The peaceful county of Leicestershire became the centre of the nation’s attention in 2012, when the body of King Richard III was found buried under a car park in Leicester. This discovery brought to light the dramatic events in Leicestershire at the end of the Wars of the Roses, a conflict which is seen as marking the end of the middle ages in England. This was an age when kings and lords rode to war at the heads of their armies, and defeat or victory on the battlefield changed the course of history. To this day, is home to legendary battles where you can lead your team to triumph over your opponents, though without the epoch-defining significance. We’re talking about paintball, one of the most exciting, and certainly the most popular, combat sports around.

This sport requires fairly simple equipment, a large outdoor space and enthusiastic participation. You’ll find all of these in Leicestershire for prices that you can’t refuse. Centres around the county have high quality paintball markers, the name for the gun, and paintballs. They’re set in large sites, often in woodland, and enhanced by natural and man made obstacles and scenarios. And they’re run by keen paintballers who have a love for the game and want it to be enjoyed by all who visit them. Whether you’re looking for a strategic challenge to push you to the limits, a fun activity to enjoy in the great outdoors with your mates, or you have a score to settle with someone, there’s a paintball marker with your name on it in Leicestershire.

Where are the best places to go paintballing in Leicestershire?

• Leicester: We hope you won’t end up buried under a carpark like King Richard if you come for a game of paintball here, but even if you do, we know that you’ll go down with a smile on your face. The fantastic site is set just off the M1 leaving the city, but the woodland setting will transport you to a different headspace as you battle through the Viet Cong Village, or fight for control of the Command Post.

• Coalville: A bit further into the countryside, this centre is an immersive, highly realistic war zone. In fact, it’s set on an ex-military site and was designed by former members of the special forces. If anyone knows about armed combat, it’s them, and you can get a taste or the thrills and excitement without putting yourself at any risk! There’s even SplatMaster, a low velocity version of the game which lets youngsters get in on the action.

• Loughborough: A paintball session outside Loughborough in the north of the county is a great way to let off some steam, but it’s also your opportunity to experience some carefully designed scenarios that are like something from a movie set. There’s a Tomb Raider game zone, a Haunted Graveyard and a Sheriff’s Castle to explore. You better keep your wits about you - whether it’s a skeleton, a zombie or a soldier who jumps out at you, you have to be ready to cover them with paint.

• Market Harborough: The site of the Battle of Bosworth Field is somewhere in the vicinity of this town in south Leicestershire, as is the site of one of the most extreme paintball experiences in the whole country. You can engage in tank warfare here, driving a real tank with your crew, loading the cannon and blasting other tanks with huge paintballs. There’s nothing that brings modern combat to life like a fully armoured and equipped vehicle with firepower that will leave you speechless. Aside from the tanks, there’s standard paintballing action in the woods as well, where vehicles can’t penetrate the trees.

• Lutterworth: With game zones like the Village of the Damned and Area 51, this site is sure to get your heart racing even before the skirmish starts. In fact, it might even beat as fast as the fire rate of the onsite markers, which can fire up to 6 paintballs per second. For younger warriors, you can lower the intensity and watch them enjoy reduced velocity paintballing.

Requirements to do this activity

The youngest age that kids can get involved in a paintball game in Leicester is 7 to 8, on sites that have specially designed equipment, like SplatMaster. As well as the low velocity markers which take the sting out of getting hit, there’s safety equipment that’s made to the measurements of children, so that your son or daughter doesn’t feel uncomfortable and encumbered by the goggles and overalls.

Normal paintball is suitable for everyone over 12 years of age. This is because teenagers are a bit tougher, but can also understand the kit better and avoid misusing it - firing at someone at close range is prohibited because it can really hurt! If you want to have a paintball experience that’s enhanced by the presence of a tank, you need to be at least 16 years old, because this is an activity that simulates intense battlefield conditions.

Options for organising an activity

In general a game of paintball lasts between 15 minutes and half an hour, but your experience here will be a session that includes multiple games. If you come to one of the fantastic sites in the area for half a day, you’ll participate in up to 6 games over different zones and with different objectives. A full day includes even more action and more variety, with up to 12 games included. If you’re going tank paintballing, the session lasts a little over 2 hours, with some training and practice time in the tank, before testing it out on the battlefield.

The best way to enjoy paintballing is as part of a team - and if the other members of your team, and the opposing team, are people you know, the fun is multiplied. Make a booking with your friends to celebrate a birthday or a stag or hen party, bring your family for a bonding session, or surprise your colleagues with a team building activity with a difference here.

When you book with us, there’s no pain!. It’s as easy as clicking the button.