The Locks

The canal locks near Lutterworth are one of those places you drive past without thinking, then one day someone mentions it and you wonder why you've never stopped. There's a proper picnic spot here where the Grand Union Canal narrows through a flight of locks, and if you time it right, you'll catch narrowboats working through - which, frankly, keeps kids entertained for longer than you'd expect.

It's free, it's got benches, and the towpath walking is gentle enough for mixed-ability groups. The water's always calm here, the lock-keepers' cottages add a bit of character, and you get genuine canal-side atmosphere without the crowds you'd find at busier stretches. Allow an hour if you're just picnicking and watching boats; longer if anyone in your party fancies a walk along the towpath towards Husbands Bosworth or back towards Lutterworth itself.

Who'll get most from it? Families with younger kids wanting an easy afternoon, canal enthusiasts who actually understand the mechanics of locks, and walkers breaking up a longer route. It's not a destination in itself - you're not driving two hours for this - but if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Manor Farm or EWE Glamping, it's absolutely worth an hour's diversion. The Caravan Park at Stanford Hall is close enough too, and honestly, beats sitting on site if the weather's half decent.

Go when the sun's lower in the afternoon - the light's better for photos and the towpath gets quieter.