Foxton Locks Canal
Foxton Locks Canal
Distance: 0.5 miles
Walk: 15 mins
sat nav: LE16 7RA
Explore Foxton Locks, a historic canal marvel in Leicestershire, offering picturesque landscapes, canal heritage, boat trips, and a glimpse into 19th-century engineering brilliance.
How do you lift a fully loaded narrowboat up a 75ft hill? Engineers of the past 200 years have come up with not one but two ingenious solutions at Foxton and, together, they offer a day out like no other.
There are flights of locks all over the nation’s canal network but there’s nowhere quite like Foxton Locks – the longest and steepest staircase of locks in the country. Ten locks back-breakingly carved by hand through the Leicestershire countryside.
An innovative boat lift, or inclined plane, was built next to the locks to carry boats up and down the steep hill in giant bathtubs, or caissons, of water. Expensive to operate, and under increasing competition from the railways, it was mothballed after just 11 years but today visitors can stand on the remains and find out more about how it worked in the nearby museum.
Two centuries ago Foxton would have bustled with the sights, sounds and smells of a working waterway but today it offers a peaceful escape where you can almost feel life slowing down. There’s a friendlier feel too, where people passing on the towpath say hello and there’s always a smiling lock keeper on-hand for a chat.
Maybe you’ll enjoy a spot of ‘gongoozling’, the art of watching the beautifully painted narrowboats make their way through the locks. With around 5,000 boats passing through each year, Foxton is the perfect place to try it.
Visit Foxton Locks Canal
Live Jazz in Leicester
Leicester Jazz is the brand name for jazz development activities funded by Leicester City Council and East Midlands Jazz. These activities aim to provide, support and encourage jazz and related music in Leicester and Leicestershire. Leicester Jazz is currently managed by The Y on behalf of a group of local Promoters and venues.
Miles: 16
Ye old Pork Pie Shoppe
Dickinson & Morris has been baking pork pies in Melton Mowbray since 1851. We are the oldest remaining bakers of the authentic Melton Mowbray Pork Pie in the town centre today. Visitors can purchase an authentic Melton Mowbray pork pie and a link or two of our mouthwatering sausages from The Sausage Shop. We also have wide range of delicious food items including Melton Hunt cake, Dickinson & Morris chutneys and preserves, Stilton Cheese and a variety of quiche, freshly baked breads and rolls, an extensive takeaway section and so many more tempting fine foods.
Miles: 23
Burghley Horse Trials
It was in 1961 that the Marquess of Exeter, on hearing that the autumn three-day event at Harewood could no longer be held, invited the British Horse Society to transfer the event to his estate. In its second year, 1962, Burghley ran the F.E.I.’s European Championship and this was the beginning of a remarkable record. No other international horse trials site has staged as many Championships, a record ten in all including the first World Championship in 1966. In total Burghley has run two World Championships in 1966 and 1974, six European Championships in 1962, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989 and 1997. Also one Young Riders European Championship in 1978. It is the longest continuous running international event.
Miles: 32
Foxton Locks Canal is 0.5 miles from Foxton Locks Lodges
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