Leighton-Linslade Canal Festival 2014

Head north from our London canal boat hire base and you can cruise along the Grand Union Canal towards the pretty market town of Leighton Buzzard.

This historic area is not only home to some scenic views and great waterside pubs but each year at the end of July hosts the Leighton- Linslade Canal Festival.

This event organized attracts over 9,000 visitors annually. As well as conservation and heritage attractions, the canal festival promotes arts and crafts, handmade products, cottage industries, the work of local charities and interest groups.

Visitors also have the opportunity to see first hand the diverse skills still practiced by traditional rural crafters such as Bee Skep, Besom Brooms, Love spoons, Lace making and Wool Spinning.

There’s a stunning amount of history on the canal side itself with a large collection of working, trade and pleasure narrowboats that you can admire and visit.

It’s fun to wander from boat to boat and buy anything from cheese, hand craft products, pottery, paintings, Spanish tapas, traditional rag rugs to wooden sculptures.