riverboat cruise stratford upon avon

Cruise Times & Menus

Cruising down the enchanting river avon, monday through to friday evenings menu changes seasonally.

This cruise is £44.50 . To find out more about the cruise, including the boarding, cruise times and menu please click view cruise.

Saturday Evenings Menu changes seasonally

This cruise is £47.50 . To find out more about the cruise, including the boarding, cruise times and menu please click view cruise.

Sunday Evenings Menu changes seasonally

Monday through to friday lunches (***only available from 1st may - 30th september 2024***).

This cruise is £31.50 . To find out more about the cruise, including the boarding, cruise times and menu please click view cruise.

Saturday & Sunday Lunches Menu changes seasonally

This cruise is £39.50 . To find out more about the cruise, including the boarding, cruise times and menu please click view cruise.

Corporate Events

Cream tea cruises, bookings & enquiries.

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THE 5 BEST Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in stratford-upon-avon.

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• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
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• Good for Couples
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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Canal and River Tours

2. Bancroft Cruisers

3. Avon Boating

4. Countess of Evesham Boat Tours

5. SUP Stratford

6. Excellence Afloat at Valley Cruises

7. 369 VIP tours

What travellers are saying.

• 369 VIP tours
• Canal and River Tours
• Bancroft Cruisers
• Avon Boating
• Countess of Evesham Boat Tours
• SUP Stratford

River cruises and boating in Stratford-upon-Avon

There are several companies offering scenic river cruises and boating trips on the River Avon.

Sightseeing cruises

Several different companies offer boating and sightseeing cruises on the River Avon. These cruises are a good value and allow you to see Stratford from a different perspective. These cruises go under the Clopton and Tramway Bridges, past the Royal Shakespeare Theatres and the Recreation Ground and into the Warwickshire countryside just outside town.

Avon Boating operate 40-minute cruises departing from their base on the eastern bank of the River Avon near the Swan’s Nest Hotel. They use traditional open-top Edwardian vessels that are a lovely way to travel on the river when the weather is good. These cruises operate mid-March to late-October and cost £7.

Avon Boating also operate a gin cruise in conjunction with the Shakespeare Distillery . This one-hour cruise includes a guided tasting of three different gins from the Shakespeare Distillery plus a gin and tonic in a souvenir glass to take home. The gin cruise costs £22.50.

Bancroft Cruisers depart from their mooring near the Crowne Plaza Hotel. They use an enclosed canal barge that features a fully-licensed bar and you can have an afternoon tea or cream tea as part of your cruise. The 45-minute cruise costs £7.

As the name would suggest, Canal & River Tours operate not just on the river but also along the canal. This company operates with a newer purpose-built boat that is fully-enclosed making it a better option if the weather is not so great. The 40-minute cruise departs from the canal basin at the northern end of Bancroft Gardens. Cruises with Canal & River Tours cost £7.

The Countess of Evesham is a 21m- (70ft)-long restaurant cruiser that operates a 1½-hour River Avon cruise from Stratford-upon-Avon to Luddington and back. This cruise is more expensive than the others (£23.50–39.50 depending on the meal and the day of the cruise and it is cheaper at lunchtime on weekdays and more expensive on Saturday evenings) but it is a longer cruise than the others and the price includes a proper meal.

What is the best River Avon sightseeing cruise for you?

The best of the sightseeing cruises depends on what you want from your cruise.

If you’re looking for a reasonably priced cruise then you should consider the Avon Boating cruise if the weather is nice but opt for the Canal & River Tours cruise if it looks like it may rain.

If you want a cruise with a meal, then Bancroft Cruisers is a great option for afternoon tea or cream tea and the Countess of Evesham is a great choice if you want a full meal. If you’re not after a meal but would like a drink, then Bancroft Cruisers is a good option as there is a bar on board and Avon Boating’s gin cruise is a great option if you love gin.

Boat rental

If you prefer to do it yourself, you can rent rowing boats, punts and small motorboats from Avon Boating.

Rowing boats are a delightful way to explore the River Avon and Avon Boating also rents Cambridge-style punts that hold up to six people. Rowing boat and punt rental both cost £7 per person per hour.

If you prefer to take it a little easier, you can rent an outboard motorboat or an electric launch. Outboard motorboat rental costs £25 per half-hour but this can include up to five people and electric launches cost £50 per 40-minute period, which includes up to six people.

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Enhance your tour of the Cotswolds with a leisure cruise on one of the Cotswolds rivers including the Avon, Severn and Thames.

See below a list of local companies offering River Cruising and Trips.

Hotel Boat Cruising

River Boat Trips

Stratford-upon-avon.

AVON BOATING LTD

Enjoy a cruise aboard one of the traditional Edwardian passenger launches from Stratford-upon-Avon . Cruise downstream past the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church (the site of Shakespeare's tomb) before turning around and passing under the 15th Century Clopton Bridge.

Once through the bridge, the scenery changes as you are carried upstream to discover quiet river-banks and meadows with glimpses of large secluded houses and beautiful river-side gardens.

