The UK’s largest canal charity Canal & River Trust offers free regional online Places to Visit Guides and events listings, inspiring great days out by the water this Easter. Containing maps, information about visitor facilities, museums and free activities, the guides help people get the most out of visiting over 100 different sites across the charity’s historic canal network.
From hidden gems and rural retreats to UNESCO World Heritage sites, iconic lock flights and museums, there are hundreds of places to visit in England and Wales for great days out by the water.
Nicky Lister of Canal & River Trust, says: “Canal & River Trust cares for an amazing 2,000-mile network of navigable canals across England and Wales. These precious places, with their narrowboats and history, bring nature and free-to-access green space to the doorsteps of millions. Whether it’s a walk along the towpath to feed the ducks, taking a boat trip or visiting a museum or a canalside cafe, Canal & River Trust’s free Places to Visit guides provide information about the best places to visit and enjoy family time by the water this Easter.”
- Experience a boat trip across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ in North Wales
Standing at 39 metres high above the Dee Valley, the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the highest aqueduct that you can still take boats across in the world, and it is the longest aqueduct in Britain. Departing close to the Canal & River Trust’s Trevor Basin Visitor Centre, near Wrexham in North Wales (LL14 3SG), daily boat trips across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct will run from 1 April 2026. The 45-minute trips will depart at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
Adult tickets are £10, children’s tickets (aged 16 and under) are £6. Family tickets (for two adults and two children) are £25 each. Call 0117 304 1122 or visit anglowelsh.co.uk to book tickets in advance.
- Join the Easter Historic Boat Gathering at the National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, the National Waterways Museum in Cheshire (CH65 4FW) occupies the old dock buildings of Ellesmere Port and tells the story of the fascinating history of our canals and the people who worked on them. The Museum was recently transformed into 19th century graving docks in Dublin and the toll house became ‘The Angel’ pub for Stephen Knight’s spectacular House of Guinness series on Netflix. Every Easter (3-6 April 2026) dozens of historic working boats gather at the Museum to celebrate canal history with boat trips, live music, children’s activities and guided tours.
Museum admission is £13.25 for adults, £9.95 for children aged 5 to 15 (under 6’s go free). Family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) £32.50 Concession (65+) £9.95.
Call 0151 3555017 or visit canalrivertrust.org.uk to book tickets in advance.
- Enjoy a cruise along the River Weaver next to the Anderton Boat Lift
The Anderton Boat Lift scheduled ancient monument near Northwich was built 150 years ago to raise (and lower) boats 15 metres from the River Weaver to the Trent & Mersey Canal. The Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre near Northwich in Cheshire (CW9 6FW) hosts daily boat trips along the River Weaver aboard the Edwin Clark trip boat. Named after the engineer who designed and built the Anderton Boat Lift, the Edwin Clark seats up 56 passengers and can accommodate up to two wheelchairs. Trips last around one hour and run most days from April to October at 10am, 11.15am, 1.30pm and 2.45pm.
Adult tickets £12, children aged 5-15 £8, under 5’s £1, Concessions £10, family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £35. Call 01606 786777 or book online at canalrivertrust.org.uk.
- Jump on a water taxi at Little Venice in West London
Just behind the busy A40 and Paddington Station lies Little Venice, one of London’s most picturesque spots, where the Grand Union Canal meets the Regent’s Canal. A canal boat taxi service runs between Little Venice and Camden, passing Regent’s Park and London Zoo. This relaxing journey along the Regent’s Canal explores a hidden and surprisingly green and quiet artery of the Capital.
Ticket prices start at £13 each. For more information, including operating dates and times, visit londonwaterbus.com.
- Take a boat trip underneath the Pennines in West Yorkshire
At just over three miles long, Standedge Tunnel is the longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel in Britain. This incredible feat of 18th and 19th century engineering takes canal boats beneath the Pennines between Marsden in Kirklees and Diggle in Oldham. In 2026, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Standedge Tunnel will celebrate 25 years since their restoration was completed. It will also be the 250th anniversary of the opening of the Huddersfield Broad Canal. Thirty-minute boat trips into the tunnel will run over the Easter weekend, departing from the Marsden end of the tunnel (HD7 6DH). Visitors can also follow the trail around Standedge Nature Reserve, enjoy drinks and light refreshments in the coffee house, watch the boats go by and visit The Marsden Duck wooden playboat, a small outdoor play area for young visitors.
Boat trip tickets are available from the Canal & River Trust’s Tunnel Office, next to the Watersedge Coffee House, Waters Road, Marsden, Huddersfield HD7 6DH or book online at canalrivertrust.org.uk. Adult tickets are £12, Children £10, Concessions £10 and Family tickets are £36.
- Visit the National Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks
Housed in a Grade II listed grain warehouse in the heart of what once was the bustling Gloucester Docks, the National Waterways Museum Gloucester (GL1 2EH) charts the 200-year-old history of the docks and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. With fun, interactive exhibits, a café and museum shop, visitors can discover the stories of the communities that lived and continue to thrive there. From 5 February until 14 April 2026 the museum will host a special exhibition about the River Severn, featuring photographs taken by the Cheltenham Camera Club. As well as visiting the museum and cafe, visitors to the docks can follow a wildlife trail around the docks, enjoy an exhibition about the Dunkirk Little Ship Queen Boadicea II, and visit the Gloucester Docks Activity Hub offering a range of free activities, including wellbeing walks, paddle sports and yoga.
Museum admission is £10 for adults, £6 for children aged 5 to 15, under 5’s go free.
- Join a guided walk on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire
On 15 April 2026 from 10.30am, as part of its Let’s Walk programme, Canal & River Trust is hosting a free two-hour guided walk along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, starting at East Riddlesden Hall near Keighley (BD20 5EL).
Sign-up online at canalrivertrust.org.uk/things-to-do/events.
8. Cruise along the Grand Union Canal from the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne
The ‘chocolate box’ pretty village of Stoke Bruerne near Towcester (NN12 7SE) is home to Canal & River Trust’s free to visit Canal Museum. Full of interactive displays and collections that bring to life what it was like to live and work on Britain’s canals. During the Easter holidays, Canal & River Trust will be running an Easter Trail Hunt event, Junior Lock Keeper sessions and ‘Quack, Quack Water Safety’ sessions for toddlers. The Stoke Bruerne Boat Company will be offering skippered boat trips aboard narrowboat ‘Charlie’ departing from outside the Museum. The 25-minute trips run on weekends and during school holidays from April to October.
Tickets are £5 for adults, £4 for children under 16. Call 01604 346096 or visit canalrivertrust.org.uk to find out more.
Visitors to Stoke Bruerne can also enjoy walks along the Grand Union Canal towpath, exploring the woodland sculpture trail next to the Blisworth Tunnel and the nature reserve at the bottom of Stoke Bruerne Locks.
9. Go Boating in London’s Docklands
Commonly known as Canary Wharf (E14 9YQ), West India Docks were the first purpose-built docks in London and in the early 1800s the busiest port in the world. GoBoat offers silent electric boats for hire from Canary Wharf. The boats have space for up to eight people and no boating license is required.
Prices start at £95 per hour. Visit goboat.co.uk for more information and bookings.
Information about events on Canal & River Trust canals can be found here Events | Canal & River Trust
The Canal & River Trust’s eight free Places to Visit Guides are available to download atwww.canalrivertrust.org.uk/free-guide or to pick up at Canal & River Trust visitor centres.
For more information on Canal & River Trust including how to donate money or volunteer to support the charity’s work visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk or call 0303 040 4040.
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