The County of Good Taste
England’s smallest county — and its most perfectly formed
Rutland is often described as the County of Good Taste — perhaps because it is where your guide has made his home, but also because of the extraordinary wealth of local food producers, artisan shops, cafés, bakers and butchers that make this tiny county punch so far above its weight. Rutland’s motto, Multum in Parvo, means “much in little” — and nowhere in England better earns that description.
The picture-postcard county capital of Oakham is home to just 10,000 people but offers a remarkable range of things to see and do. Gorgeous Uppingham is even smaller but renowned across the country for its antiques and galleries. The rolling countryside is dotted with chocolate-box villages and traditional country pubs. And presiding over it all is Rutland Water — the largest artificial lake in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe — a haven for wildlife and nature lovers.
Normanton Church at Rutland Water — one of England’s most magical sights
Rutland — rolling countryside and chocolate-box villages
Where to Stay
🏨 The George Inn, OakhamLooking for somewhere stylish but authentic to stay in Rutland? The George Inn is a wonderful hotel with an atmospheric restaurant and great bar right in the centre of Oakham — highly recommended.
Visit The George Inn →Choose Your Tour
Four ways to discover England’s finest small county
Oakham Private Walking Tour
The perfect introduction to Rutland’s county capital — the unique castle, the ancient Buttercross with its original stocks, All Saints Church, and the brilliant independent shops and food producers that make Oakham so special.
View Tour →Oakham Private Pub Tour
Oakham’s historic pubs are as characterful as the town itself — each with a story, each with great local ales. History, stories and a drink in every one. The finest possible way to spend an afternoon in Rutland.
View Tour →Best of Rutland Private Tour
The full Rutland experience — Oakham, Uppingham, Rutland Water, Normanton Church and the glorious rolling countryside between them. The perfect day for those who want to truly understand what makes this county so special.
View Tour →Oakham & Stamford Private Tour
Two of the finest market towns in England in a single day — beautiful Oakham in Rutland and the magnificent Georgian limestone streets of Stamford, just a short train ride apart.
View Tour →Your Guide Lives Here
Rutland is home — and that makes all the difference
When your guide actually lives in the county you’re visiting, you get a completely different experience. The hidden gems, the best food shops, the quiet lanes that don’t appear on any tourist map — this is local knowledge you simply can’t get anywhere else.
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