Foxton Locks

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Planning your visit

Address: Foxton Locks Top Lock Cottage, Gumley Road, Foxton, LE16 7RA. View on Google map

Email: enquiries.eastmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Opening Times: From Thursday 5 November to Wednesday 2 December, Foxton Locks will be open only for emergencies and to access essential services such as water, pump out or waste. Please contact us on 0303 040 4040 or by emailing enquiries.eastmidlands@canalrivertrust.org.uk to arrange passage for essential travel only. Please note that passage will only be possible Monday to Friday between the hours of 10:00 and 14:00. You must book by 12:00 the day before you wish to travel through the locks. You will not be able to book passage on site and must book advance using the contact details above. We are keeping our response under constant review and may change our position according to latest government advice.

Price: Once you're parked up, it won't cost you a thing

Toilets: There are public toilets in both car parks at the top and bottom of the locks

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Following the Government’s announcement on 4 January 2021 of a national lockdown in England all boating should be limited to essential use only. Our towpaths remain open for local use but please follow Government guidance, staying local, observing social distancing at all times and avoiding sections with moored boats where possible. You can find out more in our coronavirus and boating FAQs.

For a fascinating family day out in Leicestershire, head to our iconic Foxton Locks. There are flights of locks all over our network – but not like Foxton. It's home to two amazing feats of engineering in the heart of Leicestershire, on the Grand Union Canal. As well as the longest and steepest staircase locks in the UK, the site is home to the remains of the inclined plane, a magnificent, if slightly weird, piece of Victorian engineering.

But that's not the only reason over 4,000 boats pass through Foxton Locks each year, making it one of the most visited places on our canals. We recommend you take some time out to watch boats travel up or down the locks, or take a boat trip yourself, before relaxing at the pubs and picnic spots.

Things to do and see in Leicestershire

Places to eat:

Top Lock cottage cafe - serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and locally produced dairy ice cream - see open times in our planning your visit section
Foxton Locks Inn
Bridge 61
Bell Inn at Gumley

Boat trips:

Foxton Boat Services

Picnic spot:

There are benches by the top car park and lots of nice grassy areas for a picnic

Walks and trails:

Audio Trail - there are several speaker points around the locks telling stories from the 'cut'

Wildlife spotting:

This is a rural spot and you could spot just about anything from regional hedge laying crafts to the nest and bat boxes we've put up. There area is famous for it's pond dipping. But you'll definitely want to meet the resident tame robin. And look out for herons, swans, swallows and if you're lucky, kingfishers too.

Getting here

By car - SAT NAV: LE16 7RA

long stay car park is off the Gumley Road and costs £2 a day
short stay car park is down the service road towards the locks and costs: £2.50 for 4 hours, £4 for 8 hours, free after 5pm
(special parking charges may apply on event days)
disabled parking - there are spaces in the short stay car park and on the access road to the Canal Museum at the Boilerhouse

Please remember that neither car park is open over night!

By train - Market Harborough is the nearest station with trains from Leicester or St Pancras

By bus - route 44, RR2 (Rural Rider) from Market Harborough station. The bus brings you to the top of Foxton village, from there follow bridle way to the locks

By boat - take a look at our boaters' infomation page, including lock opening times and visitor moorings

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