Tips for Planning Your Perfect Narrowboat Holiday

Ensure a Cozy Winter Aboard with These Preparation Tips

If you’ve never considered taking a canalboat holiday before, you might be surprised at how much they have to offer. Luxury narrowboat hire is a wonderfully relaxed and leisurely way to enjoy the beauty and history of the UK for a few days, or even weeks. Here are some suggestions of things to do and see on your trip. 

For countryside lovers

The opportunity to see miles of beautiful rolling green countryside from a new perspective is what draws many people to a narrowboat holiday. Many routes go through rural areas which are a haven for wildlife. Be sure to bring your binoculars with you to look out for rare river mammals, fish, and birds as you cruise along. 

Birds commonly spotted along British waterways include kingfishers, herons, cormorants, and Canada geese. Canals are often near to wildlife sanctuaries and parks too, so you can plan stop offs along your journey to top up on your nature-spotting mission. 

For city lovers

Canals were developed as vital transportation links during the industrial revolution, and as such there are extensive canal networks in urban areas, especially around the Midlands of England. 

The Warwickshire Ring is one of the most popular routes, which is a circuit connecting the Grand Union Canal, the Coventry Canal, the Stratford-Upon-Avon Canal, the Oxford Canal, and the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. 

It’s 116 miles in length, and will take you through central Birmingham, and many other historical towns and cities, including Warwick with is superb castle.

For culture vultures

With such a rich choice of things to do, you will never be short of ideas to plan a day out on your stop-offs. For example, it’s a short diversion to the historic town of Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-Upon-Avon, for example, where you can visit the house in which the famous playwright was born. 

The town also offers a rich cultural experience, with many museums and venues to choose from, including of course, the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, where you can see classic and contemporary takes on the plays, as well as other productions. 

For food lovers

There are many first-class pubs and restaurants along canalside routes, making your holiday all the more sociable and enjoyable. What could be more relaxing than sipping a drink and watching the gentle life of the waterways after a day’s cruising?

For history lovers

Canals are a quintessential part of British history, so there will be sights of interest almost everywhere you turn. Of particular interest might be the many bridges, locks, aqueducts, and viaducts which you will inevitably pass through or under on your journey. 

One of the most celebrated examples is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct , which takes the Llangollen Canal over the River Dee in North East Wales. The whole area is regarded as one of the finest examples of industrial engineering in the world, with 31 other listed structures besides aqueduct itself.

Of course, most routes you take on holiday with encompass most of the areas discussed above, with a good mixture of nature, history, pubs, and cultural venues to see and visit.