The River Soar flows into the River Trent having converged with the Leicester Line at the Grand Union Canal at Kings Lock (38) in Aylestone, just south of Leicester. It passes through beautiful countryside, popular tourist spots such as Mountsorrel and Barrow on Soar, Birstall with its wonderful lakeside walks, Loughborough and the historical city of Leicester.
Trent Lock
Wining & Dining
- Lock House Tea Rooms. Lock Lane, Long Eaton. NG10 3DD. 0115 972 2288
- The Steamboat Inn. Lock Lane, Long Eaton. NG10 2FY. 0115 946 0356
- The Trent Lock. Lock Lane, Long Eaton. NG10 2FY. 0115 972 5159 (Vintage Inns)
Ratcliffe on Soar
Moorings
- Moorings above Ratcliffe Lock, Bridge 46
Chandlers
- Redhill Marina. NG11 0EB. 01509 672770
Marinas / Boatyards
- Redhill Marina. NG11 0EB. 01509 672770
Transport
- rail: East Midlands Parkway. NG11 0EB. East Midland Trains
Worship
- Holy Trinity Church. Kegworth Rd. NG11 0EA. 0115 983 0608
Kegworth
Hairdressers / Barbers
- David George Hair Salon. 1 Derby Rd. DE74 2EN. 01509 678833
Libraries / Museums / Galleries
- Kegworth Community Library. 42 High St. DE74 2DA. 01509 554176
Medical Services
- Orchard Surgery. Dragwell. DE74 2EL. 01509 672419
Places to Stay
- Kegworth House 5*. 42 High St. DE74 2DA. 01509 672575
- Yew Lodge Hotel 4*. Packington Hill. DE74 2DF. 01509 672518
Shops & Supermarkets
- Co-Operative Food. 9 Market Place. DE74 2EE. 01509 672301
Speciality Shops
- Oakland & Son Ltd. 2 Market Place. DE74 2EE. 01509 674024 (Butchers Bakers) *R
- Soar Tackle. 6 Market Place. DE74 2EE. 01509 670436
Wining & Dining
- Bailey's. 3 Derby Rd. DE74 2EN. 01509 672128 (Fish & Chips)
- The Cap & Stocking. 20 Borough St. DE74 2FF. 01509 558029
- The Coffee House & White Rooms Bistro. 2 Derby Rd. DE74 2EN. 01509 670807
- The Cottage. 8 High St. DE74 2DA. 01509 672449 (British Restaurant)
- The Indian Cottage. 7 Marketplace. DE74 2EE. 01509 673638
- Jee Ja Jees. 1 Market Place. DE74 2EE. 01509 670005
- Oliver's Cafe. 3 High St. DE74 2DA. 01509 673946
- The Red Lion. 24 High St. DE74 2DA. 01509 672466
- Zhen Garden. 44 Derby Rd. DE74 2EN. 01509 670826 (Chinese)
Zouch
Navigation
- There are no shops in Zouch, but from Bridge 44, a very pleasant 25 min walk over fields takes you to Sutton Bonnington with a convenience store and 2 more pubs!
Moorings
- Moorings outside pub, or plenty on towpath side before lock.
Marinas / Boatyards
- Zouch Marina. 26 Rempstone Rd. Hathern. LE12 5JN. 01509 844415
Transport
- buses: Skylink Nottingham - to Nottingham/Loughborough
Wining & Dining
- Rose & Crown. 6 Main St. LE12 5EQ. 01509 842240 (Good food, Garden, Karaoke) *R
- See also navigation note above
Normanton on Soar
Moorings
- Moorings outside pub (not on towpath side) Chain Ferry Weekends Apr-Sept
Places of Interest
- Chain Ferry. 07487 252784 (upstream of church) Volunteer run Sat/Sun 10-4.30 Apr-Sept. £1.
Shops & Supermarkets
- Community Shop. Main St. LE12 5HB. (Cut through Pub, turn right & it's on the left)
Wining & Dining
- Plough Inn. Main St. LE12 5HB. 01509 842228 (Riverside, Moorings, Outdoor seating)
Worship
- Parish Church of St James. 84 Main St. LE12 5HB. 01509 674354
Loughborough
Moorings
- Plentiful Moorings: Boat Inn, Basin, & before Albion Pub (now obsolete)
Boat Services
- Water,Toilets, Showers & Elsan in Basin.
