Explore and discover

The Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire is one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways

Also known as ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’, you can reach the Anderton Boat Lift on a short break from our Bunbury base.

Built in 1875, the Anderton Boat Lift transfers boats 50 feet (15 metres) between the River Weaver Navigation and the Trent & Mersey Canal.

This iconic Grade I listed structure was designed by canal engineer Edwin Clarke. Canal boats enter one of two huge water tanks with water tight doors, which counterbalance each other and move boats up or down.

You can visit Warwick Castle on a canal boat holiday from Wootton Wawen

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.

You can reach Birmingham on a week’s holiday from 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.

You can complete the Birmingham Mini-Ring on a week’s holiday from Wootton Wawen

You can visit the ancient city of Chester on a narrowboat holiday from Bunbury

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

The Caen Hill flight has 29 locks stretching over two miles, raising the canal by 237 feet over two miles.

The 16 locks that take boaters up the steepest part of the flight are a scheduled ancient monument.

It takes around four hours to boat through the Caen Hill flight.

Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers are on hand to help.  You can check the flight’s opening times in advance here

The historic market town of Devizes is at the top of Caen Hill locks.

You can reach Foxhangers Whart at the bottom of the Caen Hill flight in around 7.5 hours from our base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon.

Foxhangers Wharf is 10 hours from our base at Monkton Combe and in around 11 hours from our Bath base.

You can visit Bath on boating holiday on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Visit Bath on a canal boat holiday from our narrowboat hire bases at Bath,  Monkton Combe or Bradford on Avon.

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.

You can cruise to Shakespeare’s Stratford on a boating holiday

From our narrowboat hire base at Wootton Wawen it’s 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 Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres high above the River Dee

Our narrowboat hire base at Trevor in North Wales is next to the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

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

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!

On a short break from Trevor you can cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and continue on to Chirk. Or head west to the stunning riverside town of Llangollen, surrounded by dramatic Welsh mountain scenery.