Explore and discover

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

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 Mary, Warwick Racecourse, and a variety of museums, shops, cafés, restaurants, parks and gardens.

Birmingham can be reached on a week long canal holiday from our base on the Stratford Canal at Wootton Wawen.

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 museum, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Jewellery Quarter, Ikon 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 is 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 holiday from our base at Whixall on the Llangollen Canal.

The city of Chester, famous for its Roman foundations and amphitheatre, medieval city walls and historic architecture, is a popular canal boat mini-break destination. The ancient city offers 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.

The famous Caen Hill flight of locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal is one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways.

You can reach the bottom of the Caen Hill in around 10 hours from our base at Monkton Combe. And in around 11 hours from our Bath base.

The Caen Hill flight has 29 locks stretching over two miles, raising the canal by 237 feet.  The historic market town of Devizes is at the top of Caen Hill locks.

Visit Bath on a canal boat holiday destination from our narrowboat hire bases at Sydney Wharf in Bath or nearby Monkton Combe.

UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath is famous for its beautiful Georgian architecture and links with Jane Austen. Bath’s natural hot springs led to the construction of the ancient Roman Baths and the contemporary Thermae Bath Spa. Its history, beauty and culture combined with great shops, restaurants and bars makes Bath a perfect narrowboat holiday stop off.

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

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.

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.