Entertainment
- Odeon Cinema. 7 Cattle Market. LE11 3DL. 0333 006 7777
Finance
- Halifax. 27-28 Swan St. LE11 5BS. 0345 600 3934
- Lloyds. 37-38 High St. LE11 2QG. 0345 300 0000
- Loughborough PO. 10 High St. LE11 2PY. 01509 233968
- Nationwide. 29 Swan St. LE11 5BY. 0800 554 0520
Laundry
- Clothes Horse Cleaners. 9-10 Bedford Square. LE11 2TP. 01509 215967 (Launderette & DC)
- Johnson Cleaners. 26 The Rushes. LE11 5BG. 01509 238261
- Jill's Launderette & Dry Cleaners Ltd. 52 Swan St. LE11 5BL. 01509 215471
Medical Services
- Bridge St Medical Practice. 20 Bridge St. LE11 1NQ. 01509 263018
- Carillon Dental Care. 44 Baxter Gate. LE11 1TQ. 01509 219699
- Dental Suite. 27 Park Rd. LE11 2ED. 01509 231144 (Dr Kalpesh Bohara)
- Lloyds Pharmacy. 19b Bridge St. LE11 1NQ. 01509 232359
- Loughborough Hospital. Hospital Way. LE11 5JY. 01509 611600 (Walk-in Centre)
- Woodbrook Medical Centre. 28 Bridge St. LE11 1NH. 01509 239166
- Your Smile Dental Care. 91 Ashby Rd. LE11 3AB. 01509 267451
Places to Stay
- Travelodge. 4 Bridge St. LE11 1NQ. 0871 984 6252
Shops & Supermarkets
- Aldi: 51 Belton Rd. LE111JA. 0800 042 0800
- Sainsbury's Superstore. Greenclose Lane. LE11 5AS. 01509 237724
- Tesco Rushes Superstore. 1 The Rushes. LE11 5BE. 0345 677 9908
Transport
- Loughborough. LE11 1HW. East Midlands Trains.
Wining & Dining
- The Amber Rooms. 15 The Rushes. LE11 5BE. 01509 638570 (Wetherspoons)
- Basin. 25 Derby Rd. LE11 5BX. 01509 239368 (Chinese, Japanese, Thai - Rest & Bar)
- The Boat Inn. 47 Canal Bank. LE11 1JN. 01509 261565
- Ring O'bells. 1 Knightthorpe Rd. LE11 4JP. 01509 270476 (Flaming Grill)
- The Swan In The Rushes. 21 The Rushes. LE11 5BE. 01509 217014
- The Three Nuns. 30 Churchgate. LE11 1UD. 01509 611989
Barrow upon Soar
Moorings
- Good between Barrow Deep Lock 51 and Bridge 28
Boat Services
- Water, Shower, Elsan & refuse disposal at Barrow Boating by Bridge 28
Finance
-
Barrow Filling Station & Post Office. 54 North Street. LE12 8QA. 01509 412 310
Garage Services
- Barrow Filling Station & Post Office. 54 North Street. LE12 8QA. 01509 412 310
Places to Stay
- The Hunting Lodge. 38 South St. LE12 8LZ. 01509 412337
Shops & Supermarkets
- Co-operative Food. 19-21 High St. LE12 8PY. 01509 413190
Speciality Shops
- The Paper Shop. 9 High St. LE12 8PY. 01509 412314
Transport
- Buses: 127 Bus 2 to Loughborough/Leicester
- Rail: Barrow upon Soar Station. LE12 8NP. East Midland Trains
Wining & Dining
- The Blacksmiths Arms. 2-4 Church Lane. LE12 8PP. 01509 413 100 (Gastro Pub)
-
Istanbul Barbeque (Turkish). 28 High St. LE12 8PY. 01509 416 868
- Lee's Garden. 33a High St. LE12 8PY. 01509 413835 (Cantonese)
- The Moorings Pub & Kitchen. 14 Bridge St. LE12 8PN. 01509 768 360
- The Navigation. 87 Mill Lane. LE12 8LQ. 01509 413 611
-
Pearl City (Chinese). 20 North St. LE12 8QA. 01509 621 422
- River Soar Fish Bar, 59 North Street LE12 8PZ
- Soar Bridge Inn. 29 Bridge St. LE12 8PN. 01509 412 686
- The Three Crowns. 2-6 Cotes Rd. LE12 8JS. 01509 621 177
- Ultimate Pizza. 35a High St. LE12 8PY. 01509 414894
Worship
- Holy Trinity Church. 15 Church St. LE12 8HP. 01509 412014
Mountsorrel
Navigation
- (Mountsorrel is a 'stretched out' village with Sileby Rd & Market Place in middle, Loughborough Rd to the right, and Leicester Rd to the left. Walkable, but check map)
Moorings
- Moorings outside Waterside Inn or just after lock on same side as pub (Be careful...)
