Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton is a historic market town in south Leicestershire, standing on a long ridge between Hinckley and Leicester and carrying a recorded history that stretches back to the Domesday Book of 1086. With its own town council, an active high street, two well-regarded primary schools, a long-established secondary academy, and easy road access to both Hinckley and Leicester, Earl Shilton offers genuine community character and practical value for buyers looking just outside the larger surrounding towns. Whether you are searching for your first home in the LE9 postcode, looking for a family house close to good schools, or considering selling your Earl Shilton property without paying estate agent commission, this guide gives you an accurate and original picture of the town in 2026.

Browse verified property listings in and around Earl Shilton directly on the YooSell Find a Home platform, with no agent fees and no third-party delays between buyer and seller.

About Earl Shilton?

Earl Shilton is a market town in Leicestershire, England, about 5 miles from Hinckley and about 10 miles from Leicester. The 2011 census recorded its population as 10,047, making it a substantial settlement that has grown considerably from its origins as a small Domesday village. The town's name derives from the Old English for "farm or settlement on shelved terrain", a fitting description given that the historic core of the town stands on a long, narrow ridge known as Shilton Hill in south Leicestershire.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, Earl Shilton is recorded as Scheltone, one of the parcels of land granted by William the Conqueror to Hugh de Grandmesnil, who was appointed sheriff of Leicestershire. The village measured approximately 500 acres and held three ploughs, with the prefix "Earl" later added to the name by Simon de Montfort, the 5th Earl of Leicester, who created Shilton Park after taking the title. A castle once stood on Shilton Hill, built around the site of an existing 12th century chapel, though it lasted only 30 to 40 years before being destroyed following a rebellion against King Henry II in 1173, leaving only an earthen mound that survives to this day.

For much of the 18th and 19th centuries, Earl Shilton's economy was built on framework knitting and the manufacture of boots, shoes, and hosiery, much like its larger neighbour Hinckley. The Earl Shilton Building Society was established in the town in 1857 and continues to have its head office here, remaining one of the smaller mutual building societies in the country to this day. The town is on the A47 road, with a bypass opened in 2009 that has helped relieve through traffic from the historic high street.

Today, Earl Shilton has its own town council, one of only a small number of parishes in the Hinckley and Bosworth borough to hold town status, alongside Earl Shilton's neighbours Burbage and Barwell, which both operate as parish councils. The town's economic profile shows a relatively even spread across employment sectors, with professional occupations representing the largest single category. Home ownership in Earl Shilton runs slightly above the national average, with approximately two thirds of residents owning their home outright or with a mortgage.

Earl Shilton Property Market 2026

Earl Shilton sits within the wider Hinckley and Bosworth property market but offers its own distinct price profile, generally positioned as a more accessible entry point than Hinckley itself while still benefiting from the district's overall growth trajectory.

Property Market Overview

According to HM Land Registry sold price data analysed by Zoopla, the average sold price for a property in Earl Shilton over the last 12 months is £224,065. This sits notably below the wider Hinckley and Bosworth district average of £265,000 recorded by the ONS UK House Price Index in April 2025, reflecting Earl Shilton's position as one of the more affordable towns within the borough.

The Hinckley and Bosworth district as a whole saw average house prices rise 7.6% in the year to April 2025, from £246,000 to £265,000, significantly outperforming the East Midlands regional growth rate of 3.8% over the same period. This district-wide growth trend has supported steady demand across all the constituent towns and villages, including Earl Shilton.

Property Types and Recent Sales in Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton's housing stock is dominated by terraced and semi-detached homes reflecting its long history as a framework knitting and hosiery town, supplemented by a growing number of detached properties on newer residential streets. Recent verified HM Land Registry sales illustrate the range available across the town. A three-bedroom semi-detached property on Mountfield Road sold for £230,000 in August 2025, a three-bedroom detached property on The Poplars sold for £264,000 in October 2025, and a two-bedroom terraced property on Highfield Street sold for £140,000 in October 2025. A two-bedroom flat on Alexander Avenue sold for £133,000 in September 2025, demonstrating the accessible entry point available for first-time buyers in the town.

