Canal boat holiday destinations from Worcester
From our canal boat hire base at Worcester, at the junction of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the River Severn, you can reach Stourport or Droitwich on a short break. On a week-long break you can reach Tewkesbury or Warwick, or travel round the Stourport Ring.
The 29-mile-long Worcester & Birmingham Canal connects the River Severn at Worcester with Gas Street Basin in Birmingham city centre. There are 58 locks along its length, including the 30 locks of the Tardebigge flight, the longest in Britain.
3-night destinations from Worcester
Stourport and back (27 miles, 14 locks, 12 hours)
Head down the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Diglis Basin, where you can moor up to explore the city of Worcester. When you reach the River Severn, turn right and go through the ‘deep lock’ which is usually manned. Cruise north along the River Severn, past scenic tree-lined hills, farmland and leafy pastures. When you reach Stourport, moor up to visit this historic town, once a busy inland port, and dine at the Bird in Hand or Rising Sun Inn. Turn around and return to Worcester Marina.
4-night destinations from Worcester
The Droitwich Mini-Ring (20 miles, 33 locks, 14.5 hours)
Head south onto the River Severn, then north through the deep lock. At Hawford Junction, turn right on to the Droitwich Barge Canal and pass through Hawford Lock. Cruise on and you’ll soon pass through the historic village of Salwarpe, with thatched cottages and St Michael & All Angels Church dating back to the 12th century. At Droitwich Junction, transfer onto the Droitwich Junction Canal.
Cruise to Vines Park and moor up to explore the historic town of Droitwich, famous for its rock salt, natural brine springs and Tudor architecture. Go through the 5 locks of the Hanbury Flight and at Hanbury, head south along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Next you’ll go through the 230-yard-long Dunhampstead Tunnel and then you’ll go through the village of Tibberton, home of The Bridge canalside pub. There are 12 more locks before you arrive back at Worcester Marina.
7-night destinations from Worcester
Stourton Junction and Return (52 miles, 44 locks, 28 hours)
Follow the 3-night route to Stourport and then continue along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal to Kidderminster Lock. The canal winds through picturesque woodland and farmland, passing pretty canalside cottages and gardens. You’ll pass the Lock Inn at Wolverley and then you’ll go through Cookley Tunnel. The canal then leads to the pretty town Kinver, home of the National Trust’s Kinver Rock Houses. Continue through Dunsley Tunnel, and then you’ll arrive at Stourton Junction. Here you can turn your boat around and return to Worcester.
Birmingham and back (57 miles, 108 locks, 39 hours)
Head north along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal through scenic countryside and up the Tardebigge flight. Between Stoke Prior and Tardebigge Wharf there are a total of 35 locks, which will take between 4.5 and 7 hours to complete. After Tardebigge Top Lock you’ll go through two short tunnels: Tardebigge Tunnel (580 yards); and Shortwood Tunnel (613 yards). Then you’ll pass two canalside locks at Alvechurch – the Crown and soon after the Weighbridge at Alvechurch Marina.
Next, you’ll go through the 2,726-yard-long Wast Hills Tunnel and then the scenery becomes more suburban. You’ll pass King’s Norton Junction and continue heading north along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, passing Cadbury World at the village of Bournville soon after. At Edgbaston you pass through another short tunnel which leads you to Birmingham City Centre, where you can moor at Gas Street Basin. From there you can walk to Brindleyplace and visit city centre attractions, including the Sea Life Centre and Mailbox shopping centre. Return to Worcester.
Stratford-upon-Avon and back (123 miles, 46 locks, 48 hours)
NB to complete this route you will need to purchase an additional licence to cruise onto the River Avon Navigations.
Cruise south-west from our Worcester base, past Diglis Basin and onto the River Severn. Head south and you’ll pass Upton-on-Severn before reaching Tewkesbury, where you’ll transfer onto the River Avon. You’ll pass under the medieval St John’s Bridge and continue cruising along the River Avon. Soon after passing the Fleet Inn at Twyning Green, you’ll reach Pershore. There you can moor up to explore this Georgian market town, including its magnificent Abbey.
At Wyre Piddle you’ll find the Anchor Inn and at Fladbury, the Chequers Inn. When you arrive at Evesham, moor up near Workman Gardens and Abbey Park to take a short walk into this historic market town. Next you’ll reach Bidford-on-Avon, with its medieval bridge and plenty of pubs, including the Bulls Head. At the village of Welford-on-Avon, known for its timber-framed cottages, there’s a riverside pub called the Four Alls.
The River meets the Stratford Canal at Bancroft Basin in Stratford-upon-Avon. You can moor up to explore Shakespeare’s Stratford, including the Swan Theatre and Shakespeare’s Birthplace. Return to Worcester.