Finance
- Mountsorrel PO. 77 Leicester Rd. LE12 7AJ. 0116 230 2242 (No parcels or poste restante)
Hairdressers / Barbers
- The Hair & Beauty Gallery. 34 Market Place. LE12 7BA. 0116 230 3695
- New Dimensions. 50 Market Place. LE12 7BA. 0116 230 4415
- Mister Paul's Men's Barbers. 34a Market Place. LE12 7BA. 0116 230 3685
Medical Services
- Mountsorrel Pharmacy. 99 Rothley Rd. LE12 7JT. 0116 230 2147
Pilbeam Opticians. 49 Leicester Rd. LE12 7AJ. 0116 237 5462
Places of Interest
- Stonehurst Family Farm & Museum. Bond Lane. LE12 7AA. 01509 413216
Places to Stay
- Riverbank B&B. 7 Sileby Rd. LE12 7BB. 0116 230 3879
Shops & Supermarkets
- Waitrose. Granite Way. LE12 7TZ. 01509 415304
Speciality Shops
- Bennett's Bait & Tackle. 9 Market Place. LE12 7BA. 0116 237 6542
- Buttermarket Off Licence. 7 Market Place. LE12 7BA. 0116 230 2563
- The Paper Shop. 79 Leicester Rd. LE12 7AJ. 0116 230 2491
- The Pine Shop. 7 Loughborough Rd. LE12 7AP. 0116 230 2772
Transport
- Buses: 127 to Leicester; Bus 27 to Thurmaston
Wining & Dining
- Butter Market Cafe. 34 Market Place. LE12 7BA. 0116 210 6112
- Farmer's Den. Stonehurst Family Farm. Bond Lane. LE12 7AA. 01509 413216
- John's House. 139-141 Loughborough Rd. LE12 7AR. (Fine Dining)
- Mountsorrel WMC. 73 Leicester Rd. LE12 7AJ. 0116 230 2130 (visitors welcome)
- Noorjahan. 63b Leicester Rd. LE12 7AJ. 0116 230 1223
- Perfect Wok. 52 Loughborough Rd. LE12 7AT. 0116 230 3507
- Rising Sun. 214 Loughborough Rd. LE12 7AX. 01509 412480
- Spice Cube. 17 Loughborough Rd. LE12 7AP. 0116 230 2395 (take your own alcohol) *R
- Swan Inn. 10 Loughborough Rd. LE12 7AT. 0116 230 2340 (C17th pub, food, gardens)*R
- Waterside Inn. Sileby Rd. LE12 7BB. 0116 230 2758 (extensive riverside seating)
Worship
- St Peter's Church. 1 Loughborough Rd. LE12 7AP. 0116 230 2235
Sileby
Moorings
- Moorings opposite Sileby Mill. Cross & walk down Mill Lane for village (1mile)
Boat Services
- Services available @ Sileby Mill - Diesel, Elsan, Water, Chandlery
Finance
- Sileby PO. 95 Swan St. LE12 7NN. 01509 814826
Hairdressers / Barbers
- Lanza Hair Design. 57 The Banks. LE12 7RD. 01509 812968
Holiday Boats / Day Hire
- Sileby Mill Boatyard. Mill Lane. LE12 7UX. 01509 813583 (38ft Day Hire + disabled access)
Libraries / Museums / Galleries
- Sileby Library. 14 Cossington Rd. LE12 7RS. 0116 305 3683
Marinas / Boatyards
- Sileby Mill Boatyard. Mill Lane. LE12 7UX. 01509 813583
Medical Services
- Boots Pharmacy. 54 Swan St. LE12 7NW. 01509 812363
- Riverside Pharmacy. 112-114 Barrow Rd. LE12 7LP. 01509 817360
Pets
- Chine House Veterinary. 12 Cossington Rd. LE12 7RS. 01509 812446 (Hospital & Practice)
Shops & Supermarkets
- Costcutter. 112-114 Barrow Rd. LE12 7LP. 01509 815739
- Tesco Express. High St. LE12 7RX. 0345 026 9114
Transport
- Sileby Station. LE12 7UW. Trains to Leicester or Lincoln. East Midlands Trains
Wining & Dining
