National waterways charity the Canal & River Trust is publishing (1 March 2025) a series of new regional online Places to Visit Guides to inspire great days out by the water. Containing maps, information about visitor facilities and free activities, the Guides will help people get the most out of visiting over 100 different sites across the charity’s historic navigable canal network.
Photo credits: Canal & River Trust
From hidden gems and rural retreats, to UNESCO World Heritage sites, iconic lock flights and museums, there are numerous places to visit for great family days out.
Last year over ten million people visited the charity’s 2,000-mile network of canals and rivers to enjoy walking, cycling, running, boat trips, fishing, wildlife spotting, feeding ducks, watching boats go through locks, paddleboarding, visiting a museum, enjoying food and drink at a canalside café or pub, and marvelling at some of the world’s finest examples of working industrial heritage.
Nicky Lister, of the Canal & River Trust, says: “Our extensive network of navigable canals and rivers provides free to visit outdoor open spaces, and the chance to connect with nature and our past. Every year, millions of people visit our waterways to be active, relax and to enjoy the scenic landscapes our canals offer in both urban and rural areas.
“Our visitor destinations provide free and low-cost family-friendly days out by the water, and the chance to have some fabulous waterside experiences. Even in towns and cities, people can spot a variety of birds, animals, insects and plants along our canals and rivers. And from locks and bridges, to tunnels and aqueducts, there are thousands of historic structures to marvel at.
“We want to encourage more people to visit our canals, rivers, reservoirs and docks so they can experience the physical and mental health and wellbeing benefits they provide, and find out more about the work of our charity to care for the nation’s world-famous historic network.”
Canals provide vital green corridors for wildlife and habitats for nature to thrive, including 304 conservation sites and 68 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s).
The network is home to 2,700 heritage structures, 304 conservation areas, four World Heritage Sites and 46 scheduled ancient monuments.
Over the past five years, hundreds of miles of the Canal & River Trust’s towpaths have been upgraded and 737 miles of the network have now been awarded Green Flag Status, the internationally recognised standard for managing great outdoor public spaces.
The Trust cares for over 15,000 historic objects and 76 national historic ships, and last year 98,000 visits were made to the charity’s museums at Gloucester Docks, National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port and the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne.
Over 143,000 people experienced the Trust’s visitor centres at Anderton Boat Lift, Standedge Tunnel, Diglis Island and Trevor Basin in 2023/24.
The Canal & River Trust’s eight new regional Places to Visit Guides cover London, South East, South West, West Midlands, East Midlands, North West, Yorkshire and the North East, and Wales. The Guides are available to download at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/free-guide or to pick up at Canal & River Trust Visitor Centres.
For more information on Canal & River Trust including how you can donate money or volunteer to support our work visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk or by calling 0303 040 4040.
