2.5 hours cruising

After your comprehensive boat handling training at the picturesque Union Wharf marina, set off on your narrowboat adventure! Cruise along the Market Harborough Arm of the Grand Union Canal, a peaceful 5-mile stretch of wandering countryside, right in the heart of the East Midlands. Along the way, you’ll need to open Swing Bridge to proceed.

Moor up for the night shortly after the swing bridge. There’s a pretty towpath where you can alight and walk a few short minutes to the Black Horse, Foxton. They have a charming outdoor space and a great menu. Alternatively, head further into Foxton to the Shoulder of Mutton. Enjoy some drinks and a meal before a cosy night aboard your holiday boat.

5 hours cruising

Cruise into the basin at the bottom of Foxton Locks and moor up. Find a volunteer lockkeeper to book your ascent, and they’ll give you an approximate time. Climb up the longest staircase flight of locks in Britain! Enjoy a leisurely cruise along the stunning waterways and through the 1,000 metre Husbands Bosworth Tunnel.

Turn left onto the Welford Arm and take the sleepy route via one tiny lock into the basin, where you’ll be able to turn your holiday boat around. Moor up for the night and enjoy a drink or bite to eat at the traditional canal-side pub, The Wharf Inn, Welford.

6 hours cruising

Cruise back up the Welford Arm, keeping right at the junction, and head through Husbands Bosworth Tunnel up to the top of Foxton Locks. Find the lockkeeper to book your descent down the world-famous staircase locks.

Once you’re down the flight, take the right arm towards Market Harborough and then moor up here. If you arrive early enough, explore the surrounding area on foot or visit the Foxton Canal Museum, then settle in for a delicious meal at the Foxton Locks Inn or Bridge 61.

3 hours cruising

Begin a leisurely cruise back past two swing bridges and into Market Harborough, where you can moor up in the Union Wharf marina. Take a walk into the historic town centre to enjoy an afternoon of shopping. Visit the quaint Cultural Quarter for the town’s museum, theatre, and iconic stilted Old Grammar School.

Market Harborough has an award-winning market, multiple boutique and independent shops, and numerous cafes and bars. In the evening, there are plenty of options for dining, such as Nossa, Everest Lounge, and Veneto.