FOXTONLOCKSTHE PERFECT DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY

www.foxton-locks.co.uk

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For more information on what to see and do in Leicester and Leicestershire please visit;

WEB: www.foxton-locks.co.uk TEL: 0116 299 4444EMAIL: info@goleicestershire.com

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This guide has been produced by Leicester Shire Promotions Limited, the officialdestination management organisation for Leicester and Leicestershire. All informationwas correct at the time of going to press. Leicester Shire Promotions cannot acceptliability for inaccuracies and omissions in, or subsequent alterations to informationsupplied. You are advised to check opening times, prices etc, with establishmentsbefore your visit. Large print format is available. Please call 0116 225 4000.

Foxton Locks is on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal 4 miles west ofMarket Harborough and close to the village of Foxton. The site has two car parks– long stay and short stay – both are pay and display.

By car: SAT NAV: LE16 7RAFrom the A6: Travelling north or south follow the brown tourist signs.When heading towards Market Harborough on the B6047, turn right towardsFoxton and left towards Gumley. The locks are accessed from Gumley Road.Please avoid passing through either Gumley or Foxton villages.

From junction 20 of the M1 follow A4304 to Lubenham and follow the browntourist signs.

The Top Lock Car Park is a long stay car park and costs £1.50* per day. TheBottom Lock Car Park is for shorter stays and costs £2.00* for up to four hours.Both car parks are pay & display. If you pay for your parking by phone on arrival it will cost £1.50* for the whole day – call 01895 262 122. Car parkingis free after 5pm. There is a special offer available at Foxton Locks Inn.

If you spend £15 or more on food at Foxton Locks Inn, they will refund yourparking cost, simply present your ticket when paying (the pay & display machine provides two tickets). *Charges correct at time of going to print

By busFor information on travelling to Foxton Locks by bus, please visit www.centrebus.info to plan your journey.

Information on boat hire and boat trips from the locks is available from FoxtonBoat Services. For more details, visit: foxtonboats.co.uk

Foxton Locks is home to two amazing feats of engineering in the heart ofthe Leicestershire countryside.

Foxton Discovery

The Grade II listed locks on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal are over 200 years old. Theydemonstrate how 19th century canal engineers solvedthe problem of getting boats up and down a steep hill.

This impressive flight of ten locks is the longest set of staircase locks in Britain. It takes an average of 45minutes for boats to travel the entire flight and on abusy day as many as 40 boats can make the trip. Thelock keepers will be busy directing the traffic, makinguse of the passing pond in the middle of the flight.

Alongside the locks you can see the side ponds whichprovide reserves of water for the locks and preventwastage. These ponds are a haven for local wildlife,including ducks, heron and water vole.

To find out more about how the locks operate, makesure you pay a visit to The BoilerHouse.

At the top of the flight of locks, pause to look at thestunning views across the Leicestershire countryside.Take time to listen to the old lock keeper in the TopLock Coffee Stop and enjoy some well-earnedrefreshments.

Download the free App for information on thelocks, Inclined Plane Boat Lift, places to eat anddrink and the Discovery Trail.

The 'Foxton Discovery' App is now available inthe App Store. It is free to download but requiresa £3.99 in-App purchase to unlock all of its features.By upgrading you will gain free admission intoThe BoilerHouse and enjoy the full InclinedPlane Boat Lift virtual reality experience.

The ‘Foxton Discovery’ App uses the latesttechnology to recreate the Inclined Plane BoatLift. By using your smart phone or tablet deviceyou can see the boat lift magically appear before your eyes, all in the exact position boatswould have made their journey in the past.

This exciting new Discovery App also provides additional information including:

N Detailed explanations and multimediaexperiences for the Discovery Trail

N If you upgrade the App you will gain free entry into The BoilerHouse

N Looking glass reality which will providea digital version of how the Inclined Plane Boat Lift would have looked

N Foxton Quest exploration game

To download the App, simply visit the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or www.foxton-locks.co.uk before you arrive.

Enjoy a pint and a meal at the award-winningFoxton Locks Inn, any time of the year. Thepopular venue offers a full bar and restaurantmenu and is the perfect place for all-seasonall-weather dining with its magnificent newheated and covered terrace.

The Inn is situated at the base of the InclinedPlane. There is parking close by. The Inn isopen from 11am during the summer and12pm in the winter months.

Take a rest and refuel at the Top Lock CoffeeStop which is situated at the top of the flightof locks. Enjoy a coffee and an ice-cream in what wasonce the Lock Keeper’s cottage. You canchoose from a wide selection of hot and coldfood and drinks plus eight flavours of locallymade ice cream.

Brought to you by In partnership with:

© Leicester Shire Promotions 2015 7-9 Every Street, Town Hall Square, Leicester LE1 6AG

Leicester Shire Promotions is a partnership between Leicestershire County Council, LeicesterCity Council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership and the private sector.

