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Pleasure boats on the River Avon, in Stratford-upon-AvonMichael Garlick  · CC BY-SA 2.0

What to do · Stratford-upon-Avon

Boat trip on the River Avon

Boat · 30 min · £12 adult · Easter to autumn · from Bancroft Gardens

InformationFrom £12 adult
From
£12 adult
Duration
30 min
Season
Easter to autumn; closed until Easter 2027
Who it's for
All ages; pushchairs are left at the landing stage

Half an hour in an Edwardian launch on the Avon: downstream past the theatre and Holy Trinity Church, and upstream beneath the 15th-century Clopton Bridge. It leaves from Bancroft Gardens, beside the theatre, every 15 or 30 minutes from 10:30. It is run by Avon Boating, which also hires out rowing boats and punts by the hour.

It costs £12 for adults and £8 for children. Note that the season runs from Easter to autumn, and in winter 2026–2027 it is closed.

With young childrenAs a family

Who runs it

  • Avon Boating30-minute cruise in an Edwardian launch From £12 per adult · 30 min · Easter to autumn; from 10:30, every 15–30 minutes Visit their website

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

The front of The Fourteas, with sandbags and 1940s posters© The Fourteas1940s tea room

The Fourteas

Café · Stratford-upon-Avon · €€€€

What to order: the Ivor Novello afternoon tea, with homemade scones, cream and strawberry jam.

The actors' pub beside the theatre

The Dirty Duck (Black Swan)

Bar · Stratford-upon-Avon · €€€€

What to order: a pie or fish and chips on the terrace, with a pint, looking out over the river.

To stay nearby

A typical Premier Inn family room© Premier InnHotel

Premier Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Central

Payton Street · Family rooms · Five minutes from the Birthplace

Why we like it: A chain hotel on Payton Street, beside the canal and five minutes on foot from the Birthplace, with family rooms, air conditioning and a restaurant.

One of the rooms at the Arden Hotel© The Arden HotelHotel

The Arden Hotel

Opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre · 45 rooms · Parking

Why we like it: A 45-room hotel on Waterside, directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, with a restaurant, afternoon tea and parking.

Itineraries

Features in these plans