- Cafe Nineteen. 19 High St. LE12 7RX. 01509 768055
- Free Trade Inn. 27 Cossington Rd. LE12 7RW. 01509 814494
- Great Wall. 5 King St. LE12 7LZ. 01509 814814 (takeaway)
- The Green Place. 6 Cossington Rd. LE12 7RW. 01509 815181
- Horse & Trumpet. 4 Barrow Rd. LE12 7LP. 01509 812549
- Rock n Rolls. 8 Barrow Rd. LE12 7LP. 07709 088718
- Sileby Cottage. 6 King St. LE12 7NA. 01509 812525
- The White Swan. Swan St. LE12 7NW. 01509 814832
- Yasmin's Tandoori & Balti. 37 High St. LE12 7RX. 01509 815050 (takeaway)
Cossington
Moorings
- Moorings by Cossington Lock
Syston
Moorings
- Moorings before & after Bridge 19. Water point outside Hope & Anchor pub.
Chandlers
- L R Harris & Son. (see below) Well stocked Chandlery (Closed Weds)
Marinas / Boatyards
- L R Harris & Son. Old Junction Boatyard. Meadow Lane. LE7 1NR. 0116 269 2135
Wining & Dining
- Hobby Horse Farm. Glebe Way. LE7 1BA. 0116 260 6788 (Pub classics/daily carvery)
- Hope & Anchor. Wanlip Rd. 0116 260 1963 (Waterside tables/Hungry Horse Eatery (No Dogs)
Thurmaston
Marinas / Boatyards
MGM Boats. Mill Ln, Thurmaston. LE4 8AF. 0116 264 0009 (Build bespoke boats, Repairs, Repaint, slipway for blacking etc.)
Medical Services
- Boots Pharmacy. Thurmaston SC. 9 Barkby Thorpe Lane. LE4 8GP. 0116 269 4948
-
Thurmaston Pharmacy. 721 Melton Rd. LE4 8ED. 0116 269 2884(5 min from Lock 46, turn right out of Mill Lane)
Shops & Supermarkets
- Asda Thurmaston Superstore. Barkby Thorpe Ln. LE4 8GN. 0116 264 5300
-
Convenience Store. 778 Melton Rd. LE4 8BD. (Corner of Mill Lane – Moor below Lock 46)
Speciality Shops
- Thurmaston Shopping Centre. 9 Barkby Thorpe Lane. LE4 8GP.
Birstall
Moorings
- Moorings outside White Horse just after Birstall lock, short walk to village & Co-op, although majority of shops further away...
Finance
- ATM @ Co-Op. 19 Wanlip Lane. LE4 4JU.
- Barclays. 119 Sibson Rd. LE4 4NB. 0345 734 5345
- Nationwide. 127 Sibson Rd. LE4 4ND. 0800 554 1084
- NatWest. 659 Loughborough Rd. LE4 4NT. 0845 788 8444
Libraries / Museums / Galleries
- Birstall Library. Wanlip Lane. LE4 4JU. 0116 305 8756
Medical Services
- Greengate Medical Centre. 1 Greengate Lane. LE4 3JF. 0116 267 7901
Pets
- Medivet Birstall. 84 Sibson Rd. LE4 4NA 0116 267 3518
Places of Interest
Shops & Supermarkets
- Co-Operative Foods. 19 Wanlip Lane. LE4 4JU. 0116 267 7915
- Tesco Express. 139 Sibson Rd. LE4 4ND. 0345 026 9883
Speciality Shops
- Birstall Garden Centre. 27-35 Sibson Rd. LE4 4DX. 0116 267 7091
- Birstall Watergardens Centre. 19-35 Sibson Rd. LE4 4DX. 0116 267 6121
Wining & Dining
- Aroma Spice. 17 Sibson Rd. LE4 4DX. 0116 267 7458
- Birstall Fisheries. 1 Sibson Rd. LE4 4DX. 0116 267 4064 (Fish & Chips)
- The Earl Of Stamford
- The Old Plough. 18 Front St. LE4 4DP. 0116 267 4836
- The White Horse. White Horse Lane. LE4 4EF. 0116 267 1038
Worship
- Birstall Methodist Church. Wanlip Lane. LE4 4JS.
