Ten ways to make the most of the longest day

1. Take a long canal cruise

Get afloat to enjoy a more peaceful way of life. It's the fastest way to slow down. We have 2,000 miles of canals and rivers across England and Wales, and our longest canal cruise takes you from the Essex/Hertfordshire border into London, cross country to Bristol, through the midlands, and northwards up to the very end of the Lancaster Canal. This route, while perfectly possible, is a challenging cruise – especially on the river sections and isn’t suitable for all boats.

Our longest canal cruise

Alternatively, hire a narrowboat for the day or take a boat trip from one of our fascinating museums and attractions.

2. Go bat-spotting

Our environment team work hard to make sure that our 250-year-old network of tunnels, bridges and aqueducts welcomes a variety of wildlife and provides suitable roosting areas for bats. Canals provide a great source of food for bats, with protected and sheltered highways for them to travel.

If you're in the vicinity of one of our canals or rivers at dusk, look out for bats. Whether you're out in the country or the centre of a city, you'll have a good chance of spotting one on a calm evening.

3. Watch the sun rise and set

You don't have to travel to Stonehenge to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and celebrate the Summer Solstice. The still waters of our canals make them the perfect place to admire the colourful rays or the rising - or setting - sun.

4. Go for a picnic

Discover perfect places for picnics beside our canals in England and Wales, with our favourite picnic spots listed out by region. Packing up your favourite foods and heading to your local canal is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. You could even combine a picnic with a trip to one of our beautiful places to visit.

5. Look out for barn owls

Want to catch a glimpse of a graceful barn owl flying beside a canal? For your best chance, head out at dusk on a calm and still day.

More top tips to spot a barn owl.

Try something new

Use the extra hours of daylight to learn a new skill or simply try your hand at something different.

6. Learn how to paint Roses & Castles

Roses & Castles is a unique and distinctive part of our canals. Decorating everything from boat cabins to water cans, these fairy-tale scenes have a long history. We spoke to Phil Speight MBE, renowned signwriter and boat painter, about how to get started painting Roses & Castles.

7. Have a go at fishing

8. Take up paddling

There's nothing like exercising in the fresh air to help you feel good. Get closer to nature and get fit at the same time, by taking up paddling.

Read ten reasons to take up paddling

9. Go for a long walk

Nothing could be easier than walking along our canals. Simply head for the towpath and follow your nose. However, we have dozens of detailed walking routes for you to explore, plus a number of long walks for anyone wanting more of a challenge.

10. Get closer to nature

Nature-spotting is the perfect way to celebrate the summer solstice. Get started with our handy guide to canalside wildlife.