Pass gently through the peaceful English countryside, listening to joyful birdsong, watching out for farm animals in the fields, church spires in passing villages, and waterside wildlife.

Choose from our variety of routes listed below and enjoy exciting cultural experiences, including the magnificent Symphony Hall in Birmingham, over 1,000 years of history at Warwick Castle and Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Whether you are simply looking to escape into the English countryside, or you’d like to take the opportunity to visit some of our greatest historic and cultural attractions, Great British Boating offers a variety of route options and suggestions on where to stop along the way.

The Stourport Ring takes canal boat holiday-makers on a 79-mile journey of discovery around Middle England, travelling through 122 locks and taking around 56 hours.

The route offers a wonderful mix of urban and rural landscapes, with historic destinations to explore along the way, including the Stourport Basins, once one of the busiest inland ports in Britain.

As well as cruising a length of the beautiful River Severn, the route travels the entire Worcester & Birmingham Canal, plus sections of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire, Birmingham Main Line and Stourbridge canals.

Highlights include Gas Street Basin and Brindleyplace in the heart of Birmingham, the ancient City of Worcester with its spectacular cathedral and the incredible Tardebigge Flight of 30 locks, one of the largest flights in Europe.

The Warwickshire Ring takes boaters on a 104-mile journey of discovery around the West Midlands, passing through 120 locks and taking around 56 hours.

This popular circuit takes in sections of the Grand Union, Oxford, Coventry and Birmingham & Fazeley canals. Highlights include the pretty canal village of Braunston, the awesome Hatton Flight of 21 locks at Hatton, Warwick Castle, Royal Leamington Spa and Birmingham’s Gas Street Basin.

It can be done in a week, but to enjoy visiting some of the fascinating destinations along the way, we recommend holiday-makers complete the Warwickshire Ring a 10-day or two-week break.

Also known as the Leicester Ring, this epic canal boat holiday journey travels 154 miles through stunning English countryside, visiting a series of historic villages and market towns along the way.

The East Midlands Ring, also known as the Leicester Ring, is a 154-mile long circuit of English waterways which travels through 100 locks and takes around 84 hours of cruising time.

Perfect for a two-week break afloat, the route takes canal boat holiday-makers on a waterway odyssey exploring a series of rivers and canals, including the Rivers Trent and Soar, the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal, as well as the Coventry, Birmingham & Fazeley and Trent & Mersey canals.

Highlights along the way include the Foxton Flight of Locks with stunning views of the surrounding Leicestershire countryside, the picturesque canal village of Shardlow, and Coventry Cathedral, home to the famous majestic tapestry of Christ the King designed by Graham Sutherland.

Also known as the Leicester Ring, this epic canal boat holiday journey travels 154 miles through stunning English countryside, visiting a series of historic villages and market towns along the way.

The East Midlands Ring, also known as the Leicester Ring, is a 154-mile long circuit of English waterways which travels through 100 locks and takes around 84 hours of cruising time.

Perfect for a two-week break afloat, the route takes canal boat holiday-makers on a waterway odyssey exploring a series of rivers and canals, including the Rivers Trent and Soar, the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal, as well as the Coventry, Birmingham & Fazeley and Trent & Mersey canals.

Highlights along the way include the Foxton Flight of Locks with stunning views of the surrounding Leicestershire countryside, the picturesque canal village of Shardlow, and Coventry Cathedral, home to the famous majestic tapestry of Christ the King designed by Graham Sutherland.

Also known as the Leicester Ring, this epic canal boat holiday journey travels 154 miles through stunning English countryside, visiting a series of historic villages and market towns along the way.

The East Midlands Ring, also known as the Leicester Ring, is a 154-mile long circuit of English waterways which travels through 100 locks and takes around 84 hours of cruising time.

Perfect for a two-week break afloat, the route takes canal boat holiday-makers on a waterway odyssey exploring a series of rivers and canals, including the Rivers Trent and Soar, the Leicester Line of the Grand Union Canal, as well as the Coventry, Birmingham & Fazeley and Trent & Mersey canals.

Highlights along the way include the Foxton Flight of Locks with stunning views of the surrounding Leicestershire countryside, the picturesque canal village of Shardlow, and Coventry Cathedral, home to the famous majestic tapestry of Christ the King designed by Graham Sutherland.