Whilton Marina

The Grand Union Canal cuts through Northamptonshire near Northampton, and Whilton Marina is where the waterway shows off. It's a proper working marina - boats moored stern to stern, the smell of diesel and wet rope, lock gates that have been doing their job since the 1800s. You can walk the towpath for hours in either direction, watch narrowboats negotiate the locks (mesmerising if you've never seen it), or simply sit with a coffee and watch the water traffic drift past.

This is one for canal enthusiasts and anyone after a decent walk without the gym membership. The immediate area around the marina itself is compact - maybe thirty minutes if you're just wandering and watching - but the real appeal is extending your legs along the towpath. It's flat, pushchair-friendly, and genuinely peaceful. Kids will either be transfixed by the locks or bored within twenty minutes, depending on their patience for stationary water.

It's free to visit and wander, though you'll need your own transport to get here from Northampton town centre. The marina works well alongside a park-based holiday - Northants Caravan Site at Covert Farm is just 3.6 miles away, as is Steepleton Lodge Glamping, both making convenient bases. Combine it with a canal-side stroll and a pub lunch, and you've got a solid half-day sorted. Best visited on a fine day when the light's decent for photography and the lock gates are actually in use.