October Half Term canal boat holiday city breaks
Britain’s canals weave through the countryside and into some of our best-loved cities.
You can use your canal boat as a base to explore city centre attractions that are perfect for families.
We’ve published a guide to the best October Half Term canal boat holiday city breaks. Prices start at £845 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for up to four people.
Oxford
From our base on the Oxford Canal at Lower Heyford, you can cruise to Oxford in around eight hours, passing through 10 locks along the way. There are places to moor up near Isis Lock, a short walk into the city centre. City centre attractions include the Carfax Tower, Oxford Castle, the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum.
Bath
From Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, you can cruise to UNESCO World Heritage Bath. The six hour journey to Sydney Gardens on edge of the city centre travels nine miles through the Avon Valley, passing through three locks along the way. You can moor up at Sydney Gardens and take a 15 minute walk into Bath City Centre to visit attractions, including the Roman Baths, Royal Crescent and Theatre Royal.
Birmingham
From Alvechurch on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove, it takes just five hours to reach Birmingham city centre moorings in Gas Street Basin. From there, it’s a short walk to Brindleyplace, home of the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham. And other attractions, including Thinktank, Birmingham’s Science Museum, China Town and the Jewellery Quarter. The route cruises 22 miles of canal (11 each way) and there are no locks.
Cambridge
On a short break from Drifters base on the River Ouse at Ely, you can cruise to the world famous historic city of Cambridge and back. There are moorings just below Jesus Green Lock on the River Cam. From there, you can explore Cambridge, including King’s College Chapel and quaint streets filled with antique shops, museums, art galleries, restaurants and tearooms. The journey from Ely to Cambridge and Wicken Fen and back travels 38 miles, passes through six locks (three each way) and takes around 13 hours.
Worcester
This beautiful Cathedral City on the River Severn is connected to the canal network at Diglis Junction. Drifters offers canal boat holidays from Worcester Marina. From there, you can complete the Droitwich Ring on a 4-night break. This 20-mile circuit takes you through Worcester via the River Severn, along the Droitwich Canals and a section of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. There are 33 locks and it takes around 16 hours.
Edinburgh
On a 7-night break from Falkirk, where the Scottish Lowland canals meet, you can cruise along the Union Canal to Edinburgh Quay and back. The route starts at the site of the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first rotating boat lift. The journey then takes you through the Falkirk Tunnel, across the magnificent Avon Aqueduct and through the villages of Linlithgow and Ratho. Once in Edinburgh, you can moor up in Edinburgh Quay and walk into the city centre to visit attractions including Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle and Mary King Close.