FOXTON LOCKS INN

BRIDGE61

TOP LOCK COFFEE STOP

Enjoy time out and some tranquility on ashort break in the Foxton Locks area. Theideal get away from it all where you can enjoyaward-winning food, peaceful waterways anda cosy bed at the end of day’s exploration.

SHORTBREAK

For opening times please visit www.foxton-locks.co.ukLower Lock, Gumley Road, Foxton, Market Harborough LE16 7RATel: 0116 279 1515

Bridge 61 is a small traditional canal-side pubwhich is situated at the bottom of the locks.Watch the boats go by whilst enjoying a variety of local ales, speciality ciders plus hotdrinks and snacks.

Soak up the atmosphere at this authenticcanal-side pub, which is in what is thought tobe the old accommodation quarters for theworkers of the Inclined Plane and is decoratedwith traditional canal artefacts. It has a snugwith a serving-hatch bar and a larger roomwith wide doors that open out onto the waterfront. The cosy venue gets even cosier inwinter with its open fire keeping things toastyfor you when you visit in the colder months.

Open every day; details on www.foxtonboats.co.ukBottom Lock, Gumley Road, Foxton, Market Harborough LE16 7RATel: 0116 279 2285

For opening times please visit www.foxton-locks.co.ukFoxton Locks, Gumley Road,Foxton, Leicestershire, LE16 7RATel: 07473 891305

For short break offers please visitwww.goleicestershire.com

SPEND £15 OR MORE AND GET FREE CAR PARKINGIf you spend more than £15 on food at Foxton Locks Inn, wewill refund your car parking. Simply present your car parkingticket (ticket machine provides 2 tickets). Terms & conditionsapply – please visit www.foxton-locks.co.uk for more details.

LEICESTERSHIRE

Foxton Locks is a fabulous family dayout, whatever the weather.

The whole family will enjoy a fun-packed visitto Foxton Locks, situated just 4 miles west of Market Harborough. Surrounded byLeicestershire’s beautiful countryside, you willexperience all that this unique waterway landmark has to offer – colourful narrowboats,the famous flight of 10 locks and the newBoilerHouse virtual experiences.

WELCOME TO FOXTON LOCKS

FIVE HANDY TIPS TO ENSURE YOU MAKE THEMOST OF YOUR VISIT:

Go to www.foxton-locks.co.uk and download the ‘FoxtonDiscovery’ App. Don’t worry if you don’t have a smartphone,there’s still plenty of information to help you plan your visit.

Make The BoilerHouse (admission fees apply) your firstvisit when you arrive – you can download the App there if you haven’t ahead of your visit.

Learn about the life and people of the Inclined Planethrough interactive exhibitions, digital recreations and exploring Foxton Locks itself.

Explore Foxton Locks trail whilst taking in the picturesquewaterways and countryside. Make sure you stop off at thesite of the lift at the Inclined Plane. If you have the full version of the App bring along your tablet or mobile deviceand you will see a boat magically appear before your eyes!

Once you have enjoyed all of the exciting activities, maketime to stop off and refuel at one of the pubs, cafes or picnic areas.

Fascinating Facts:The locks were designed by Benjamin Bevan.

Building work started on Foxton Locks in 1810 and finishedin 1814.

Water in the locks is controlled by paddles – red paddles to fill the locks and white paddles to empty them.

In its heyday at busy times it could take five hoursor even longer, to get through Foxton Locks.

In 1900 the boat lift was built and the locks were allowed to fall into decline.

The development of rail transport saw a decline in canaltraffic and the lift closed in 1911.

The increase of leisure traffic has seen the canals and Foxton Locks experience a new lease of life.

Behind The BoilerHouse you will see the evidence ofanother amazing feat of engineering: A fine example ofgrand Victorian industrial construction – the InclinedPlane Boat Lift. Designed at a time when canals werethe mass transport system for England the boat lift wasbuilt to help improve the capacity of the canal network.The full story is told in The BoilerHouse.

At the base of the locks is a canal-side shop and twopubs: Bridge 61 and Foxton Locks Inn.

The locks and surrounding area are open and accessibleto the public all year round. The network of footpathsand towpaths provide ideal walking and cyclingopportunities with a choice of many routes.

FREE PARKINGAFTER 5PMAT THE BOTTOM CAR PARK

explore the history of the inclined plane

EVENTS

BOAT TRIPSFrom Easter to October passenger trips run from the bottom basin. Check on 0116 279 2285for times. Self-drive boats can be hired for the day

OFFERUpon presentation of this guide, you will receive 10% offthe Vagabond public boat trips (not applicable on Bank Holidays). T&Cs apply – please see www.foxton-locks.co.uk

Foxton Locks has an exciting calendar of events that allof the family can enjoy.

