film location
Drayton House (Saltburn)
The private Northamptonshire country house used as the Catton family estate in Saltburn; visible from public rights of way only.
24 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Market Harborough
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Market Harborough
Market Harborough is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Desborough, 31km from Mallory Park.
Market Harborough is in England, United Kingdom, with about 25,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Desborough, about 8 km away.
Market Harborough is a market town in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, close to the border with Northamptonshire. The population was 24,779 at the 2021 census. It is the administrative headquarters of the Harborough district.
Market Harborough was part of Rockingham Forest, a royal hunting forestRead more
used by medieval monarchs, whose boundaries stretched from Market Harborough to Stamford and included Corby, Kettering, Desborough, Rothwell, Thrapston and Oundle. The town was at a crossroads for both road and rail, but the A6 now bypasses it to the east and the A14 to the south. Market Harborough railway station is served by East Midlands Railway services on the Midland Main Line with direct services north to Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield, and south to London St Pancras. Rail services to Rugby and Peterborough ended in 1966.
The steeple of St Dionysius' Church rises directly from the street, as there is no churchyard. It was constructed in grey stone in 1300 with the church itself a later building of about 1470. Next to the church stands the Old Grammar School, a small timber building dating from 1614. The ground floor is open, creating a covered market area and there is a single room on the first floor. It has become a symbol of the town. The nearby square is largely pedestrianised and surrounded by buildings of varying styles. The upper end of the High Street is wide and contains mostly unspoilt Georgian buildings.
Market Harborough has two villages within its confines: Great Bowden lies over a hill about a mile from the town centre, and Little Bowden is less than half a mile from the town centre. The three centres have largely coalesced through ribbon development and infill, although Great Bowden continues to retain a strong village identity.
Where to Stay in Market Harborough
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Market Harborough.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Market Harborough.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Market Harborough?
Within an hour or so of Market Harborough: Drayton House (Saltburn) (24 km), Mallory Park (31 km), Santa Pod Raceway (34 km), JLR Classic Works (38 km).
Are there any good drives near Market Harborough?
The nearest famous roads are Monsal Trail, A54 Congleton to Buxton and Goyt Valley road, Peak District.
Where is Market Harborough?
Market Harborough is in England, United Kingdom, about 8 km from Desborough.
Road trip
Drive to Market Harborough
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Market Harborough. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 24,779
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 52.4776, -0.9205
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Market Harborough
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
racetrack
Mallory Park
Compact lakeside circuit at Kirkby Mallory known as the 'friendly circuit', racing since 1956. Its Gerard's Bend is one of the longest, fastest corners in British motorsport.
31 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Santa Pod Raceway
Europe's premier drag racing venue in Northamptonshire, hosting iconic events like the FIA European Finals and Flame & Thunder.
34 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
JLR Classic Works
Jaguar Land Rover's dedicated classic vehicle facility in Coventry where heritage models are restored and reimagined.
38 km · about 45 min drive
museum
Coventry Transport Museum
Houses the world's largest publicly owned collection of British road transport, including land speed record holders.
41 km · about 45 min drive
cafe
Super Sausage Cafe
Legendary transport cafe on the A5 Watling Street near Potterspury, a favourite fry-up stop for bikers and classic car runs heading between London and the Midlands since the 1960s.
43 km · about 50 min drive
racetrack
Silverstone Circuit
The home of British motorsport, hosting the first ever F1 World Championship race in 1950
45 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Aston Martin Works Heritage
The spiritual home of Aston Martin at the original Newport Pagnell factory, offering heritage servicing, restoration, and sales.
46 km · about 55 min drive
Driving roads near Market Harborough
10 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 76 kmThe Backs, CambridgeThe famous riverside meadows behind the Cambridge colleges, offering iconic views of King's College Chapel, the Bridge of Sighs and punts on the Cam.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Market Harborough.
Plan a trip around Market Harborough
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Market Harborough.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.