Raynsway Marina

The Grand Union Canal cuts through Leicestershire like a ribbon of calm, and Raynsway Marina is where you actually see boats doing what boats do - gently bobbing, properly moored, the whole thing humming with that particular peace you only get on the water. It's not fancy or touristy. What you get is a working marina where narrowboats and leisure craft occupy every inch, the towpath runs alongside it, and you can walk the full length without paying anything.

This is ideal if you're staying at one of the local holiday parks - Village Farm Getaway and Reas Glamping Retreat at Zillahs Spinney are both within 6 miles - and want to burn an hour without having to plan much. The walk along the canal is flat, easy going, and genuinely pleasant. Kids will be transfixed by the boats for a bit; serious walkers will use it as a starting point to head further along the canal network. You're close enough to Leicester to pop into the city centre but far enough out to feel properly countryside.

There's no admission charge, no set times - it's just there, free and accessible. Allow 45 minutes to an hour if you're meandering, longer if you fancy following the towpath either direction. The marina itself doesn't have facilities worth shouting about, so grab a coffee before you head over. Best visited when the weather's decent; a grey, drizzly day takes the shine off what's essentially an outdoor activity.