A canal boat holiday gives you and your family an opportunity to spend some real quality time together.  Although there are some wonderful attractions and places to visit on your canal boat holiday you really do not need to spend a fortune to have a wonderful time.

 

If you want some ideas on what to do and where to go on your canal boat holiday then look no further for some top tips and some inspiration.  Our guide to FREE family days out and activities will help you plan your budget so take a look at our helpful suggestions for price busting things to do.

 

A canal boat holiday is an excellent way of getting closer to nature so why not see how many species of birds, plants or wildlife you can spot. The kids will love to carry a note book around so that they can keep a record of what they have seen.  They  will also love to go 'dipping' and it is well worth buying some cheap nets, the type you see at the seaside, for this. 

 

With the latest technology in cameras taking photos is easy so why not organise a competition. Get everyone to take pictures and have awards or prizes for the best. A good idea is to invent the competition categories so that everyone can win a prize.

 

Take advantage of your time together and explore the local area on your bikes. Just moor somewhere and then set off as a family and spend the whole day exploring the wonderful countryside.

 

Time spent together in the evenings can be great fun bring  some board games and a pack of cards, go back to your childhood with a game of Old Maid or Buckaroo.  If you all need to let off some steam have a game of a ball or throw a Frisbee around.

 

Don't forget to spend some time just relaxing so bring some books to read and with an on board entertainment system don't forget to pack a supply of DVDs and CDs.

 

If you are visiting Birmingham on your canal boat holiday then take a stroll around Gas Street Basin and then onto the Bull Ring Market.  Spend sometime browsing  in The Jewellery Quarter and don't forget to visit colourful China Town.  A complete tow path walk however may take you longer than expected as there are over 100 miles of canals in Birmingham!  For free family days out Birmingham has a wealth of museums and galleries to visit from the brilliant City Museum and Art Gallery to the ruins of Weoley Castle.

 

There are some beautiful riverside walks along the Avon in Stratford-on-Avon so take a picnic lunch to Bancroft Gardens if you are visiting this beautiful town.  On sunny afternoons the gardens play host to a variety of open air entertainers and look out for the statue of William Shakespeare with four characters from his plays representing Philosophy, Tragedy, Comedy and History.

 

A visit to Warwick is a must if you are cruising on the Grand Union Canal on your narrow boat holiday.  This pretty market town sits on the banks of the River Avon and is full of historic buildings with narrow streets to explore. St. Johns House museum is an imposing Jacobean mansion house containing period reconstructions of a Victorian parlour, kitchen and classroom.   The town's museum houses local Natural History, Geological and Archaeological exhibits including the history of the Great Fire of Warwick and Sheldon's Tapestry Map.

 

If you get the chance to visit Bath then take one of the free walking tours to learn about the history of this wonderful city.   Steeped in history and now a World Heritage Site Bath is set on the banks of the majestic River Avon and visitors can take advantage of the many waterside walks. 

 

Visiting Bristol is a must for shopoholics and you can easily spend a whole day or more exploring the wealth of shops.  At The Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery learn about the Egyptians in the new Egypt Gallery as The River Nile corridor divides the gallery into two, on one side, you can explore Belief and Life in ancient Egypt, and on the other find out about Death and the Afterlife. 

 

Discover 2000 years of history at The Grosvenor Museum if you are visiting Chester, the museum gives you a fantastic insight into the City's Roman history.  The River Dee and located between the city wall and the river you will find the Groves , a beautiful riverside promenade which is perfect for a gentle stroll.

 

If you are able to visit Coventry then no trip to the city would be complete without a visit to Coventry Transport Museum . In the Museum's collection are hundreds of vehicles and cycles which tell the stories of invention, vision and vision.  The Guildhall is one of the finest in the UK and houses The Mary Queen of Scots Room is so named because of the imprisonment of the Scottish Queen here in 1569. 

 

Discover some wonderful places in Leicester a city full of Roman history. The New Walk Museum and Art Gallery displays include The Egyptians and Wild Space.  At the Jewry Wall Museum discover the archaeology of Leicester past from Prehistoric times to the very important Roman occupation.  The grounds  here contain one of the City's most famous landmarks, the Jewry Wall which is believed to be one of the tallest surviving pieces of Roman masonry in the country.

 

If you are starting  you holiday from Worcester make sure you visit the City Art Gallery and Museum where you can explore a 19th century chemist shop and learn about the history of the world famous Worcestershire Sauce.  The Riverside is just a gentle stroll away from the city centre so you can soon escape the hustle and bustle.  Head for the Quayhead Fountain where a wealth of events are staged during the summer months.

 

We could only mention a few attractions which cover some of the places you are able visit on a canal boat holiday.  There are 1000s of free family events happening all around the country and with internet access these can easily be found.  Do some internet research, it is well worth the time, to discover free attractions and free family days out.