Market Harborough - 800 Years of Shopping

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• Uncover the story - Granted market status in 1204, the rural town of Market Harborough still draws shoppers, who come to enjoy a vibrant mix of traditional markets and independent stores. <hr> With a backdrop of historic buildings and the River Welland running through the centre, there’s plenty more to see and do all within easy reach once you’ve shopped till you’ve dropped. <hr> The town’s most iconic site is the Old Grammar School, built on stilts to shelter the butter market traders below. Dating back to 1614, this timber-framed building is the jewel in Market Harborough’s crown, and regularly hosts outdoors arts and crafts markets. Information leaflets on its history are available in the adjacent St Dionysius Church. <hr> Making up a trio of treasures around Church Square is The Symington Building. This former Victorian corset factory was a leader in its field and, in its heyday, aimed to ‘dress every woman in the world’. Find out what it achieved and more in the first-floor museum or have a coffee in its café. <hr> Suitably refreshed, head to the nearby indoor market or hunt for a souvenir in niche giftshops and boutiques. To sample the town’s newest retail experience, discover the Eco Village, home to small local businesses offering sustainable, free-range produce. More shopping with a difference is found at the Leicestershire Craft Centre, where you can treat yourself to a new skill such as sewing. <hr> If your visit coincides with a special event – farmers’ and specialist markets on The Square, classic car shows, comedy festivals and Civil War re-enactments all feature in a packed calendar – staying over is the obvious choice. <hr> Harborough has a great range of accommodation, from yurts to historic coaching inns, and if you’re looking for the ultimate break, hiring a narrowboat from Union Wharf Marina gives you the chance to float away in search of splendid isolation.