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Launde Abbey near East Norton is the Retreat House of the Diocese of Leicester.

It's an Elizabethan Manor House set in acres of beautiful parkland, and it's been shortlisted for a Enjoy England Excellence Award.

Listen: Launde Abbey

BBC Leicester's Katharine Sutton went to Launde Abbey to find out what makes it such a top tourism experience...

History of Launde Abbey

Launde Abbey dates back to the 1100s when the Augustinian canons founded a small, wooden church.

Then in 1540 the priory buildings were turned into a house by Gregory Cromwell, and that is mostly how Launde Abbey remains today.

In 1957 the house was given to the church for the people of Leicestershire, and now 14,000-15,000 people visit it every year.

"It's where you're transformed"

So what does Launde Abbey offer visitors?

The park of Launde Abbey

Reverend Tim Blewett is the warden of Launde Abbey and he says it provides an environment to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life:

"The fascinating thing about the landscape in which the abbey sits - I used to describe it as being in a bowl.

"Then I was told off by one of the guests, who said, 'Tim, you mustn't call it a bowl', and I looked at her somewhat surprised and she said, 'Well you mustn't call it a bowl because a bowl is somewhere you get mixed up, whereas actually it's a crucible, because that's where you're transformed."

Best Tourism Experience?

But what makes it one of the best tourism experiences in the East Midlands? Reverend Tim says they offer guests something special:

A beautiful view from the road...

"I think it's to do with that relationship - the fact that people actually come in here and they feel as if they're at home, because they feel as if they're amongst friends, people who actually want them to be here and actually want them to have a really good time."

So how did he feel when Launde Abbey was shortlisted for the Enjoy England Excellence Award?

"It's fantastic, isn't it, to know that the work that so many people have done here has been recognised for what it is.

"The care, the hospitality, the generosity of this place has been recognised."

The winner of the Enjoy England Excellence Award will be announced on 10 October 2007 so watch this space and keep listening to BBC Radio Leicester 104.9FM to get the latest news on Launde Abbey.