Museums, Park and Skippered Boat Trips
Moira Furnace Museum and Country Park
Furnace Lane, Moira, Swadlincote DE12 6AT.
Museums, Park and Skippered Boat Trips
#1 Rated Visitor Attractions on the Coventry & Ashby Canals
Visitor Attractions on the Coventry & Ashby Canals
The Coventry Canal and the Ashby Canal are connected waterways that form part of the Midlands canal network. The Ashby Canal branches off the Coventry Canal at Marston Junction, allowing boats to travel between the two routes. Both canals were built during the Industrial Revolution to transport goods such as coal and other materials from mines to nearby towns and factories. The Coventry Canal linked important industrial areas and connected with other canals, while the Ashby Canal served the coalfields of Leicestershire. Today, these canals are mainly used for leisure activities like narrowboating, fishing, and walking along the towpaths, and they remain an important part of the UK’s historic inland waterway system.
Canal and riverside visitor attractions in the UK offer a rich mix of history, engineering, and natural beauty, drawing visitors of all ages. Highlights include the iconic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that carries boats high above the Dee Valley, and the impressive Falkirk Wheel in Scotland, a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals. Many waterways are home to interactive museums, such as the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port and the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne, where visitors can learn about the lives of boatmen and the evolution of Britain’s canal network. Scenic boat trips, heritage railways running alongside rivers, wildlife reserves, and family-friendly towpath trails add to the appeal, making canal and riverside attractions ideal for day trips and holidays alike. Whether exploring historic locks, marvelling at engineering feats, or simply enjoying waterside walks and picnics, these attractions showcase the unique charm and cultural heritage of Britain’s inland waterways.
Coventry & Ashby Canals's Best Visitor Attractions in 2026