Retire to Market Harborough
Retirement living in Market Harborough
This bustling, traditional town with a long history, is fantastic for shopping and eating out, and is rightly renowned for its lively markets.
As you might guess from the name, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, is a proud market town – in fact, there’s been a market in Market Harborough since 1204! And the indoor and outdoor markets in the pretty market square are still going strong. The town is a thriving and lively place with plentiful shops - both independent and High Street names, cafes, restaurants and attractive historic buildings, like the distinctive Old Grammar School, to discover.
Sights
Market Harborough is a town built from textiles and commerce, so it is perhaps unsurprising there is a range of interesting independent boutiques. In the centre of town is an attractive and bustling market square which hosts regular farmers markets and specialist markets. The Market Hall is open almost every day and sells everything from antiques and vintage bargains, to fresh food.
There are also many Market Harborough restaurants to sample, like popular Farndon Fields Farm Kitchen – they also have a farm shop - and the highly recommended Everest Lounge which serves Nepalese, Tibetan and Indian Cuisine.
More tips: work up an appetite exploring Rockingham Castle and its grand grounds, view the collections at Harborough museum, support the quality amateur productions at Harborough Theatre, or tee off at the friendly Market Harborough Golf Club.
Community
Leicestershire has a proud history of textile manufacturing, so it is fitting that clothing and crafts play a big role in the community at Market Harborough. Central to this is the Leicestershire Craft Centre in the High Street, which offers courses in everything from dressmaking to felting.
An important part of this heritage, the old Symington Corset factory, is now home to Market Harborough museum and a busy library which also both hold community events.
If you are after for more physical pursuits, Harborough Leisure centre offers a range of fitness classes, swimming pools, tennis courts and a bowls green.
Looking for retirement property to rent in Market Harborough, or retirement homes for sale in Market Harborough? 83% of McCarthy Stone homeowners experience a sense of community in their new retirement home.
Transport and connections
Market Harborough is linked by A roads to the M1 and M6 for easy access to Leicester, Northampton, Coventry and Peterborough. It’s around 15 miles to Leicester from Market Harborough and takes under half an hour by road and 12 minutes by train. Market Harborough train station is centrally located and has frequent connections which take you to London in less than an hour.
There are also regular bus services around Market Harborough connecting the town to local villages as well as Leicester, Northampton, Kettering and Lutterworth. In addition Harborough Community Bus (HCB) runs minibuses for community groups and regular group trips.
Looking for retirement property to rent in Market Harborough - or for sale? It's good to know that McCarthy Stone retirement developments are carefully located to provide easy access to amenities and attractions.
Surrounding areas
Welland River meanders through the centre of Market Harborough, including in the lovely Welland Park, offering a tranquil starting point for a walk or cycle along the riverbank.
For a bigger challenge, the Brampton Valley Way offers a traffic free cycling and walking trail that connects Market Harborough to Northampton, following old rail routes.
About 15 minutes from the centre of Market Harborough, you’ll find Foxton Locks, another picturesque spot for a cycle or walk – or you could even hire a boat to explore the canals from the water.
With a Canal Museum, a lovely café and a couple of pubs nearby, it’s a fantastic place to while away a day.
And close to Loughborough you’ll find the Beacon Hill Country Park, which has a sculpture trail and volcanic rocks to spot.
Popular places to retire in the Market Harborough area
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Retirement living in Market Harborough. Frequently asked questions
This pretty medieval town is famed for its markets which have being trading in the picturesque market square for over 800 years. As well as shopping, you can explore the grounds of Rockingham Castle, visit Harborough museum, or enjoy a round of golf at the friendly Market Harborough Golf Club. If you are looking for retirement apartments, Market Harborough, it’s a great option for retirement living.
Market Harborough is a medieval market town situated on the River Welland, in Harborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England. It is close to the border with Northamptonshire and the larger settlements of Leicester, Northampton and Lutterworth.
There are lots of variables that make this a difficult question to answer, but one simple tip is to multiple the amount you’d like to live on every year (say £24,000) by 25 (in this case the answer is £600,000). That is the amount you’d need to save. However this figure doesn’t consider things like your annual state pension, benefits, tax, or the equity you might hold in your home.
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