The Stourport Ring (84 miles, 118 locks, 52 hours)
Follow the 7-night route to Stourton Junction and then transfer onto the Stourbridge Canals Main Line and cruise on for 6 miles, passing through 20 locks to Black Delph. Transfer onto the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Dudley Canal No.1) and cruise on for 2 miles, passing through 9 locks to Parkhead Junction. Transfer onto Dudley Canal No.2 and continue for 2 miles to Windmill End Junction. Then join the Netherton Tunnel Branch and cruise for 2 miles to Dudley Port Junction. You’ll now be on the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line.
Continue for 7 miles to reach Worcester Bar and connect with the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. You can moor at Gas Street Basin to explore Birmingham city centre, including Brindleyplace with its Sea Life Centre and waterside dining. Continue south along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. You’ll go past Cadbury World at Bournville and The Weighbridge and Crown pubs at Alvechurch. Go down the 30 locks of the Tardebigge Flight and back down to Worcester.
10 or 11-night destinations from Worcester
The Avon Ring (111 miles, 131 locks, 60 hours)
NB to complete this route you will need to purchase an additional licence to cruise onto the River Avon Navigations.
Follow the 7-night route to Stratford-upon-Avon. Next head north up the Stratford Canal through the 11-lock Widcombe Flight, passing close to the village of Wilmcote, home of the Mary Arden Inn. Cruise across the Edstone Aqueduct and pass through Wootton Wawen. Continue north along the Stratford Canal through quiet wooded countryside. There are 5 locks to go through at Preston Bagot. And another 3 before you reach the village of Lowsonford, home of the canalside Fleur de Lys pub.
When you reach the Lapworth Junction, stay on the Stratford Canal. Go up the Lapworth Flight and through Hockley Heath, home to a choice of pubs, including Hockley House. At King’s Norton Junction transfer back onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and go through Wast Hills Tunnel and then Alvechurch. Then go down the Tardebigge flight and return to Worcester.
Warwick and back (88 miles, 190 locks, 64 hours)
Cruise up the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and turn onto the Stratford Canal at King’s Norton Junction. Continue cruising through Bradwood Tunnel. When you reach Hockley Heath, you’ll find a choice of places to eat, including Hockley House and Wedges Bakery. You’ll then go down 20 locks of the Lapworth Flight and onto the Lapworth Link. At Kingswood Junction transfer onto the Grand Union Canal. Turn right and you’ll soon pass the canalside Tom o’ the Wood pub at Rowington.
Then you’ll go through the 443-yard-long Shrewley Tunnel. Soon after you’ll arrive at the top of the 21-lock Hatton Flight, also known as The Stairway to Heaven. Make your way through the locks. You can stop off at the Hatton Arms or the Hatton Locks Café. When you reach Warwick, moor up at the Cape of Good Hope pub and from there you can explore the many museums and historic attractions, including Warwick Castle. You can turn your boat around above the lock next to the pub and return to Worcester.
14-night destinations from Worcester
Nantwich and back (157 miles, 138 locks, 85 hours)
Follow the 7-night route to Stourton Junction. Continue along the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Main Line, travelling 12 miles through 18 locks to Aldersley Junction. When you reach Autherley Junction, transfer onto the Shropshire Union Canal.
Cruise north along the Shropshire Union Canal through lock-free, open countryside. Moor up before bridge 14 to visit the pretty village of Brewood, where there’s a choice of cafés, shops and pubs, including The Lesters Arms gastropub. Cruise north across Stretton Aqueduct and through one lock at Wheaton Aston, home of the Hartley Arms. The canal then continues lock-free through scenic countryside and woodland. You’ll go through the short Cowley Tunnel (81 yards), then past the edge of Gnosall village with its canalside Boat Inn. Next you’ll cruise along Shelmore Embankment and then you’ll reach Norbury Wharf with its canalside Norbury Junction pub.
Soon after Norbury, you’ll pass under the iconic ‘High Bridge’ and you’ll pass Loynton Moss Nature Reserve. Next you’ll go through the atmospheric Grub Street Cutting and then past the canalside Anchor Inn. At Shebdon you can visit the canalside Wharf pub. Soon after Shebdon, you’ll pass Knighton and Cadbury’s Wharf, from where chocolate crumb used to be transported to Bourneville. You’ll pass the Wharf Tavern at Goldstone Common and then you’ll go through Woodseaves Cutting, full of vegetation and wildlife. There are five locks to go through at Tyrley.
Moor up at Market Drayton visitors’ moorings and walk into the town, famous for its gingerbread men. Next there are 5 locks at Adderley, then 15 locks leading to the village of Audlem. There you’ll find the canalside ‘Shroppie Fly’ pub. Just before Hack Green locks you can moor up to visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum. After crossing over Nantwich Aqueduct, turn the boat around at Nantwich basin and then moor up to explore this historic market town. Return to Worcester.
