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Your narrowboat is only the start

From the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to Oxford’s dreaming spires and Bath’s Georgian terraces, a canal boat holiday takes you to some of Britain’s most beautiful locations. Snaking their way through historic cities, past World Heritage sites and traversing miles of idyllic countryside, the canals offer unprecedented access to otherwise inaccessible views.

A few our most popular canal boat holiday routes include:


Destination Oxford

Oxford

The city of dreaming spires
Destination Warwick

Warwick

Medieval myth, magic and adventure

Oxford

The city of dreaming spires

A three hour, four lock cruise from our narrowboat hire base at Eynsham on the River Thames.

The beautiful city of Oxford is just three hours from our canal boat hire base at Eynsham on the River Thames. Your canal boat provides the perfect vehicle by which to enjoy a short break exploring all that the historic university city of Oxford has to offer. Climb the 14th century Carfax Tower to view Oxford’s ‘dreaming spires’, see the witch in a bottle at the Pitt Rivers Museum, visit the remains of the Dodo at the University Museum of Natural History, discover the real Harry Potter Hogwarts Hall at Christ Church College and stock-up on goodies in the Oxford covered market. But if that all sounds just a little too energetic, you could moor up to enjoy lunch at The Trout Inn at Wolvercote, a favourite Inspector Morse pub.


Warwick

Medieval myth, magic and adventure

Warwick is a 12-hour, 38 lock journey from our narrowboat hire base at Wootton Wawen on the Stratford Canal

Warwick can also be reached on a week-long cruise from our narrowboat hire base at Tardebigge.

One of Britain’s greatest medieval experiences with a history dating back more than 1000 years, Warwick’s famous castle, surrounded by its rolling landscaped gardens, is a fascinating place to visit. The historic market town of Warwick is home to fine medieval timber-framed buildings, the beautiful Collegiate Church of St MaryWarwick Racecourse, and a variety of museums, shops, cafés, restaurants, parks and gardens.


Destination Birmingham

Visit Birmingham on a canal boat holiday

Bright lights, big city
Destination Chester

Chester

Two thousand years of history

Visit Birmingham on a canal boat holiday

Bright lights, big city

A five hour, lock-free cruise from our narrowboat hire base at Tardebigge on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal.

Birmingham can be reached on a week long canal holiday from our bases at Wootton Wawen and Stockton.

Ideal for narrowboat beginners, Birmingham makes a great short break destination. With more canals than Venice, a canal boat holiday is the perfect way to explore this exciting city.  Moorings are available in Gas Street Basin, right next to Brindley Place in the city centre. This gives you easy access to top attractions including the Mailbox and Bullring & Grand Central shopping centres, the National Sea Life Centre, the Thinktank science museumBirmingham Museum & Art GalleryJewellery QuarterIkon contemporary art gallery and the Balti Triangle. If you’re craving a chocolate fix, you could also stop off at the delicious canalside Cadbury World on your way home.


Chester

Two thousand years of history

A seven hour, nine lock journey from our narrowboat hire base at Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal.

Chester can also be reached on a week’s canal boat cruise from Trevor on the Llangollen Canal.

The city of Chester, famous for its Roman foundations and amphitheatremedieval city walls and historic architecture, is a popular canal boat minibreak destination. Offering a vibrant market, an award winning zoo, a busy racecourse and plenty of great shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, Chester’s canal boat moorings are conveniently located right in the heart of the city within easy walking distance of all the key attractions.


Visit Foxton locks on a canal boat holiday

Foxton Locks

Rolling countryside in the heart of Leicestershire, England
Destination Bath

Canal boat holidays in Bath

A world heritage City

Foxton Locks

Rolling countryside in the heart of Leicestershire, England

The famous staircase of 10 locks at Foxton is 35 hours from our narrowboat hire base at Wootton Wawen.

The Grand Union Canal offers the chance to explore mile upon mile of unspoilt rolling Leicestershire countryside making the ideal canal boat holiday to choose if you are seeking rural beauty and tranquillity. Foxton is fifteen hours from our Wootton Wawen base. This historic market town of Market Harborough, with its wealth of antique shops, is a further two hours cruise.


Canal boat holidays in Bath

A world heritage City

Two hours and six locks from our narrowboat hire base at Sydney Wharf to Bath city centre – or a short walk.

The stunning Caen Hill Flight of locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes is a popular destination from our Bath base.

Bath makes a fantastic short canal boat holiday destination from both our narrowboat hire base at Sydney Wharf in Bath and our nearby base at Monkton Combe. Bath is famous for its beautiful Georgian architecture and links with Jane Austen as well as its natural hot springs which led to the construction of the Roman Baths still standing today and the contemporary Thermae Bath Spa which uses the same geothermal waters. Its history, beauty and culture combined with great shops, restaurants and bars makes Bath a perfect narrowboat holiday stop off.


Destination Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's birthplace
Destination Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

World Heritage stream in the sky

Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's birthplace

Our narrowboat hire base at Wootton Wawen is a six hour, 17 lock journey along the pretty Stratford Canal to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford-upon-Avon can also be reached on a week’s holiday from the narrowboat base at Tardebigge.

Moor on the River Avon close to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s famous Swan Theatre right in the heart of the historic town, an easy stroll from its museums, shops, markets and restaurants. Explore Stratford-Upon-Avon‘s quaint streets lined by Tudor buildings that would have been familiar to Shakespeare. Visit the Bard’s birthplace and the romantic Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.


Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

World Heritage stream in the sky

The World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal 126ft high above the River Dee right next to our narrowboat hire base at Trevor in North Wales.

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct can also be reached on a week’s holiday from our Bunbury base.

Travelling at just three miles an hour, with no hand rail on the south side of the aqueduct to obscure your views of the breathtaking Dee Valley below, you will feel like you are floating above the earth. A short break from Trevor could take you across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and back to the stunning riverside town of Llangollen, surrounded by dramatic Welsh mountain scenery and famous for its music festival, or eisteddfod in Welsh.


Be Inspired

We offer a range of different types of holidays such as City Breaks, Relaxation Cruises and Popular Destinations

City Breaks
Rural retreats

So why choose Anglo Welsh?

Over 55 years providing unique canal boat holidays in England and Wales.
Modern and spacious narrowboat and wide beam barge hire – from 2 to 12 berths.
Wide choice of narrowboat hire locations and canal boat holiday destinations.
Canal boat holiday routes for novices & experienced boaters.
Flexible holiday booking, no hidden costs.
Family friendly and pet friendly holidays.
Great days out on the water.
Luxury canal boat hire and Thames boating holidays.

Anglo Welsh. So much more than narrowboats

...but don't just take our word for it

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