Popular city break canal boat vacations
On a Great British boating break you can explore scenic waterways, connect with nature and visit historic sites. Rent a narrowboat and you can experience an unusual adventure, cruising slowly through the countryside and into some of Britain’s best-known historic towns and cities.
Oxford on the Oxford Canal & River Thames
The historic City of Oxford, also known as the City of Dreaming Spires, is famous for its University colleges, Bodleian Library, Carfax Tower, Ashmolean Museum, Natural History Museum and Oxford Castle. From our canal boat rental place on the Oxford Canal, it takes around 8 hours to cruise through the Oxfordshire countryside to moorings on the edge of the city centre. You’ll pass through 10 locks along the way. And you can stop off at traditional pubs including the Jolly Boatman and Boat Inn at Thrupp.
- Our Lower Heyford canal boat rental base on the Oxford Canal is a 1-hour (59 miles) drive from London Heathrow Airport.
- Or you can get a train from the Airport to Oxford (1-hour 30 min) and then another train from Oxford to Heyford (13 min).
Shakespeare’s Stratford on the Stratford Canal
From our canal boat rental base at Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal in Warwickshire, you can cruise to Stratford-upon-Avon and back. There you can visit world famous sites such as Shakespeare’s Birthplace and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. You can enjoy traditional pubs such as the Old Thatch Tavern and the Rose & Crown.
It takes around 6 hours to cruise through the Warwickshire countryside to Stratford-upon-Avon. Along the way you’ll go through 17 locks and you’ll cross the fascinating Edstone Aqueduct, the longest cast iron aqueduct in England.
- Wootton Wawen is a 25 min (17 miles) drive or taxi ride from Birmingham Airport.
- It’s a 1-hour 40min (93 miles) drive from London Heathrow Airport.
Warwick Castle on the Grand Union Canal
From our canal boat rental place at Stockton, you cruise to the historic town of Warwick with its magnificent medieval castle on the banks of the River Avon. It takes around 7 hours, passing through 20 locks to reach Warwick. Along the way, you’ll pass through the historic village of Long Itchington where there’s a great choice of traditional pubs, including the Duck on the Pond. The journey will also take you past Royal Leamington Spa, with its Royal Spa arts centre and Royal Pump Rooms Art Gallery & Museum.
- Stockton is a 35 min (24 mile) drive or taxi ride from Birmingham Airport.
- It’s a 1hour 30min (83 miles) drive from London Heathrow Airport.
We also offer canal vacations on the Grand Union Canal at Napton, Braunston, Weedon and Gayton.
UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath on the Kennet & Avon Canal
From Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal on the edge of the Cotswold Hills in Wiltshire, you can cruise to Bath and back. There you can take a tour of the city’s breath-taking Georgian architecture, visit the Roman Baths and enjoy an iconic afternoon tea at the Victorian Pump Rooms. You can visit the Jane Austen Museum, the Theatre Royal and Bath Abbey.
The journey to Bath travels 9 miles through the beautiful Avon Valley, passing through one lock along the way. It takes around 4 hours. You’ll cross the magnificent Bath stone aqueducts at Avoncliff and Dundas and you’ll pass canalside pubs at Bradford on Avon, Avoncliff and Bathampton. When you reach Bath, you can moor up close to Sydney Gardens and take a short walk into Bath City centre to explore the city.
- Bradford on Avon is a 2.5-hour train journey or 1hour 40min (97 miles) drive from London Heathrow Airport.
- It’s a 1hour 9min train ride or a 46 min (26 miles) drive/taxi ride from Bristol Airport.
We also offer canal vacations on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bath, Monkton Combe, Hilperton, Devizes and Aldermaston.
Edinburgh on the Union Canal
On a 7-night break from Falkirk on the Scottish Lowland canals, you can cruise to Edinburgh Quay and back. The route starts at the site of the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first rotating boat lift. The journey to Edinburgh will take you along the Union Canal, through the Falkirk Tunnel, across the magnificent Avon Aqueduct. You’ll cruise slowly through the village of Linlithgow with its Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and traditional pubs including The Four Marys. The journey also takes you to the conservation village of Ratho with its historic canalside Bridge Inn.
At Edinburgh Quay you can moor up and walk into the city centre to visit world famous sites such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile, as well as traditional pubs like Deacon Brodie’s Tavern.
- The Falkirk Wheel is a 1hour 34min train ride or a 30min (22 miles) drive/taxi ride from Edinburgh Airport.
Cambridge on the Fenland waterways
On a short break from our canal boat rental location on the River Ouse at Ely, you can cruise to the ancient city of Cambridge and back. On this route, you can also visit the Wicken Fen wetland nature reserve. In Cambridge, you can moor up just below Jesus Green Lock on the River Cam. Then take a tour of world-famous sites including King’s College Chapel, as well as quaint streets filled with antique shops, museums, art galleries, restaurants, traditional pubs and tearooms.
The journey from Ely to Cambridge and Wicken Fen and back travels 38 miles, passes through 6 locks (3 each way) and takes around 13 hours.
- Ely is a 2-hour train journey from London Heathrow Airport or a 1-hour 37 min (89 miles) drive.
- Or a 47 min train journey or 51 min (48 miles) drive/taxi ride from London Stansted Airport.
You can also cruise the Fenland waterways from our canal boat rental base at March Marina.
Worcester on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal
You can rent a canal boat from Drifters base at Worcester on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. From there you can cruise through the picturesque Severn Valley and explore the ancient city of Worcester with its magnificent medieval cathedral, Museum of Royal Worcester porcelain and Greyfriars’ House & Garden.
On a short break from Worcester, you can cruise along the River Severn past scenic tree-lined hills to Stourport and back. Once a busy inland port, this historic town has beautiful Georgian architecture, traditional pubs and the Stourport Basins to explore.
The journey from Worcester to Stourport and back travels 27 miles, through 14 locsk (7 each way) and takes around 12 hours.
- Worcester is a 2-hour drive from London Heathrow Airport.
You can also cruise the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from our narrowboat rental locations at Stoke Prior and Alvechurch.