Events start during Easter with a family friendly EasterEgg Hunt. There’s also a series of activities during MayBank Holiday.

During the third week of June the Foxton Locks Festivaltakes place. This is a great day out for all the familyaround the famous Foxton Locks. With crafts, Saxons,hands-on activities, live music plus much more.

During the August Bank Holiday bring along yourTeddy for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic and follow the TeddyTrail and claim your prize at The BoilerHouse. Also,during the summer holidays, children can get involvedand become a junior lock keeper.

Foxton Locks Inn hosts musical events throughout theyear.

Find out more about events and days out by visitingwww.foxton-locks.co.uk

explore the history of the inclined plane

conditions for the Inclined Plane to successfullyoperate. When you achieve the exact boilerconditions, the loaded barges make their journey up and down the Inclined Plane, all in real time. Progress is visible on large projection screens where the Inclined Planecan be seen operating in a fully recreated virtual reality world. Hearing the sounds ofthe boiler coming up to temperature, withdials to monitor, and the Caissons moving, thisbecomes a completely enthralling experience.

Immerse yourselves in the world of the “Lifts,Lives and Locks” with a state of the art visualexperience which will give you a fascinatinginsight into the history of the locks and themarvel of the Inclined Plane Boat Lift. Enjoystory videos and explore the workings of a real loaded boat - climb on board!

The BoilerHouse cannot be missed as part of your visit to Foxton Locks.

Explore the picturesque waterways with a walk along the canalpaths, through local villages and lush farmlands.

Don’t forget after all of that walking to stop off for a refuel at FoxtonLocks Inn, Bridge 61, Top Lock Coffee Stop or you might want to do abit of gongoozling: to leisurely watch the passage of boats, from the bankof a canal, lock or bridge.

A FABULOUS DAY OUT AT FOXTON LOCKSThe BoilerHouse is Foxton Locks’ excitingnew space. Originally, the building was hometo the boiler and mechanical workings thatpowered the Caissons (loaded boat containers)up and down the Inclined Plane. Now afterextensive refurbishment, it shows not onlyhow it all worked, but also brings to life whatit was like to live and work on the canals andlocks of the Victorian waterways.

Containing many fascinating exhibits of thetime, The BoilerHouse demonstrates howtough it was to make a living showing howfamilies survived the harsh conditions of 19th century canal life.

The BoilerHouse does much more than simply display these original artefacts, it allowsyou to interact with them. The centrepiecebeing an interactive game where the wholefamily can stoke the boiler to create the right

To make the most of your visit, download thefree Foxton Discover App – either ahead ofyour visit or at The BoilerHouse. Upgrade theApp to give you views of a virtual reality Inclined Plane Boat Lift, take part in the Foxton Quest to solve an age old mystery and explore Foxton Locks site on the Discovery Trail.

If you upgrade the App you will gain discountedentry into The BoilerHouse. Visit www.foxton-locks.co.uk to plan your visit anddownload the App.

Further details about the Foxton Locks InclinedPlane Trust and the events it arranges can befound at www.fipt.org.uk

During your visit to Foxton Locks you can marvel at not just one but twoincredible feats of engineering designed to move boats up a steep hill.

As well as the incredible staircase of locks, the remains of the Inclined Plane Boat Lift are still very much in evidence and now, thanks to digital technology, you can step back in time to witness in virtual reality the lift in operation.

The Boat Lift was originally built as a solution to operational restrictions imposed by the narrow lock flight.

It was opened in 1900 and carried boats up the hill in giant tanks of water. It closed 11 years later because it was too expensive to run and traffic reverted back to using the locks. It was dismantled in 1928.

During your trip to Foxton visit the steep grassy slope, the Inclined Plane. Marvel at how the lift was operated by using the Foxton Discovery App.

By upgrading to the premium Foxton Discovery App, you can access the latest in digital technology to see exactly how the Inclined Plane Boat Lift would have looked and operated. By using your smart phone or tablet device you can see the Boat Lift magically appear in front of your eyes – all in the exact position boats would have made their actual journey and all in real time.

Plan your visit to Foxton Locks and don’t miss your chance to marvel at this amazing virtual recreation - a unique bit of waterways history.

The Inclined Plane

© Canal & River Trust

STAY AWAY FROM THE EDGE (SAFE)

Learning to be safe near water is an important lesson for us all. The Canal & River Trust’s campaign ‘Stay AwayFrom the Edge (SAFE) offers ways tomake children (and their adults!) aware ofwater safety through special volunteer-ledsessions and exciting challenges. Thereare suggestions for class-led activitiesand assemblies, plus our popular FREEchild-friendly water safety booklets too.Visit https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/explorers/water-safety to find out more.