[3] The village includes the 13th-century St Leonard's parish church, which retains the original arcades and has an 18th-century west tower built for Sir John Danvers.

An annual village fair was held in Victorian times outside the pub on the Feast of St Leonard in November.

[8] The Swithland Hall estate was held by the family of Danvers until 1796 but after the death of Sir John Danvers (the last male of his line) it passed to his son-in-law, Augustus Richard Butler, second son of the second Earl of Lanesborough, who adopted the surname of Danvers-Butler and afterwards inherited the title of Earl of Lanesborough.

[6][9] The current hall, a Grade II listed building, was partially completed in 1834 and finished in 1852,[10] on a different site to the south-east, in what was then known as Swithland Park, by John George Danvers Butler, sixth Earl of Lanesborough.

[3][12] Slate quarrying in the area dates back to Roman times,[13] and was an important activity within the village between the 13th and 19th centuries.

It is accessible via the causeway road to the east of the village and with a dam that can be reached by Kinchley Lane from Mountsorrel, and is a popular site for birdwatching, as well as for walking.

This large area of woodland around a former slate quarry is a popular walking, riding, and hunting spot.

[19] A small set of railway exchange sidings were built at this location, but the nearest passenger station was at Rothley.