Canal and River Tours Stratford Upon Avon provide school trips and educational groups with a fully interactive educational tour experience along a river packed full of wildlife and nature, historical history with facts and topics about Shakespeare and the Industrial Revolution including a 200 hundred year old working lock.

MONTHS OPEN
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

DAYS OPEN
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

AGE GROUPs
PreSchool, 5 to 7 years, 8 to 10 years, 11 to 13 years, 14 to 16 years, College


What do you offer on a canal and river tour school trip


We have been rated as # No1 on Trip Advisor for ‘Outdoor Activities’ and ‘Boat Trips’ in Stratford upon Avon for the last 5 years and have many 5-star reviews from school groups.
Our 40-45 minute trip is a big hit with schools from all round the country who want to find out about Shakespeare, the river wildlife and to explore a bit of the Industrial Revolution.
A surprising trip for young minds with river wildlife, not too much Shakespeare and a 200 hundred year old working lock. Imagine the excitement of travelling through the lock by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and then sailing downstream with the swans just at eye height, not to mention keeping a lookout for the ghost of the old lock keeper.
Stratford upon Avon will always be associated with Shakespeare but how many people realise that this small market town was also the gateway to the old British Empire through the canal transport network that pre-dated road and rail?
The Bancroft Gardens are an ideal area to have a picnic, right in front of the Theatre in the centre of town. From the other boats you can get delicious ice creams, hot and cold drinks for example.
The boat is fully accessible with a wheelchair lift and disabled toilet. The risk assessments and the access statement can be found below. Jennifer May seats up to 60 and is heated, well-lit and runs for 365 days a year, weather permitting if you want to plan a trip out of season. In the summer months all the windows come out and you can get even closer to the swans, coots and geese.
Most schools prefer the standard trip with the audio commentary but if it’s an exclusive trip and you want to create your own theme (pirates for example) then it’s equally possible, we will be happy to work with you wherever possible.
We can also arrange group rates for ice creams and refreshments, please ask for details.
River Tour West Midlands
Boat Tour West Midlands
Historical heritage West Midlands
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What makes us a great choice for educational visits


- Dedicated, personal booking service – please email: info@canalandrivertours.com
- # No1 attraction for ‘Outdoor Activities’ and ‘Boat Trips’ in Stratford upon Avon on Trip Advisor.
- Located in the heart of Stratford upon Avon, in the beautiful Barcroft Gardens, right outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
- Close to coach parks and drop off points.
- Safe, modern boat that is fully insured with a professionally trained crew.
- Experience travelling through an actual working lock that dates back 200 years
Learn about the canal network. - Meet the river wildlife at eye height. The swans follow us most of the time, not to mention coots, tufted ducks, herons and even the occasional Kingfisher.
- See the famous theatres and the church Shakespeare was buried in from the river.
- Music and commentary throughout the trip designed for young minds.
- Perfect for all weathers as the boat is enclosed. Windows can be removed in hot weather if requested.
- Boat mooring is in an ideal location for picnics or packed lunches can be eaten on board.
- Local ice creams and drinks available to pre order at group rates. These are collected from an ice cream barge, moored at the same location.
What is typically included on our school trips


1.Safety brief
2.Information about the wildlife – crew feed the swans to bring them close to the boat
3.Information about Shakespeare
4.Information about the Industrial Revolution and the importance of the canal network
5.Travelling through a working lock with supporting commentary
Group Sizes


Up to 60 people per trip.
Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions


We are happy for you to take all the above of your specific group.
Risk Assessment


Risk Assessments are carried out annually or more frequently, if required, such as in response to the Covid pandemic. It is a safe enclosed environment for children of all ages.
Pricing


We specialise in group bookings and take group bookings daily throughout the year. Please email us with all of your requirements for the latest group availability and pricing.
First Aid


We always have a First Aider, Water and Fire Safety trained officer on board our boats.
https://www.canalandrivertours.com/schools.html
Available Facilities


Purpose built modern boat for sightseeing with large windows, level access, accessible WC, heating an integrated sound system .
Ice creams, hot and cold drinks and snacks are available from the ice cream barge moored next to the passenger boat.
Large accessible public toilets 50M away on Waterside, next to Carluccio’s restaurant.
Accessibility & Disabled Facilities


Disabled toilet, wheelchair lift, wheelchair ramp. Moveable seats on board to accommodate wheel chairs
Opening Times


10:00am – 17:00pm 7 days per week. (12 months per year)
It may be possible for groups to book a trip outside these hours, please contact us regarding your specific requirements.
As always, our opening hours are subject to river and weather conditions which must be within operable limits for us to run any trip.
We plan routine maintenance most years that lasts for 2 to 3 weeks during December and/or January.
Testimonials


Over the last 5 years we have maintained the #1 spot on Trip Advisor for ‘Outdoor Activities’ and ‘Boat Trips’. Here are some of our reviews and testimonials, specifically from school groups:
4 contributions
A great little activity for a school trip!
Jul 2024 • Business
What a great trip! Took a school group on thus tour and it was fun, friendly, and very educational.
I highly recommend Canal and Riverside Tours for a trip along the Avon.
Written 17 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Family
We took 60 schoolchildren for a day out in Stratford and included a riverboat tour. The booking process was easy and straightforward with great communication and flexibility. The tour itself was a calm and peaceful part of a very busy day and the children loved it. The staff on the boat were very friendly and helpful. Thank you so much, we will be back next summer!
Written 29 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 contribution
Jun 2023
The children in Reception and Class 2 at Wolverton School had a fabulous trip on the ‘Jennifer May’. Not only was it good fun but educational too! the boat crew pointed out lots of famous landmarks, including Holy Trinity Church and The Stratford Theatre. The children were particularly fascinated with the Lock they went through.
The trip was extremely well organised and safety on board was excellent. The children didn’t want it to end!
Written 20 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wool, England, United Kingdom1 contribution
Fantastic class boat ride !
We had a great Reception Class trip. It was the first time many of the children had been on a boat and the crew looked after us really well. We enjoyed going through the lock, racing the swans, waving at people on the banks of the river and we even had an ice cream at the end! Many thanks for a great day!
Wolverton School – June 2016
A Swashbuckling Pirate Adventure
A class of 4, 5 and 6 year old pirates took over the ‘ship’ last week as the beginning of our Pirate Day!
They had a fantastic time on the Jennifer May (which we were able to decorate with bunting, flags and a rather large Polly parrot) and spent nearly an hour singing and dancing to pirate songs while intermittently ordering onlookers to walk the plank and firing cannonballs at passing vessels.
Thank you for what one child described as “the best trip ever!”
Ilmington School – April 2018
Nov 2014 • Business
We had a trip down the Avon before taking our group of 40 secondary school students from Dorset to the theatre. I really recommend this! It’s a beautiful stretch of river for one thing and the gentlemen crew could not have been more helpful. The experience was topped off by a fascinating and eccentric audio tour. A gentle, leisurely enhancement to anyone’s Stratford visit.
Written 8 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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