Loudoun’s county seat is a fashionable burg with a historic downtown buzzing with craft breweries, cocktail bars, artisanal coffee shops, farm-to-fork restaurants and chic boutiques and home decor stores. Dine on oysters, tacos, homemade pasta and more on King Street, Leesburg’s “restaurant row.” Stay in a luxe Potomac River resort and soak up the storied ambiance of a town that’s been home to icons such as General George C. Marshall of Marshall Plan fame, and is now residence to artists, designers, musicians and tech entrepreneurs.
Founded in 1758 at the crossroads of two Native American trails near the Potomac, Leesburg is bookended by the historic mansions and landscaped grounds of Morven Park to the north and Oatlands Historic House & Gardens to the south. Cyclists, joggers and equestrians are drawn to the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park that perfectly bisects the town, while the lifestyle and residential district The Village at Leesburg attracts visitors for sidewalk dining, big screen movies and retail therapy. It’s that charming downtown though – handsome 18th and 19th century buildings repurposed as bars, breweries, restaurants, galleries and boutiques – that epitomizes Leesburg’s current cool.
Must Do:
Passed Times
Founded in 1758, Leesburg is rich in history. Walk the grounds of historic Morven Park and the terraced gardens of the 1798-established Oatlands; pay tribute to George C. Marshall at his home Dodona Manor and visit the hallowed ground of Ball’s Bluff Battlefield National Park on cliffs above the Potomac River. For a self-guided walking tour of downtown, including the Loudoun Museum and Leesburg Courthouse, download this app here or book a guided tour with Historic Leesburg Walking tours.
Dine Around
King Street is teeming with lively bars and eateries. Try the lobster roll and spicy Kentucky Mule cocktail at King Street Oyster Bar, the locavore cheese plate and wine flights at farm-to-table Wine Kitchen, spicy tacos at modish New-Mexican Señor Ramon or fine dining (and piano music) at the iconic Lightfoot Restaurant. Shutters on King offers superb New American dishes, a raw bar and craft cocktails in a beautifully restored 18th Century building while Chef Vincent Badiee, a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants, helms The Huntōn, fine restaurant of the splendid new Hotel Burg.
Leesburg Coffee Corridor
There are close to a dozen coffee shops and espresso bars within a few blocks of each other on and around King Street, earning it the sobriquet Leesburg CoCo. Cozy Second Nature Coffee Co. serves award-winning local roaster Lone Oak Coffee while intimate SideBar Coffee has a European-style street side window counter. The secret garden at Shoes Cup & Cork is great for a sandwich and an iced latte as is the courtyard of Cowbell Kitchen across the street. At the corner of Church and Market streets, try Trinity House Café for a Café Dos Leches featuring a hint of nutmeg or visit newly opened Goosecup, which roasts its own beans, sourcing from Zambia, Ethiopia, Honduras and elsewhere. Around the corner on quiet Wirt Street, plant-filled oasis Shake & Bops Botanical Café serves excellent Lone Oak roasted drip coffee, pour overs and espresso.
Live Music
Opened in 1931 as Leesburg’s first movie house, Tally Ho Theater now features big name musicians such as David Allen Coe and Uncle Kracker, as well as frequent retro acts and cover bands.
Beer Crawl
There are no less than four breweries in downtown Leesburg, all within walking distance of each other. Loudoun Brewing Co, Black Hoof and cozy nook Crooked Run make crisp lagers and malty IPA’s, and we love the summery front yard at Dynasty Brewing Company.
Explore Market Station
Created from a restored mill and relocated freight depot, the Market Station precinct is home to beloved local restaurants Fire Works (pizza), Jasmine (Chinese), Tuscarora Mill (American bistro), South Street Under (don't miss the fresh-baked ciabatta), Los Tios Grill (Mexican) and the sublime wine and Italian food of Gvino Wine Bar. The complex also houses a brewery, cidery, nail salon, health food store and the Loudoun Visitor Center.
Shop Class
Leesburg Premium Outlets, just outside the historic district, offers bargain deals on major designers, while the historic downtown has a slate of stylish boutiques, home decor stores, gift shops and thrift stores, among them Lou Lou's, Muz & Rose, Wldwst, Brick & Mortar and Resourceful Woman.
The Sporting Life
Not far from the downtown district is Segra Field, which is home to the soccer stars of Loudoun United, feeder team to DC United. The nearby ION International Training Center with its two NHL-sized rinks, is one of the leading ice skating arenas on the east coast.
Luxe Resort
Set on 500 scenic acres overlooking the Potomac River, Lansdowne Resort is a state-of-the-art golf and lifestyle resort with a slate of restaurants and specialty wellness programs.
Urban Village
Enjoy the shops, bars, restaurants, bowling alley and multiplex cinema of the pedestrianized lifestyle and residential precinct the Village at Leesburg.
Not to Miss Events
Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival, April
Founded in 1990, this annual rite of spring in Loudoun features floral designers, flower growers, landscapers, gardening suppliers, plant sellers and much more, as well as live music, food stands and entertainment for kids.
Independence Day Parade and Fireworks, July 4
Leesburg’s annual Independence Day celebration comprises of a morning parade of floats through the historic downtown followed by a spectacular fireworks display at Ida Lee Park in the evening.
Loudoun County Fair, July-August
With farm animals, a petting zoo, live music, beer tents, a carnival, a demolition derby and dozens of food stands, the annual Loudoun County Fair at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds on Dry Mill Road is farm-centered fun for the whole family.
Taste Leesburg, August
Located on the Town Green, this day-long culinary festival features scores of local restaurants, food trucks, breweries, wineries and farm markets offering “tastes” of their best fare. Enjoy bites and brews while listening to live music from the stages.
Leesburg Air Show, September
Hosted at Leesburg Executive Airport, this annual aviation event gets you up-close and personal with some of the finest planes navigating Loudoun skies and includes acrobatic feats, skydivers, vintage aircraft and much more.
The Loudoun Museum Hauntings, October
Since 1991, Loudoun Museum staff and volunteers have helped thousands discover the real night life of Leesburg, Virginia. Hauntings takes attendees on a downtown walking tour, telling stories about the historic homes and their inhabitants from the past - some highly ghostly in nature. The tours will be held October 22-23, 2021.
Holiday Fine Arts & Crafts Show, December
The 31st annual arts and crafts show takes place at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center on Saturday and Sunday, December 4 and 5, 2021, from 9 a.m.- 4 .pm. Shop for one-of-a kind handcrafted items from more than 95 local and regional artisans – the perfect gifts for the tree.
Christmas and Holiday Parade, December
The annual parade, with Santa leading the way, begins at 6 p.m. on December 11 at Ida Lee Park and travels down King Street through historic downtown Leesburg taking in the festive streetlights and the illuminated holiday tree on the Town Green. Ho, ho, ho!
