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Foxton Locks -
Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal

Foxton Locks, a 'staircase' of ten locks taking narrowboats up or down by the picturesque Harborough Arm Junction of the Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)

We negotiated Foxton Locks in early May 2008 as part of our summer cruise to London from Penkridge on the Staffs and Worcs. Surprisingly we managed to ascend seventy five feet through the ten Foxton Locks in less than an hour. We found the locks, first opened in 1814, to be in very good repair and the novel side pond storage system certainly conserves water as well as being a wildlife haven.

At the bottom of the Foxton Locks, the shop, pub and boatyard are all restored original waterways buildings, as is the Foxton Canal Museum building, half way up. At the Foxton Top Lock there is a cafe located in the restored Top Lock Cottage with an adjacent picnic area.

Close to the locks, along a well marked trail, is the site of the historic Foxton Inclined Plane that attempted to take over from the locks when it was opened in 1900. Due to extended hours on the Foxton Locks in 1909 allowing boats to pass in the night-time the Inclined Plane was closed due to an inability to make a profit because of a drop in traffic probably due to the competition presented by the railway companies.

The Foxton Locks are an obvious free to enter attraction with a great combination of canal and industrial heritage, leisure and wildlife.

Non-boating visitors will find the locks signposted about three miles north-west of Market Harborough. There is a 'Short Stay' Pay & Display car parking close by, toilets and well signed walks as well as the Foxton Locks there is the Bridge 61 Pub, Foxton Locks Inn Restaurant, Top Lock Cottage Cafe, Foxton Canal Museum, souvenir shop, boat trips and day boat hire plus the site of the (ruins) Foxton Inclined Plane.

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