At the upper end of the market, larger detached homes and rural properties on the edges of the town and parish have historically commanded significantly higher prices, with the most expensive recorded sale in Earl Shilton being a substantial rural property on Leicester Road that sold for £1,200,000 in 2007, illustrating the range that exists between the town's core residential streets and its more rural fringes.

The Rental Market in Earl Shilton

Private rents in the wider Hinckley and Bosworth district averaged £884 per month in May 2025, an annual increase of 6.3% from £832 in May 2024, according to ONS Price Index of Private Rents data. This was below the East Midlands regional rise of 7.7% over the same period. Earl Shilton's relative affordability compared to Hinckley and Leicester makes it a practical option for tenants who want lower rents while remaining within easy reach of both towns by road.

How Much Could You Save Selling Without an Agent?

Traditional estate agents typically charge between 1% and 3% commission on the final sale price. On an Earl Shilton property sold at the local average of £224,065, that commission can represent a meaningful sum deducted directly from your proceeds at completion. With YooSell, you pay a fixed monthly fee from just £49.50 and keep 100% of your agreed sale price. You can also list your property on Rightmove through YooSell directly, giving your home full visibility on the UK's biggest property portal without paying estate agent commission. Use the free YooSell Cost Saving Calculator to see exactly what you could keep based on your own property value.

Best Areas and Neighbourhoods in Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton's residential layout reflects its long history as a ridge-top town, with the historic core along the high street giving way to later residential expansion on the surrounding streets and estates.

Old Shilton and the High Street

The historic heart of the town, known informally as Old Shilton, is mainly strung along Wood Street, with several small back lanes and alleys known locally as "The Backs" running behind it, a genuine token of the town's older, pre-industrial layout. The main high street, running along the A47 through the centre of the town, is home to Earl Shilton's library, independent shops, and long-standing local businesses, giving this part of the town a strong sense of community identity and walkable convenience.

Heath Lane and the Eastern Streets

The area around Heath Lane, where Heath Lane Academy is located, has grown into one of the town's more established residential areas, offering a mix of semi-detached and terraced housing within easy reach of the secondary school and Heath Lane Surgery. This part of town is popular with families who want to minimise their secondary school commute.

Weaver Road and the Western Streets

The streets towards the western side of Earl Shilton, including Weaver Road and the surrounding cul-de-sacs, offer a mix of established family housing close to St Peter's Primary School and Weavers Close, both rated Good by Ofsted. This area benefits from being close to the local Co-op supermarket and the everyday convenience shops along the high street.

Newer Residential Streets

Streets including Mountfield Road, The Poplars, and Tommy Brown Close represent some of the more recently developed parts of Earl Shilton, offering modern semi-detached and detached family homes. These areas have attracted steady buyer interest, supported by the relative affordability of the town compared to Hinckley and the wider Leicestershire market.

Surrounding Villages

Earl Shilton sits within a cluster of attractive south Leicestershire villages, including Kirby Muxloe, Desford, Stoney Stanton, and Potters Marston. These communities offer a more rural setting for buyers seeking larger plots and a village lifestyle while remaining within a short drive of Earl Shilton's amenities and the wider road network connecting Hinckley and Leicester.

Search for available properties across Earl Shilton and the surrounding villages on the YooSell Find a Home platform.

Schools in Earl Shilton

Education provision is an important consideration for families choosing where to live in Earl Shilton. The town has two primary schools rated Good by Ofsted and a long-established secondary academy serving pupils from age 11 to 16.

Primary Schools in Earl Shilton

St Peter's Primary School

St Peter's Primary School in Earl Shilton holds an Ofsted rating of Good, providing primary education for children in the town and serving as one of the two main primary feeder schools into the local secondary provision.

Weavers Close

Weavers Close, also located within Earl Shilton, holds an Ofsted rating of Good and provides an alternative primary option for families in the town, located conveniently close to the western residential streets.

Heathfield Primary School

Heathfield Primary School also serves families in Earl Shilton, providing additional primary capacity alongside St Peter's and Weavers Close. Parents should confirm current catchment boundaries and admission arrangements directly with Leicestershire County Council ahead of each year's admissions process, as these can change between academic years.

