Naylors Estate Agents focus on the town of Market Harborough and the surrounding villages within a 10 mile radius.
Market Harborough is a popular and thriving market town with good transport links to London, Leicester, Northampton, Birmingham and Loughborough. With its population of around 25,000, it is a popular shopping destination that manages to combine a town centre filled with a variety of small independent shops, with the convenience of the usual Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose etc.
If you’re considering moving to Market Haborough, we’ve listed everything you need to know about the area:
Location
By train, London St Pancras is under one hour away, yet most parts of the town are only a few minutes away from the countryside. The M1 is a 20 minute drive away and the A14 is just 15 minutes.
Although many commuters use Market Harborough as a base for jobs in London, Leicester and Birmingham, it has a number of locally based firms, including several European headquarters. Market Harborough also boasts one of the highest ratio of self-employed and home based companies per member of the workforce in the UK. It has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the UK.
Town Centre
The church in the town centre has been there since 1570 and is situated beside the Old Grammar School, which has been in the Market Harborough town centre since 1614. This building has recently undergone an extensive renovation ahead of its 400th anniversary.
Market Harborough was once a stop off point on the coaching route to London, and two of the original coaching inns remain on the High Street– The Angel & The Three Swans. The River Welland makes its way through the town’s Welland Valley park on its way to Lincoln to the East.
History
Over the years, as the town has grown, it has effectively merged with the surrounding villages of Little Bowden and Great Bowden. A number of popular new estates have been built over the past 20 years to the East (Meadowdale), South (Southern), North (Alvington Way), and West (Farndon Fields).
Market Harborough was the headquarters of King Charles’ Army during the English Civil War in June 1645, and it was near the town that he decided to confront Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentary forces who were camped near Naseby.
As well as a good rail and road network, the town has its own canal terminus – a branch from the Grand Union canal that diverts from Foxton Locks. A further travel connection from the town is Thomas Cook, who was a wood turner and cabinet maker from Market Harborough. In 1841 he organised the first group travel event – taking passengers by rail from Leicester to Loughborough, and went on to found the now well-known high street travel agency.
Another prominent business owner who left their mark on history was William Symington. Symington was a grocer who made Market Harborough the corset making capital of Europe. His building now houses the district council office, the town’s library, museum and a popular ice cream parlour.
Another major change to the town took place in 1993 when the former cattle market area was redeveloped into the pedestrianised St Mary’s Place, home to many national chains.
Leisure
Market Harborough has a good number of leisure activities, including a theatre and part time cinema, swimming pool and leisure centre, soft play area, several gyms (including a 24 hour one), and Welland Park with its popular outdoor play area. The town also has a good selection of sporting organisations including football, cricket, squash, tennis, rugby, golf and athletic clubs for all ages and standards.
Market Harborough has its own radio station (HFM) and newspaper (The Harborough Mail). The town is regularly featured in ‘best places to live’ polls and ‘best standard of living’ polls including surveys by The Sunday Times, Mums.net and Halifax Building Society.
Nearby areas
Villages nearby that are covered by Naylors Estate Agents include Kibworth, East Farndon, Great Oxendon, Lubenham, Braybrooke, Marston Trussell, Foxton and The Langtons.