A lock-free canal arm and a museum in a former Victorian corset factory provide two specific highlights in Market Harborough. There are also different types of markets, crafts and buildings with their own history. If you are looking for a hotel in Market Harborough, you can plan your stay around your interests: are waterways, market visits or cultural heritage your priority? The differences below can help you choose a theme for your trip.
Canal Arm and Market Formats
The Market Harborough Arm runs from Foxton to Market Harborough and is lock-free along its entire route, which is just under six miles long. Lock-free means there are no locks along this stretch. This is a clearly identifiable feature for those interested in canal infrastructure; other travellers may prefer to focus more on markets or architectural history. The waterway therefore stands as a topic in its own right alongside the town’s offerings.
Harborough Market includes a general market, a vintage, retro and antiques market, and a Sunday market for antiques and collectibles. The formats differ both in theme and in the specifically stated day of the week. If a particular market is the reason for your trip, it is best to check the current date in advance. These are distinct from the outdoor arts and crafts markets held at the Old Grammar School. Here, a specific market offering is combined with a historic building.
Buildings and Local History
The Church of St Dionysius is a distinctive feature in many views of Market Harborough, both near and far. At the Old Grammar School, the focus is instead particularly on its architecture: built in 1614, the timber-framed building stands on stilts and hosts outdoor arts and crafts markets. The church shapes views of the town, while the School combines its striking design with a connection to events.
The Symington Building also brings together different periods in time. It was originally a Victorian corset factory; the Harborough Museum is on the first floor. There, stories of Iron Age Harborough are told through a hoard found at Hallaton in 2000. The hoard includes more than 5,000 coins and a Roman cavalry helmet. The same building thus brings together its former industrial use and the story of a much earlier era. This offers a different historical perspective from the architecture of the Old Grammar School.
Walks, Crafts and Guided Tours
Union Wharf is a place to stroll and spend some time. At the Leicestershire Craft Centre, visitors can learn a skill such as sewing. These are different ways to spend time: taking a walk or relaxing at the Wharf on the one hand, and learning a practical skill on the other.
A tour with a Blue Badge guide can be booked to learn about the history and heritage of Market Harborough, Lutterworth and the Harborough District. Its subject therefore includes not only Market Harborough but also the two other areas specifically named. Market Harborough is also home to “Frank the Plank”, a human sundial. It adds another specific feature to the selection alongside the buildings, markets and historical themes. Overall, there are various ways to explore: choosing a place to stroll and spend some time, learning a craft, or discovering history and heritage on a guided tour.
Discover more destinations: Quorn, Market Bosworth, Buckminster, Shepshed, Melton Mowbray, North Kilworth, Sproxton, Great Easton.
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