Culture on the Canals

Visit a bonfire night event afloat

Some of our bases offer winter cruising and the opportunity to visit a waterside fireworks display afloat.

All our boats have central heating and some also have multi-fuel stoves. So, whatever the weather, it’s always nice and cosy on board.

Prices start at £385 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four people, weekly breaks from £575.

Here’s a guide to our top five waterside bonfire night celebrations:

Bath Rotary Club Fireworks Display, 2 November 2013…from Drifters’ base in the historic town of Bradford on Avon, central Bath is seven hours away. The Rotary Clubs annual fireworks display takes place at the Bath Recreation Ground, alongside the River Avon. Gates open at 6pm, fireworks begin at 7.30pm.

The Ultimate Fireworks Spectacular at Alton Towers, 8-10 November 2013…from Drifters’ base at Great Haywood on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal in Staffordshire, boaters can reach Froghall on the Caldon Canal in 22 hours. From there, Alton Towers theme park and its spectacular end of season fireworks show, is only a short bus ride away.

Ellesmere Bonfire Night, 5 November 2013…from Drifters’ base at Trevor on the Llangollen Canal, Ellesmere and its beautiful series of lakes is just seven hours away.

Bonfire Night at the Black Country Museum, 5 November 2013…from Drifters’ base at Tardebigge on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, it takes eight hours to reach the Black Country Museum at Dudley. For the evening, the Museum’s canalside village will be lit up with atmospheric candle and gas-lights, there will be fire jugglers, musical entertainers and a Guy Fawkes Dramatic Performance. But no fireworks! The event starts at 6.30pm.

Warwick Town Bonfire & Fireworks, 2 November 2013…from Drifters’ base at Stretton-under-Fosse on the North Oxford Canal near Rugby, it takes 16 hours to reach the historic town of Warwick. The town’s annual bonfire event takes place at the Racecourse. Gates open at 5pm, display starts at 6.30pm.