Bushby was first mentioned in the Doomsday Book 1175. page 321 (The Domesday Geography of Middle England edited H.C. Darcy Prof. Geography Univ. Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. Press 1971).
Thurnby and Bushby is administratively one Parish. Thurnby is the western part and Bushby the eastern part, with the boundary running more or less north-south. The Parish of Thurnby and Bushby is immediately east of the City of Leicester. It contains a broad ridge running east-west and sloping down in the west to the City. The A47 main road runs centrally through it along this ridge. The older part of the village lies on the southern side of the top of the ridge. The housing is chiefly on or near the top of the ridge and is surrounded by farm or nursery land except at the north-west corner where the housing is continuous with a Leicester suburb.
The landscape of most of the land surrounding the built-up area is a pattern of fields, bounded by hedges, with many hedgerow trees.
The older part of the settlement is a “street village” running parallel to and south of the A47 and consisting of a sequence of buildings, only one property deep, extending from Grange Lane via Main Street to Bushby Turn for about three-quarters of a mile. Within this is the old core of Thurnby referred to as Thurnby Village, which runs from The Square to the Rose and Crown. There are some fine Edwardian properties in Grange Lane, Main Street and Uppingham Road. The rest of the built-up area covers the full span of the twentieth century in age, and building continues to the present day.

THURNBY VILLAGE

This encompasses The Square, where outbuildings of the demolished large private residence, Thurnby Court, survive in addition to The Firs farmhouse and four cottages. Opposite are the Dower House
and a short cul de sac leading to the Vicarage and the Manor House. The run of cottages on the south side of Main Street shows humble vernacular architecture and includes the thatched timbered cottage “The Gilstead”. The Rose and Crown public house on the Thurnby/Bushby boundary is also thatched. On the north side of Main Street is St Luke’s Church, St Luke’s School and the Memorial Hall. There are former village pumps on The Square and outside St Luke’s School. Bends in Main Street block linear outward views along them. The view down Main Street, looking west (downhill) from the Rose and Crown is “characterised by the massing of the buildings, the curve of the street and the Church at the back”. The run of cottages (two of which are listed) have a “vitality of altering roofline”. Main Street has an open feel and by virtue of slight changes in its direction presents a constantly changing view. The view leads the eye on to the core of the village. This is made up of The Square, dominated by St. Luke’s Church, the Vicarage, Manor House partly hidden behind its walls and high hedges, Dower House and neighbouring cottages. Important open land enhances Thurnby Village and contributes to its character –The Square itself, Manor Field, the grounds of The Manor, the green opposite St Luke’s Church, St Luke’s School playing fields and the two greens in front of the Rose and Crown.
Bushby Spinney, Main Street. Further east, Main Street narrows to pass between a pair of old cottages and Bushby House which has a very distinctive brick wall with a castellated outbuilding adding character to this part of Main Street. Then follows a triangular patch of open land planted with pines, known as Bushby Spinney.
It is fronted by four fine Edwardian houses.

UPPINGHAM ROAD

The substantial properties on the A47 are chiefly early 20th century (Edwardian and between the wars). The oldest are set in their own large plots which enhance the architectural value of the house. With a few exceptions these houses are individually designed residences set within well-proportioned grounds. The setting of these dwellings is as important as their architectural details. Since 2004 this area has seen the
demolition of some of the most notable houses on the approach from the east and their replacement by small estates of nine and fourteen houses. More are either in construction or in the pipeline. Most of the verges, front hedges and trees remain fronting the A47 as it passes through the Parish. These add character to this part of Thurnby and soften the effect of the built-up area, particularly when approaching from the east.

Grange Lane

Grange Lane effectively continues Main Street westwards and completes the settlement's linear spine before turning back northwards to the A47. The road is lined with dwellings of different ages and styles. On the south side there are some old cottages (some with original shutters), some fine Edwardian villas and The Lodge built about 1920 in Queen Anne style, now a residential home. On the north side is the listed wall of the Dower House and its rebuilt coach house, now a dwelling. There are also modern houses and bungalows, including a recent development at Bradgate Close.
STATION ROAD
This road has a mix of housing, the oldest of which is pre-war, some set back from the road and some which have larger than average plots.
HEREWARD DRIVE, HERRICK DRIVE
This is a pleasant development of small bungalows characterised by wide grass verges and open plan fronts.
AREA FROM THE A47 TOSCRAPTOFT;
CHARNWOOD DRIVE, SOMERBY ROAD, PULFORD DRIVE AND ROADS OFF THEM
This area contains a variety of types, sizes and ages of housing, including a significant proportion of family housing. Fern Close and Vale End are a good example of a well-planned development incorporating flats, bungalows, detached and semi-detached houses and sheltered accommodation.