Top city breaks by narrowboat
Visit some of the UK’s most fascinating and beautiful cities on a canal boat holiday. World famous destinations including Oxford, Bath, Birmingham and Chester are all within easy cruising distance of our narrowboat hire bases.
Our most popular city break destinations include:
Oxford – the city of ‘dreaming spires’
Oxford is a three hour, four-lock cruise from our Oxford narrowboat hire base on the River Thames at Eynsham.
Hire a narrowboat for the perfect base from which to enjoy an Oxford city break, exploring the many stunning university colleges and cobbled streets.
Climb the 14th century Carfax Tower, the historic centre of the city, to view Oxford’s ‘dreaming spires’. Admire the Egyptian mummies in the Ashmolean Museum.
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. On the way to Oxford, you can moor up to enjoy lunch at The Trout at Wolvercote, a favourite Inspector Morse pub.
Read about our Oxford base
A World Heritage City
Our narrowboat hire base at Sydney Wharf in Bath is a 15 minute walk from the historic centre of the city.
A four hour and six lock cruise from our narrowboat hire base at Monkton Combe.
An eight hour, seven lock journey from the picturesque Cotswold town of Bradford on Avon.
Bath makes a fantastic short city break destination from both our Sydney Wharf and Monkton Combe narrowboat hire bases. The beautiful Georgian city nestled among the Somerset hills is famous for its Roman Baths built around natural hot springs, its modern Thermae Bath Spa which uses the same mineral rich waters, its stunning Regency architecture and its links with Jane Austen as well as great shopping and wonderful pubs, cafes and restaurants. Combining beauty, history and culture with a bustling modern city vibe, Bath offers a perfect minibreak during any canal boat holiday.
Read about our Bath base
With more canals than Venice
Birmingham can be reached on a week’s holiday from our narrowboat hire bases at Great Haywood and Wootton Wawen.
With more canals than Venice, a narrowboat is the perfect way to explore this exciting city. Central moorings are available in Gas Street Basin, right next to the popular Brindley Place shopping and leisure development. This offers easy access to many of Birmingham’s top attractions including the Mailbox and Bullring shopping centres, the Sea Life Centre, the Thinktank science museum, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, the Jewellery Quarter, the Ikon contemporary art gallery and the famous Balti Triangle, a must for curry lovers. If you’re craving a chocolate fix, stop off at the delicious canal-side Cadbury World on your way home.
Read about our Wootton Wawen base
Two thousand years of history
Chester is a seven-hour, nine-lock journey from our narrowboat hire base at Bunbury.
Chester can also be reached on a week’s cruise from our narrowboat hire base at Whixall.
Historic Chester, famous for its Roman foundations, medieval architecture and imposing city walls, is a popular narrowboat holiday destination. It makes an ideal stop off on a canal boat holiday starting from Bunbury, Trevor. or Whixall. With its unique collection of Tudor timber framed buildings, vibrant market hall, award winning Chester Zoo, busy racecourse, trendy bars, great shops and huge variety of restaurants, a Chester city break will not disappoint. Chester’s narrowboat moorings are conveniently located in the heart of the historic city a short stroll from its key attractions.
Read about our Bunbury base