Secondary School in Earl Shilton

Heath Lane Academy

Heath Lane Academy on Heath Lane, Earl Shilton LE9 7PD is the secondary school serving the town, providing education for pupils aged 11 to 16. The school was formed in August 2016 from the merger of The Heathfield Academy, previously an 11 to 14 school, with William Bradford Community College, a 14 to 19 school, bringing together secondary provision for the town under a single institution. Heath Lane Academy is part of United Learning Trust, one of the largest education trusts in the country.

Following a full inspection in July 2019, Ofsted rated Heath Lane Academy as Good overall, noting that the principal and senior leaders had taken swift and decisive action to improve the school. The school's most recent inspection took place in February 2025, during a transitional period in how Ofsted evaluates and reports on schools, with the new report card system replacing single overall effectiveness judgements for state-funded schools from September 2024 onwards. The school currently has approximately 698 students with a student to teacher ratio of 19 to 1, and is led by Headteacher Mr Mark Trimingham.

Special Educational Needs Provision

Leicestershire County Council provides SEND home-to-school transport support for eligible children across the Hinckley and Bosworth district, including Earl Shilton. Families with children who have additional needs should contact the SEND team at Leicestershire County Council directly to discuss eligibility and available specialist provision in the local area.

Higher Education Within Reach of Earl Shilton

De Montfort University in Leicester city centre is approximately 20 to 25 minutes away by car, offering a strong choice of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Loughborough University, ranked among the UK's top institutions for sport science, engineering, and design, is accessible within approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Coventry University and the University of Warwick are also within practical reach via the M69 and M6, giving Earl Shilton residents a genuinely strong choice of higher education options.

Transport and Commuting from Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton's position on the A47 between Hinckley and Leicester, combined with its proximity to the M69 motorway, makes it a practical base for residents who need to travel regularly to either of Leicestershire's two largest towns.

Road Access

Earl Shilton sits directly on the A47, the main road connecting Leicester to Hinckley and on towards Peterborough to the east. A bypass opened in 2009 redirected through traffic away from the historic high street, significantly improving the experience of the town centre for both residents and shoppers. Hinckley is approximately 5 miles away and Leicester approximately 10 miles away, both reachable within 20 to 25 minutes by car under normal traffic conditions.

The M69 motorway, connecting Leicester to Coventry, is accessible from Earl Shilton via a short drive to either Hinckley or the surrounding road network, opening up onward connections to the M6 and M1 for residents who need to travel further across the Midlands.

Rail Connections

Earl Shilton does not have its own railway station. The South Leicestershire Railway, formed in 1850, extended its line to Elmesthorpe in 1863, where a station was built specifically to serve Earl Shilton and the neighbouring village of Barwell. This station closed in 1968, and today the nearest railway station is at Hinckley, approximately 5 miles away. Hinckley station provides direct services to Leicester in approximately 20 minutes and Birmingham New Street in approximately 40 minutes, with additional peak services to Cambridge and Stansted Airport.

Bus Services

Earl Shilton is served by bus services from Arriva Midlands and Stagecoach Midlands, with routes running to Hinckley, Nuneaton, and Leicester, providing residents without a car a practical way to reach the surrounding towns and cities for work, shopping, and leisure.

Living in Earl Shilton: Culture, Heritage and Community

Earl Shilton High Street and Shopping

Earl Shilton's high street, running along the A47 through the centre of the town, offers a genuinely local shopping experience built around independent, family-run businesses. The town has its own Co-op supermarket, a Spar shop that also houses the local post office, an independent butchers, a card shop, and a sweet shop selling traditional confectionery, alongside an award-winning independent hairdresser and an opticians providing eye tests and contact lenses. Earl Shilton Dentists, located just off the main high street, provides both NHS and private dental care for residents.

Earl Shilton Library

Earl Shilton Library sits on the main A47 in the middle of the town's shopping area and is part of the Leicestershire Libraries network, also operating as a Family Hubs Network site offering wider support and signposting services to local families. The library is housed across two floors and hosts regular community sessions, including a Saturday morning building and craft drop-in session and a Monday knitting group, reflecting the town's strong tradition in textile crafts.

Earl Shilton Town Council and Community Life

Earl Shilton has its own town council, the third tier of local government below Leicestershire County Council and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Made up of 14 elected or co-opted volunteers, the town council is responsible for parks, cemeteries, and a range of community initiatives, with a published mission and aspirations document setting out its priorities for the town centre, green spaces, and local economic stimulation. The council supports a Town Team and Business Forum working to encourage inward investment and economic activity in the town centre.

