Welcome

Name: Foxton Inclined Plane Trust
Address: Gumley Road, Foxton, LE16 7RA, GB
Telephone: 0116 279 2657

Foxton Locks is a place where the minds of engineers and the hard working hands of the navvy have shaped the landscape in a dramatic way. As well as the famous staircase of ten locks climbing up the hillside, there are also the remains of a gigantic boat lift.

The museum tells the story of the Lift, Locks and Lives associated with Foxton Locks. It is home to a treasure trove of artefacts and exhibitions; all housed in the reconstructed boilerhouse which once powered the boat lift.

OPENING TIMES:

ENTRY PRICE:

Summer hours

Saturday - Wednesday - 11am - 4.00pm

August

Monday - Sunday - 11am - 4.00pm

Dogs are welcome in the museum & shop on a lead.

ADULT £4

CHILD FREE

(Entry free for under 18s when accompanying a paying adult)

CONCESSION £3.00

(Over 65s, unemployed, students aged 18+, service personnel (including NHS, Canal & River Member, Blue Light Card)

CARER FREE

(Entry free when accompanying a paying visitor with additional needs)

What's on 2025

EXHIBITION

Festival of Boats

7 June - 28 September

The 1950 Market Harborough Festival & Rally of Boats was the first inland waterways rally. Organised by the Inland Waterways Association & Market Harborough Urban District Council this incredible event attracted 40,000 visitors & 130 boats. Our exhibition marks the 75th anniversary & reflects a post-war sense of adventure, & a diverse series of events across the town.

Charlotte Ashman

4 October - 31 December

ACTIVITIES

Fun Family Workshops
2nd July - 3rd Sept

Workshops in the museum led by our Education Officer. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Book a place online. All materials provided.

BOOK NOW

Treasure Trail
19 July - 31 August

Join Captain Frankie Fox's Treasure Trail!

Captain Frankie Fox has lost his treasure somewhere around Foxton Locks!

Can you solve the clues and help him find it?
Grab a trail sheet from the museum and get exploring.

The Grimwood Museum
Adventure

Join us this August for a brilliantly bonkers museum trail, part of the national Grimwood Museum Adventure with Kids in Museums and Simon & Schuster Children’s Books.

Spot Grimwood characters hiding around the museum, elect a new Mayor of Grimwood and design them their very own campaign poster!

Complete the trail and get a free Grimwood sticker. Plus, enter our competition – one lucky winner will receive a signed Grimwood book bundle and a Double National Art Pass + Kids, courtesy of Art Fund.

Inclined Plane Site Tours

5 April - End of October

Accompanied by our knowledgeable guides, tours take visitors onto the remains of the inclined plane. Tours give historical insight into this extraordinary piece of Victorian engineering. Please note: our guides are all volunteers, & occasionally tours may need to be cancelled. We recommend calling the museum to confirm tours are running.

Starting from outside the museum.

Tours run:

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm

There will be no tours on Wednesdays throughout August.

Free, Donations welcomed

BOOK NOW

LEARNING

THINGS TO DO

Boat Lift on a slope with building at the top.

THE BOAT LIFT

VOLUNTEERING

ACCESSIBILITY

GROUP VISITS

Make a donation to the museum

The Foxton Canal Museum is run by the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust which is a registered charity (No. 513241). Donations and bequests, large or small, are always welcome. A monetary donation will help preserve Foxton Canal Museum’s collection and the incredible stories of the people who lived and worked here for future generations, this in turn will enable the Museum to develop new exhibitions and broaden public access to its collections.