The Best Attractions on the Kennet and Avon Canal 2026

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The Kennet and Avon Canal is a picturesque and historic waterway stretching for 87 miles across southern England, linking the River Thames at Reading with the River Avon at Bath. Completed in the early 19th century, the canal was vital for transporting goods such as coal, stone, and agricultural produce between London and the West Country. Renowned for its stunning scenery, the canal winds through rolling countryside, charming villages, and historic towns, featuring impressive engineering feats such as the Caen Hill Locks at Devizes and the Dundas and Avoncliff Aqueducts. Today, the Kennet and Avon Canal is a popular destination for boaters, walkers, and cyclists, offering tranquil waters, abundant wildlife, and a unique way to explore England’s rich heritage and natural beauty.

Britain’s 4,700 miles of canals and rivers are lined with historic pubs, castles, and engineering marvels. Visitors can enjoy canalside pubs like the Admiral Nelson and The Turf Hotel, explore castles such as Beeston and Chirk, and see attractions like the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Anderton Boat Lift, and National Waterways Museums. Day boat hire is widely available, and guided cruises offer relaxing ways to discover the canals’ heritage and scenery.

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Day Boat Hire

#1 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Honeystreet Boats

Mill, Honey Street, Pewsey SN9 5PS.

Skippered Boat Trips

#2 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Bruce Trust

Great Bedwyn Wharf, Brook Street, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, SN8 3PB

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Skippered Boat Trips

#3 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Lady Lena Boat Cruises

Sydney Wharf, Bathwick, Bath BA2 4EL.

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Skippered Boat Trips

#4 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Kennet & Avon Trust – Bradford on Avon

Beside The Canal Trust Café, Bradford Wharf, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1LE.

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Skippered Boat Trips

#5 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Kennet & Avon Trust – Reading

Star Lane Wharf, Queen’s Road car park, Reading, RG1 4AR

Skippered Boat Trips

#6 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Kennet Horse Boat Company Ltd

1 Holt Rd, Kintbury, Hungerford RG17 9UY.

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Day Boat Hire and Boatyard

#7 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

The Boatyard

5 Hammond Way, Trowbridge BA14 8RS.

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Museums and Skippered Boat Trips

#8 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Kennet & Avon Trust – Devizes

The Wharf, Couch Lane, Devizes, SN10 1EB

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Museums

#9 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Crofton Beam Engines

Crofton, Nr Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 3DW

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Cafe, Canal Pub and Visitor Centres

#10 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Honey Street Mill Cafe

Honey Street, Village SN9 5PS.

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Accommodation

#11 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

The Cru Houseboats

Beckford Rd, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6NL.

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Day Boat Hire

#12 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Wessex Narrowboats

39 Frome Rd, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 2EA.

Canal Pub

#13 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

The Pelican

Froxfield, Marlborough SN8 3JY.

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Canal Pub

#14 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

The Spring Inn

Bath Rd, Sulhamstead, Reading RG7 5HP.

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Cafe and Skippered Boat Trips

#15 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Kennet & Avon Trust – Newbury

Newbury Wharf, Wharf Street, Newbury RG14 5AP England

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Skippered Boat Trips

#16 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Kennet & Avon Trust – Hungerford

Hungerford Wharf, High Street, Town Centre, Hungerford, RG17 0DN

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Castle

#17 Rated Attraction on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Devizes Castle