One of the most popular kinds of holiday in the UK at the moment is the canal holiday. Simply hire a canal boat or narrow boat and cruise some of the most beautiful canals and rivers in the UK – soaking up some of the most beautiful scenery (and maybe stopping for a bite to eat!).
It seems that narrow boat holidays are growing in popularity for young families as well as the budgets for holidays gets smaller. One of the worries that of most young families is that the holiday is not suitable for their kids and they are worried that they may get bored or not enjoy the holiday.
There are loads of reasons why kids can love a canal boat holiday (from the fact that they can take their bikes and even their dog) but what young families often forget is that they aren’t that far away from some the UKs top attractions. Make sure the kids don’t forget the holiday or get time to get bored and take them to some of the following that can be easily found and with a little planning can be easily fitted into your itinerary.
- Cadbury World – a must for the kids. Experience how the world famous chocolate is made at one of the UKs top attractions. Kids love Cadburys World no matter what ages they are. They can make the chocolate themselves, play with the interactive exhibitions and the younger ones can go on the theme play park. Even though it is for the kids this is one of those experiences that suits all ages!
Find it on: Worcester and Birmingham Canal
- National Sea Life Centre – if the kids loves animals then you just have to take then to the National Sea Life Centre. Perfect for those wetter days of your trip you can see one of the biggest collections of sea life in the UK. The kids can marvel at the only hammerhead sharks that are currently in the UK or see the penguins or the seals close up. The Se Life centre does a great job of bringing the kids closer to the actual animals and you can actually handle some of the crabs (if you dare).
Find it on: Birmingham Canal Main Line
- Shiverpool Ghost Tour – definitely one for the older kids this one – but they need to be catered for as well. This is a tour from the Albert Dock in Liverpool that takes in some of the haunted places in the UK – all carried out with re-enactments and a tongue in cheek approach to some of the scariest stories that Liverpool has to offer.
Find it on: River Mersey
- Walking, biking, shopping, fishing – if you are prepared before you go then the kids can have the freedom to do what they want when they want. Make sure they pack up their backs and hiking equipment because there is some of the most beautiful countryside that you will pass through. Make sure they chuck in some fishing gear and they can have a fish whenever they fancy it. If you know where you are going to moor you can always make sure that they will have access to some of the biggest cities in the UK – this is one of the beauties of canal holidays (you are never far from a city even though you are often in the countryside).
If you are debating whether or not a canal holiday is suitable for kids I would encourage you to give it a try (maybe even for a long weekend before you try it out for real in the summer).
Wayne Barker writes for Hire A Canal Boat who hire canal barges across the Midlands from their base at Sawley Marina. Image by petter palander
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