- St James The Great. Church Hill. LE4 4
- St Theresa RC Church. Front St. LE4 4DQ.
Leicester
Moorings
-
Above Belgrave Lock 44 – new mooring rings fitted 2020 for visiting the National Space Centre. Overnight not recommended.
-
Memory Lane Wharf. - new offside pontoon moorings above Lime Kiln Lock 43 - awaiting extra facilities due in 2021/22 - Easy access to City.
-
Petrol available for outboards from nearby JET Service Station 216 Belgrave Gate, LE1 3XP(5 min walk down Memory Lane then left).
-
Friar’s Mill. - between North Lock 42 & West Bridge - secure offside pontoon moorings (CRT Key) with water point, - Easy access to City Centre.
-
Castle Gardens - secure offside pontoon moorings (CRT Key) next to West Bridge with refuse disposal - Easy access to City Centre.
Libraries / Museums / Galleries
-
The Guildhall Museum (c.1390 medieval building). Guildhall Lane, LE1 5FQ - Plus ‘White Rose’ Cafe (5 min walk from Castle Gardens, next to the Cathedral)
-
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery. 53 New Walk. LE1 7EA. 0116 225 4900(15 min walk from Castle Gardens moorings)
-
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens. The Newarke. LE2 7BY. 0116 225 4980(5 min walk from Castle Gardens moorings)
Places of Interest
- 700-Year-Old Open Market
- Abbey Park and Abbey ruins (moor above Lime Kiln Lock 43)
- Cathedral - Free entry (inc. Richard III tomb) St Martins, LE1 5DB
- L.C.F.C. King Power Stadium (opposite Freemen’s Meadow Lock 41)
-
Memorial Clock Tower - City centre
- National Space Centre (moor above Belgrave Lock 44)
- Richard III Visitor Centre. 4A St Martins. LE1 5DB. 0300 300 0900
-
Town Hall Square - Four Lions Fountain
See here for illustrated script for an historical guided walk through the city of Leicester, created by Volunteer Lock Keeper Rob Hetherington
Shops & Supermarkets
- Tesco (out of Castle Gardens, over bridge and Tesco is there...)
Wining & Dining
- Many dining experiences within easy walking distance in the City Centre.
- Soar Point. The Newarke. LE2 7BY. 0116 204 4911
Aylestone
Finance
- Aylestone PO. Booze for Less & P.O. 518 Aylestone Rd. LE2 8JB. 0116 283 2800
Medical Services
-
J Hoots Pharmacy. 755 Aylestone Rd. LE2 8TG. 0116 283 2548
- The Surgery @ Aylestone. 672 Aylestone Rd. LE2 8PR. 0844 815 1485
Shops & Supermarkets
- Tesco Express. 9-13 Lutterworth Rd. LE2 8PH. 0345 610 2683
Transport
- car hire: Enterprise Rent-A-Car. 29 Lutterworth Rd. LE2 8PH. 0116 244 0808
- taxis: Aylestone Taxis. 753 Aylestone Rd. LE2 8TG. 0116 233 8888
Wining & Dining
- The Black Horse. 65 Narrow Lane. LE2 8NA. 0116 283 7225 (Pub Grub, Occ. Live Music)
-
Curry Junction. 6 Lutterworth Rd. LE2 8PE. 0116 244 2200
-
Jade Garden (Chinese takeaway). 6a Lutterworth Rd. LE2 8PE. 0116 283 8688
- Kings Lock Tearooms. (Lock 38) Marsden Lane. LE2 8LR. 07722 542034
- Lounge Cafe Bar. 733 Aylestone Rd. LE2 8TG. 0116 283 8000
- The Ocean. 4a Lutterworth Rd. LE2 8PE. 0116 283 4764 (Fish & Chips)
-
Piccadilly Pizzas (+ Kebabs & Burgers). 2 Lutterworth Rd. LE2 8PE. 0116 244 2288
- Union Inn. 24/7 Middleton St. LE2 8LU. 07970 553424 (Sports Pub)