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The charity making life better by water

Making life better by water

12 ways to wellbeing this Christmas

Christmas is coming and it's bringing a sleigh full of cheer, chaos, hugs, Brussels sprouts and festive songs. This is the time to think about how you can take care of yourself and those around you.

Sunrise on a snowy canal

Sunrise on a snowy canal

We've got 12 ways you can bring wellbeing into the 12 days of Christmas.

Gloucester Docks in Winter

Canalside shopping

We've put together a list of high streets just a hop, skip and a jump from some of our favourite canals and rivers

Man walks along snowy towpath next to an iced-over canal and snow-covered fields in the morning sun

Try escapism

After the chaos, we could all do with somewhere, some place, where we only hear the sweet sound of chirping birds and the slow trickle of water

A robin with its beak open perches on a sparse branch

Wildlife watching

What can you spot this season?

Sunrise in Tring

Sunrise/sunset

Our favourite sunrise and sunset images

Christmas crafts

Get creative

Home-made gifts are sometimes the best. We've got four canal-themed gifts for you to try your hand

Santa

Exciting events

Our canals have events taking place all year round, check regularly to see what's coming up near you

Fenny Stratford, GUC @Lewis Webster

A wintry puzzle

Piece together a snowy canal jigsaw

Horseshoe Falls near Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Find somewhere new

Discover hundreds of beautiful waterside destinations

Two adults chat as they walk along the canal towpath

Detox before the retox

Walking is perhaps one of the best ways to clear our minds and set us up for what's next

The sun rises over central Birmingham, reflecting the surrounding buildings in the canal.

Wellbeing this christmas

Find somewhere beautiful to relax, think, exercise, commute, and more, all for free

Volunteer with us

Could you help us keep canals alive in 2026?

Staff in yellow high vis and white hard hats stand gathered round a clipboard, surrounded by work machinery and other staff in orange safety gear as they work.

Donate and feel great

Help us weather the storm

Last Edited: 8 December 2025

photo of a location on the canals

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