This impressive 50-acre waterside attraction includes a beautiful 24-acre lake adorned with colourful narrowboats and is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, which have earned it the David Bellamy Gold Award for biodiversity.
Accommodation on the Trent and Mersey Canal
/Boat Sales on the Trent and Mersey Canal
/Cafe on the Trent and Mersey Canal
/Chandlery on the Trent and Mersey Canal
/Marina on the Trent and Mersey Canal
/Marine Engineers on the Trent and Mersey Canal
Guide To Mercia Marina
Mercia Marina, located in the picturesque Derbyshire countryside, is Europe's largest inland marina, featuring 600 berths along the Trent & Mersey Canal.
The marina has undergone a significant transformation since its origins as farmland owned by John and Michael Thornton in the 1980s. It changed from a cereal-growing site to a gravel extraction area during the construction of the A50, then became a fishing lake before evolving into the multi-million-pound marina destination it is today.
Visitors can explore the Boardwalk and Piazza developments, which boast boutique retailers, restaurants, cafes, and a variety of shops. Holidaymakers can also choose to stay in luxurious lodges that overlook the serene waters.
Mercia Marina has received VisitEngland’s 5 Star Holiday Park and Gold Award designations. It offers skippered canal cruises aboard the Mercia Swan narrowboat, along with extensive walking and cycling opportunities, fishing, and regular events throughout the year.
Mercia Marina Pictures
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Mercia Marina Reviews
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Review from Google Places
11 November 2025
Highly recommended for a day out. We did the canal boat trip. It was fantastic! We rounded off the day browsing around the shops and enjoying lunch.
Review from Google Places
16 September 2025
Visited here on a blustery Monday afternoon in September. Fair sized car park – but some building work going on at front of car park. A limited number of shops, cafes and restaurant. Walking trails are close by if you fancy going for a walk or taking your dog.
Review from Google Places
31 August 2025
Had a lovely morning having a coffee, visiting the shops and even a ride down the canal.
Loads of parking and a nice way to spend a few hours
Review from Google Places
25 August 2025
A quick visit for a couple of hours to browse the cafes the art gallery and take a barge/narrow boat trip down the canal and back. A surprisingly calming and leisurely experience. The art gallery whilst small had some amazing pieces and the staff were happy to discuss artists and styles with the occasional push for a sale… well you can’t blame them really. Parking was easy, the overall area well maintained and tidy, some building work ongoing as the site is growing but doesnt detract. The cafes and pubs in the Marina were busy and there were plenty of people just chilling on the canal banks.
I guess it depends what you want from the whole experience but it was certainly a nice time out.
Review from Google Places
13 August 2025
The visitor mooring is small. We had to go past and go turn around while waiting for the boat that was there. There are steps up to the path going to the shops which makes access for a trolley with gas and coal difficult. You get gas from Stillwaters which is in the corner of the boardwalk. They sell all sorts of essentials and even have whippy ice cream cones.
There are some lovely sculptures around the marina.