For more information see - www.avon-boating.co.uk

NATIONAL WATERWAYS MUSEUM

Experience the fascination of Gloucester waterways at first hand on a 45-minute long trips along the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.

Boat trips depart from the National Waterways Museum (at Gloucester Docks) between April and October, accompanied by expert commentary on the history of the canal. Times and availabilty vary with up to three sailings a day during peak periods. Please check with the museum by telephoning 01452 318200 before planning your trip.

Combined boat trip and museum entry tickets are also available.

For further information see - www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/places-to-visit/gloucester-docks

Enjoy the River Avon

River trips from Evesham are available from the end of March through to mid October and operate from the beautiful and award-winning Abbey Park in the centre of Evesham, with excellent facilities, shops, museums and car parking close by.

The 55 seater passenger boat – The Handsam Too – is simply the best way to enjoy the River Avon. Twenty five minute trip taking in Evesham Lock and Hampton Church.

11.00 to 16.30 on the hour and half hour.

For further information - www.handsamboatcompany.co.uk/rivertrips.html

Short Cruise on the River Thames

Trips are available from Lechlade (subject to weather and river conditions) aboard the Thames launch  Inglesham  throughout the summer season ( 9th April to the end of September for 2011 ). The departure point is on the south bank of the river from the popular Riverside Park (by kind permission of The Cotswold Water Park Society ).

You will be taken on a relaxing and informative cruise every weekend and Bank Holidays during the season and often operate on weekdays as well during the spring & summer school holidays. Normal operating times are from 11:00 until 17:00. Car Parking is available at the Riverside Park.

For further information - www.lechladetripboat.co.uk

Oxford River Cruises on the River Thames

Take in a fascinating stretch of the River Thames from Oxford and cruise down the university regatta course towards quaint Iffley village. You will pass the ancient Folly Bridge, Christchurch College and Meadows and the university rowing houses.

This is one of the busiest and most colourful stretches of the Thames (the stretch locally known as The Isis). Rowing eights, punts, university boats and large pleasure cruisers come together in a lively display of all that the river has to offer.

For further information see - www.oxfordrivercruises.com

For an experience to remember go aboard the “Silver Salmon” for your Bath river cruise on the river Avon.

Enjoy a luxury river cruise and see the beauty of the historical city of Bath and the relaxing scenery of the countryside and wildlife down river.

The river vessel is fully equipped for safety and comfort and the moorings are very conveniently situated close to Avon Street car park, the Riverside coach park and Bath Spa station.

Every booking is tailored for your personal requirements and Bath cruises can be arranged for any duration.

Typically, a Bath river cruise of up to 2 hours takes in the sights of the city where we sail right into the weir at Pulteney bridge and see a variety of wildlife on the outskirts of the city. 3 hours takes us downriver through the lock at Weston island, as far as Newbridge and back, and 4 hours allows us time to go further downriver towards Saltford.

For further information see - www.avonrivercruises.co.uk

River Boat Trips & Cruises

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Stratford-Upon-Avon & Optional River Cruise

The Beautiful market town of Stratford-Upon-Avon is home to many medieval and wooden fronted buildings which showcase over 100 years of history – perhaps the most famous being William Shakespeare.

• Detailed Overview
• Other Information
• Pick-up Points
• Departure Dates

The Beautiful market town of Stratford-Upon-Avon is home to many medieval and wooden fronted buildings which showcase over 100 years of history – perhaps the most famous being William Shakespeare. As well as free time, this day trip also includes a delightful sightseeing tour along the River Avon, where you can enjoy stunning and unique views of Stratford as the river winds its way through naturally beautiful and unspoilt stretches of the UK.

Return luxury coach travel on our 'Optimum Experience' coach (click on the Other Information tab above for more detail)

Free time in Stratford-upon-Avon

* Optional River Cruise (* Additional £13 per person, please select this option at check out)

Optimum Experience

With an elegant and stylish design, our Optimum Experience offers amazing passenger comfort with soft, wide seats, generous onboard legroom and moveable headrest, all designed to ensure you're as comfortable and relaxed as possible as soon as you find your seat.

Click here for further information

PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR DAY TRIPS ON THE OPTIMUM VEHICLE, HEADPHONES ARE NOT PROVIDED FOR USE WITH THE SEAT-BACK ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.

IF YOU WISH TO USE THIS FEATURE, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU BRING YOUR OWN

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6 replies to this topic

Not sure what will be on at the time of your visit as you haven't mentioned dates, but I do wonder if the younger boys will get much out of the experience.

https://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on

https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/shakespeares-globe-story-and-tour/

We are visiting mid October.

It can be tricky balancing everyone’s interests on a trip, but our boys have done well when visiting other historical US sites.

Don’t take them to a full play. They are likely to be bored and it isn’t always easy to understand.

Having said that, the Shakespeare Birthplace Museum offers a glimpse into life in that time and you will learn more about the man. If you don't want the hassle of driving and parking in the town then you could look at visiting Anne Hathaway's Cottage on the outskirts.

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