Hinckley is a town in south-west Leicestershire, England, and is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. The town has a population of around 36,000.
It is a traditional centre of the hosiery industry, and is home to the Triumph Motorcycle company. Hinckley has one football team, Hinckley United, who currently (2004/5) play in the Football Conference North. Hinckley United were formed in 1997 from the amalgamation of Hinckley Town and Hinckley Athletic, and are known as the Knitters - a nickname which comes from the town's history as a textile-producing centre.
The Ashby Canal also passes through the town.
Near to Hinckley is the site of the Battle of Bosworth.
The town is mentioned in one of Shakespeare's plays, Henry IV, part 2 Act 5. Scene I:
DAVY
Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must need be
had: and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's
wages, about the sack he lost the other day at
Hinckley fair?
Travel
Hinckley is near the M69 and M1 motorways, and is on the railway line linking Leicester with Coventry and Birmingham (via Narborough, Hinckley, and Nuneaton). The nearest airports are Coventry and Nottingham East Midlands (which is actually in Leicestershire).
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