Young ones will find ducks to feed and a children's play park. There is also a woodland puzzle trail and the Windmill, built in 1814, may be climbed for a view over the village (free entry, but donations are appreciated).

The Windmill site has free parking and is open from Easter to October, Tuesday - Friday 10:30am - 5:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 10:00am - 5:00pm.

The Winter opening times are Tuesday - Friday 11:30am - 2:30pm, Saturday & Sunday 10:30am - 4:30pm.

Please note that the shops have their own individual opening hours.