The town hosts a range of community events throughout the year, including the popular Earl Shilton by the Sea event organised by the town council, bringing a seaside-themed family day out to the heart of Leicestershire.

Earl Shilton Centre

Earl Shilton Centre, run by Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland and situated on Kings Walk overlooking Wood Street Park, provides a significant community resource for older residents in the town. The centre hosts a weekly Friendship Club, a Friday coffee morning, and a lunch club running four days a week offering a freshly cooked two-course meal for a modest price. Day club groups provide carer-supported day care for older people experiencing physical frailty, dementia, or learning disabilities, and the centre also hosts external classes, fashion shows, quiz nights, and a Christmas fair throughout the year. The centre is open to the public and free to enter, with charges applying only for specific activities and classes.

Green Spaces

Wood Street Park, overlooked by the Earl Shilton Centre, provides a central green space for the town, used by residents for everyday recreation and as a venue for some of the town's community events. The wider south Leicestershire countryside surrounding Earl Shilton, including the rural lanes towards Stoney Stanton and Potters Marston, offers further opportunities for walking and cycling close to the town.

Heritage

Earl Shilton's heritage runs deep, from its Domesday origins through to its medieval castle on Shilton Hill, of which only an earthen mound now remains. The Church of St Simon and St Jude, the town's Anglican parish church, was built in 1856 on the site of an earlier church, with its tower restored in 1874 and containing a clock and a peal of five bells, two of which date to 1595 and 1711 respectively. The church seats 800 and remains an active place of worship for the town's community.

Safety and Community Wellbeing

Earl Shilton benefits from a strong civic identity supported by its own town council, an active community centre, and a well-used library at the heart of the high street. As with the wider Hinckley and Bosworth borough, Leicestershire Police provides policing for the town, and the strength of local community organisations, from the town council's Action Plan through to Age UK's Earl Shilton Centre, contributes to a positive and engaged local environment for residents of all ages.

Healthcare in Earl Shilton

Heath Lane Surgery, located just off the main thoroughfare in Earl Shilton, provides GP services for the town's residents, with opening hours from 8am to 6.30pm and an online booking service for routine appointments. Earl Shilton Dentists, close to the main high street shops, offers both NHS and private dental care. For specialist or emergency hospital treatment, the George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust are both accessible within approximately 25 to 30 minutes by car, giving Earl Shilton residents practical access to two major NHS hospital trusts.

Selling Your Home in Earl Shilton with YooSell

If you are considering selling your Earl Shilton property, YooSell offers a genuinely better alternative to the traditional high street estate agency model. YooSell is a self-service home-selling platform built for homeowners across Leicestershire and the wider Midlands, giving you complete control of your sale at a fraction of the cost of a conventional agent.

Why Earl Shilton Homeowners Choose YooSell

With YooSell, you pay no commission at any stage of the sale process. You pay a simple fixed monthly fee from £49.50 and keep 100% of your agreed sale price. There is no percentage cut at completion, no hidden extras, and no agent taking a share of the equity you have built in your home.

You can list your property on Rightmove through YooSell directly, putting your Earl Shilton home in front of millions of active property buyers on the UK's biggest portal without instructing a traditional estate agent. You set your own asking price, manage your own viewings on your own schedule, and respond to offers entirely on your own terms. Every buyer on the platform is ID-verified and financially qualified before making an offer, so you only deal with serious, genuine purchasers. When you accept an offer, access trusted conveyancers and legal partners directly through your YooSell dashboard, keeping the process streamlined from acceptance through to completion.

Free Tools for Earl Shilton Buyers and Sellers

Make use of the free planning tools available through YooSell before listing or making an offer:

• Valuation Calculator to estimate your Earl Shilton property's current market value

• Cost Saving Calculator to see exactly how much you save versus a traditional agent on your sale

• Mortgage Calculator to plan your next purchase and understand your monthly repayments

• Stamp Duty Calculator to calculate your full tax liability before you exchange contracts

• YooSell Pricing Plans to choose the listing tier that fits your sale