Canal-side fun this half-term
Half term is almost up on us and the weather has taken a decidedly wintery turn. After a wet and windy summer, we’re all wondering how to keep the kids happy in what may well be a wet, windy and cold autumn. Never fear, we have all-weather solutions for big kids and little ones.
Our canals and rivers are playing host to a number of family-friendly events this half-term, so whether your little treasures enjoy puppetry, wildlife, history or new technology, we have something to float their boat. We can also recommend a number of days out (come rain), days out (come shine) and something a little different for teenagers who don’t mind getting down and dirty.
Events
Watch these delightful childen’s puppet shows performed in the unique venue of the Puppet Theatre Barge.
Little Venice, London, 27 October – 4 November
Wildlife walks, pond-dipping and bird-watching at the Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne.
Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, 1-2 November
Take a trip back in time at the National Waterways Museum and then take a trip to the media suite to create a comic-book souvenir.
Ellesmere Port, 23 – 26 October
Browse the goodies on display at the unique Standedge Tunnel – Britain’s longest canal tunnel. Halloween activities also taking place this half term.
Marsden, Huddersfield, 27-28 October
There’s all sorts happening at Rye Meads this half term, from mini-beasting to crafts and indoor/outdoor games.
Stanstead Abbotts, 30 October – 1 November
Have a go at canoeing as part of the Mon & Brec 200 celebrations.
Abergavenny, 27 October
This half term also sees a boat-load of gruesome Halloween events taking place beside our canals and rivers.
Download our new phone app and explore Bingley Five-Rise in a whole new way
It's all 'app-ening' at Bingley
The story of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal between the famous Bingley Five Rise Locks and the World Heritage Site at Saltaire has been developed as an innovative new phone app – the first of its kind on the nation’s canal network.
Discover more about this historic attraction via the app and our new QR code trail or test your treasure-hunting skills with our geo-caching trail.
Get down and dirty with Towpath Taskforce
Accompanied older teenagers can really make a difference to your local canal or river by volunteering to join one of our Towpath Taskforce teams.
Canal-side attractions
The Canal & River Trust runs a number of museums and visitor attractions. You could find yourself travelling through Britain’s longest tunnel at Standedge Tunnel, exploring the Victorian working boats at the National Waterways Museum or you could even take a boat trip at the Anderton Boat Lift and find out what it’s like to get lifted 50 feet in the air by a giant iron spider.
Go for a walk
There’s nothing better on a crisp autumn day than to wrap up warm and take to the towpath for a brisk stroll. Take a look at our walking routes for family-friendly trails, such as this circular walk of just under a mile from Fradley Junction.
Get on your bike
Blow away the cobwebs with a family cycle ride along our canals and rivers. We have a number of traffic-free and family-friendly cycle routes on our cycling pages, such as this largely flat trail around Ellesmere Port.
