City Breaks
Below are some sample ideas for City Breaks on a Drifters Canal Boat Holiday.
Bath
An action packed weekend cruising on the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal to the historic city of Bath.
Don your captain’s hat as you set off from Hilperton Marina to the Medieval town of Bradford on Avon where you can moor up and enjoy a choice of canal side pubs. The route to Bath is steeped with canal history, including the Dundas and Avoncliffe Aqueducts. Moor in the centre of Bath and explore the many museums and historic buildings as well the Roman Baths or treat yourself and take a Bath Spa!
Bradford
Stunning Asian restaurants, the Alhambra Theatre, the National Science and Media Museum and a Westfield shopping centre make Bradford well worth a visit by bus or train from a wide variety of moorings – the nearest is Shipley. Don’t miss Sir Titus Salt’s model town, mills and church at Saltaire, with its Hockney museum and fantastic book and homeware shops. A good destination on a week’s holiday from Barnoldswick.
Birmingham
Set off from Alvechurch Marina and take a peaceful cruise along the Worcester & Birmingham canal, soaking up the atmosphere of the canal and the pubs along the way.
Mooring in the heart of cosmopolitan Birmingham you can visit the variety of museums and theatres, do a little shopping or just take in the bright lights of Brindley place!
Bristol
Visit Bristol, home of the SS Great Britain, Harvey’s Bristol Cream and the famous Blue Glass.
Moor up in Bristol Docks and explore this stylish city with its mix of the historic and contemporary. Visit the ultra-modern At-Bristol Science Museum and catch a glimpse of the spectacular Isambard Kingdom Brunel built Clifton Suspension Bridge. Spend some time at the Zoo or just stroll around this lively, bustling city. Rain or shine, Bristol is a delight.
Cambridge
Leisurely cruising along the Middle Level Navigations over a 7 night break will allow you to take in the majestic and historic city of Cambridge.
Famous of course for its University, Cambridge boasts a whole lot more – explore quaint passages and find art galleries and museums nestled alongside independent shops with an array of tea rooms and restaurants to choose from. Join one of the many heritage tours of the city and see the fabulously terrifying Corpus Clock…..
Chester
An idyllic week long cruise on the Llangollen and Shropshire Union Canals from Wrenbury Mill Boatyard to the fashionable, ancient City of Chester. Cruise through Barbridge, Bunbury and Beeston, experiencing locks and canal life. Enjoy the delights of Chester, with its Cathedral, Zoo, historical attractions and of course, plenty of shopping!
Coventry
You will enjoy mostly lock free cruising to the diverse city of Coventry. Rich in culture and history, you can moor up in basin and explore the cathedrals, castles, manor houses, museums and other historical sites of interest.
For retail therapy, there are high street favourites, designer boutiques, vintage shops and an impressive selection of markets. If you fancy going out in the evening, this vibrant city has plenty to offer with fine cuisine and a great selection of pubs and bars. Coventry has something for everyone.
Edinburgh
Cruise from Falkirk to Edinburgh in a mini break to remember! Begin your adventure with the revolutionary Falkirk Wheel lifting you up on to the Union Canal where you will navigate numerous tunnels and aqueducts. Visit the beautiful remains of Linlithgow Palace on the shore of Linlithgow Loch before reaching the heart of flamboyant Edinburgh with its diverse collection of old and new attractions to explore!
Glasgow
Just eight hours cruising finds you at Applecross Street moorings in the heart of Glasgow. This urban metropolis has undergone major developments in recent years and is now a cool and compact city, easy to get around and jam packed with hidden gems.
A visit to any of the buildings of Glasgow’s most famous son, Charles Rennie Mackintosh is a must and there are distilleries galore as well as museums and art galleries, fabulous shopping, the cathedral, and a positive plethora of places to dine from under a fiver to haute cuisine.
A real eye-opener, this city is teeming with life.
Gloucester
River cruising from Worcester will take you to the historic city of Gloucester. Moor up in the docks there, famous for its antiques warehouses and biennial Tall Ships festival.
Gloucester Quays has an outlet shopping centre, multiplex cinema and restaurant quarter – further afield there is the Cathedral, the Tailor of Gloucester Beatrix Potter museum and the Gloucester City Museum and Art gallery. Something for everyone.
Huddersfield
From small pubs with their own breweries, via student dives to all-on clubs, Huddersfield has nightlife for everyone. Don’t miss the railway station and, in front of it, the statue of Huddersfield’s most famous son: Harold Wilson, with pipe. You can moor in the centre of town, and reach it in a short break from Sowerby Bridge.
Leeds
Sail right into the centre of West Yorkshire’s biggest, buzzing city. Excellent moorings at Granary Wharf or right outside the Royal Armouries, with its displays of armour and weapons through the ages, and real jousting. The River Aire makes a majestic entrance to the city, and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal provides a secret green corridor by which to leave. Visit Leeds on a one-way trip between Sowerby Bridge and Barnoldswick, or a fortnight’s holiday.
Leicester
The city of Leicester can be reached after travelling north on the Leicester section of the Grand Union canal over a midweek break from Union Wharf. Leicester is a unique city with a superb range of visitor attractions and shopping that is second to none.
It is home to the National Space Centre- the UK’s largest attraction dedicated to space exploration and science. Another highlight of the city is The Great Central Railway, the UK’s only double track, main line heritage railway. It’s the only place in the world where full size steam engines can be seen passing each other.
Manchester
The capital of the north west, with wonderful buildings from the Victorian Town Hall to the round headquarters of the Co-op. Lively arts, shops, food, drink and nightlife. Waterways run through the city, and you can moor at Castlefield or Piccadilly Village. Take a tram to the Lowry, or Imperial War Museum North. Travel to Manchester by boat from Acton Bridge or Anderton – you’ll need a week for the return trip. From Sowerby Bridge, visit Manchester on a ring or one way trip.
Oxford
Join the River Thames at Reading and take a steady cruise over a 7 night break to reach Oxford, the city of dreaming spires. With its mix of ancient and modern there is plenty to do, including museums, galleries, shopping and a castle. Several scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot in Oxford, some in locations you can visit, such as Oxford University’s Bodleian Library. This will be familiar to fans as Hogwarts Library.
It is no exaggeration to say that this great city is a food and drink paradise. From the award winning Oxford kitchen to Cosmo where you can taste delicious international cuisine.
Wakefield
Moor right next to the riverside Hepworth, which has displays not only of the eponymous sculptress but of visiting artists, in a breathtaking new building next to the beautifully-restored Navigation Warehouse, one of the oldest buildings on the Calder & Hebble Navigation. Walk into town across Chantry Bridge, one of few which still has its ancient chapel. Excellent shopping, food and drink. Take a bus to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, or Nostell Priory (NT). Cruise to Wakefield on a midweek or longer break from Sowerby Bridge.
Warwick
Visit as part of a spectacular week’s cruise on the Grand Union Canal through beautiful countryside with an impressive array of villages, canal side pubs, locks and of course Braunston Tunnel! Warwick has so much to offer, from Hatton Country World, Museums, Restaurants and of course Warwick Castle, you will be spoilt for choice!
Worcester
Worcester, The Faithfull City with its famous cathedral, rich in history and heritage, has much to offer, including museums, historic houses, Gheluvelt Park, county cricket ground and riverside racecourse. If you fancy retail therapy there is plenty of choice including the high street retailers, individual boutiques, Crowngate shopping centre and market.
You could stroll along the beautiful River Severn and perhaps stop for some dinner or drinks, either riverside or further into the city.