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Three popular canal boat holiday routes in England

Enjoy the unique experiences of going through the locks and stopping at waterside pubs whenever the mood strikes. Most canal boat holiday companies in the UK allow pets on board the boats so these type of breaks are really appealing to pet owners.

We all need a break away from it all every now and again and canal boat holidays are growing in popularity. Hiring a canal boat in England from a company like Anglo Welsh with friends or family and travelling through tranquil English countryside is becoming increasingly popular with those wanting to escape it all and share some fun and adventure with loved ones. The beauty with canal boats is they are so flexible and are available come rain or shine, whatever the season.

Enjoy the unique experiences of going through the locks and stopping at waterside pubs whenever the mood strikes. Most canal boat holiday companies in the UK allow pets on board the boats so these type of breaks are really appealing to pet owners.

For those that have never operated a boat, the canal boat hire company will explain everything from steering and parking to working the locks. The canal boats, which are often called narrowboats have room for many passengers depending on the size of boat and all have onboard amenities for the comfort of passengers. Central heating and two bathrooms with flush toilets are not uncommon, and there are two bedrooms and a kitchen usually. The boats carry two to 12 people, so sizes do vary. Each boat comes with a microwave, TV, CD player and hot and cold running water, everything you need for a weekend break.

The driver stands at the back of the narrowboat and steers while everyone else relaxes within, so taking turns might be advisable, after all, everyone wants to be captain for a while. Most of the trips take at least a week, travelling for about nine hours per day. Take 10 days and shorten the daily travel time. Two weeks allows a very leisurely pace in order to complete the ring and here are 3 of the most popular rings in England:

Avon Ring
The Avon ring has 149 locks and goes right to Stratford-Upon-Avon for a stop-off at the Bard's home. Visitors can stay as long as they are able since the captain is one of the holiday party. This trip also includes a stop at Worcester for a tour of the cathedral, and Tewkesbury for its vast historical significance. Starting in the seventh century, as far as anyone knows, Tewkesbury was the site of a noteworthy battle during the Wars of the Roses and later the Monmouth Rebellion.

Warwickshire Ring
The Warwickshire ring canals pass by Warwick Castle, home of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and eventually into the middle of Birmingham. There is plenty to do in this city in the way of dining, shopping, museum visiting, botanical garden touring and pub hopping. The shortest trip in this ring has 108 locks, and the longest, 155.

Droitwich Ring
The Droitwich ring is a more rural progression and has had a great deal of renovation recently, since it opened in 1771, and the largest city included on the route is Worcester. Country-side views and fresh air are more attainable on this part of the ring, and it is fairly quiet. The six mile route is a little shorter than some others and can be done in less than a week.

Canal holidays in England are different than the usual run to the theme park or a visit to a seaside hotel, because the passengers see to their own needs and stop and start at will, except to complete the ring in time. Boats travel at 4mph making it necessary to cruise for several hours during the day, but a leisurely and relaxing adventure it is.

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Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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