Winding through Leicester, the Old River Soar is a former channel of the River Soar that once carried the natural flow of the river before engineering works redirected the main course. Today it runs as a quieter, more sheltered stretch of water alongside the wider river system, threading through the southern parts of the city. The channel is not navigable by boat, making it a peaceful waterway largely free from commercial and leisure craft.
Character and Setting
The Old River Soar passes through an area where older industrial heritage meets green corridor walking routes. Its banks offer a contrast to the busier navigation channels nearby, and the water moves at a slower pace through this remnant course. The surrounding streets and residential areas back onto the channel in places, giving it an unhurried, tucked-away character that differs from the main River Soar running close by.
Getting There
The Old River Soar is accessible from Leicester city centre on foot, with the broader riverside path network connecting it to other stretches of the Soar valley. Leicester railway station lies within easy walking distance of the river corridor, and local bus routes serve the surrounding neighbourhoods along the southern waterfront.