England has a lot of places that you are sure to love. From the beautiful picturesque structures and castles, to the breath-taking views of natural resources, to the delectable and scrumptious food, there is no reason for you not to love it. For you to fully enjoy your holiday or mini break, be sure to plan your itinerary well in advance including your transportation and accommodation. So, if you fly into Heathrow, make sure that you pre-book your taxi transfer online to ensure that you will not have to queue or wait around. This will help you avoid any delays in your planned itinerary.

England and Its Canals

Canals in England have been in existence since time immemorial, and it has been put to good use to attract tourists and locals alike through canal boating. This is an alternative way of seeing the sights around England without having to suffer from traffic. It has become an attraction and even a hobby to some.

Canal Boat Holiday for Anyone and Everyone

Canal boating is perfect for anyone and everyone. Whether you are alone, or with your partner or even with the whole family or your friends, going on a canal boat holiday for a mini break or even just for a weekend getaway is always a good idea when you want to relieve yourself from stress or bring yourself to some peaceful and quiet place while steering your own boat. Some even use canal boats to celebrate special occasions or have their parties.

Yes, you can steer your own boat even if you do not have a license– but of course with two other adults who are capable of helping you man the boat. The kids can help too. But if you are alone, then it would depend on the boating company based on their policies if they would allow you to man the boat alone, and it would also depend if you are really experienced in manning a boat.

If you truly want to be pampered and not have to think about all the technical things you have to do, then you can choose a hotel boat and everything will be done by the crew. You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view, or if you want, you can try steering the wheel or operating the boat just for the sake of trying.

What You Can Do on a Canal Boat Holiday

Canal boat holidays are fun and are considered as one of the best ways to spend quality time with your loved ones or for some needed alone time. Some think there is not much to do on a canal boat holiday but just see sights for a while. That is a total misconception. You can moor the boat from time-to-time when you see good spots and you can go down to go fishing, ride a bicycle, do long walks or jog, trek, have barbecue, visit the museums, go through different tunnels, canoe, and so much more. You can even do a bit of shopping from the gift shops on the side of the canal.

Amenities inside a Canal Boat

Canal boating is just like enjoying a cruise. Canal boats are equipped with amenities such as toilet, shower and faucet, fridge, microwave, television, and a DVD player. It even has a heating system to keep you warm during the cold weathers. As you can see, canal boats are furnished with facilities just like those in your own home, so you will surely have a comfortable holiday.

Canal Routes

England has a lot of canal routes to choose from, and it all depends on what type of holiday you want. If you want a more peaceful trip, then there are easy routes to pick from, but for those who are more experienced, circular routes called rings would be a better option.

The Leeds & Liverpool canal would be a great choice since it is known to be the longest canal in Britain, and it is not too overcrowded. You can travel to the Skipton area and see beautiful sceneries such as the Skipton Castle that has been there for over 900 years and also old and traditional street markets. You can then go around Keighley to see the Cliffe Castle, which has been restored and now transformed into an art museum. When you go to the east, you can see the Bingley Five Rise. It is a staircase, which has five locks, that lifts the canal up to 60 feet. There are also restaurants and pubs around the area when you need breaks.

There are other canal routes to choose from such as:

  • The Shropshire Union Canal

  • The Kennet & Avon Canal

  • The Grand Union Canal, Regents Canal, River Lee & River Stort

  • The Forth & Clyde Canal and Union Canal, The Scottish Lowland Canals