Your floating hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Our guide to the waterways of the UK in detail.

The River Avon.

The River Avon leaves the River Severn at Tewkesbury. The six miles up to the first lock at Strensham are mainly wide and straight. All the locks on the River Avon are enough to take two boats but some of them on the Lower Avon, like this one at Stensham are too short to let us take both boats up together. Unlike the Rivers Severn or Thames we work all but two of these locks ourselves.

Above the lock for the next eight miles up to Pershore the river is never wide and in some stretches such as Swan's neck it is very narrow indeed. From Tewkesbury right up to Pershore, apart from the M5 high above us the only bridge is the ancient one at Eckington. The river feels very isolated with no even adjacent villages.

At Pershore you have two bridges, the old and new and two locks close together, Pershore and Wyre lock, in-between are the moorings for the town of Pershore.

The next eleven miles up to Evesham are a continuation of the rural river, as you come into Evesham the town appears with promenades and riverside parks. Historically Evesham lock marks the end of the Lower and the start of the Upper Avon.

The next eight miles with their three locks see more delightful river, sometimes, particularly below the locks narrow and winding. The locks are now all rebuilds by the Upper Avon Trust.

The last nine miles up into Stratford upon Avon have six more locks and some very very narrow and winding stretches as the river starts to rise up. The River Avon itself starts in Leicestershire and passes through Warwick but at present the head of navigable is at Stratford-upon-Avon, though some people would like to see it made navigable through to the Grand Union at Warwick but this idea is fairly controversial. At Stratford there are extensive moorings both on the river itself and in Bancroft basin were the Stratford-upon-Avon canal starts.

• Tewkesbury is now a thriving town and at the same time is a living museum of architecture and social history spanning over 500 years.
• Tewkesbury Town Museum. Social History and Archaeology Collections illustrating the history of Tewkesbury and its people.
• John Moore Countryside Museum. Central to the museum is the Natural History Collection of preserved mammals and birds, nearly all the victims of accidents or predators. Displays of hand tools illustrate how people have shaped the countryside which we know today.
  
• Tewkesbury Abbey. A former Benedictine Abbey church consecrated in 1121 which has the highest Norman tower in the country. It is still in use today as a massive parish church. Inside is much of architectural and artistic merit. The Abbey is about 15 minutes walk from the river.
• The medieval Battle of Tewkesbury.

• Pershore. Pershore is an unspoiled, picturesque Market Town, famed for its elegant Georgian architecture and magnificent Abbey.
• Pershore Abbey What remains of the building is the best part: the monk’s Quire (which is now the Nave) with its unique ploughshare vaulting, the combined triforium and clerestory, and the magnificent tower with its lantern and free-standing ringing platform. Still one of the finest examples of Norman and Early English architecture in the country. The abbey is about 10 minutes walk from the river.

• Evesham town. . A riverside market town again with remains of its great abbey.
• Evesham Abbey. The Bell Tower and Twin Churches. The magnificent Bell Tower and the twin churches of All Saints and St Lawrence are the only major buildings remaining of the once great Abbey, after Henry VIII closed the monasteries in 1540
  
• Almonry Heritage Centre This 14th Century building was once home to the Almoner at Evesham Abbey. It now houses a unique collection of artefacts as well as exhibitions detailing such important happenings as the history of the great abbey and the defeat of Simon de Montfort (said to be one of the founders of parliamentary democracy) at the battle of Evesham in 1265.
• Evesham Light Railway. The miniature, passenger carrying trains are usually steam hauled and travel for over a mile through the old apple orchards and around the country park, stopping briefly at Evesham Vale Station.
• The battle of Evesham, fought on the 4th August 1265, concluded the Baron's War. Simon de Montfort led the Barons in a campaign against autocratic monarchy and was the founder of representative government in England which led eventually to the establishment of our present House of Commons. De Montfort was killed in the battle, his body hacked to pieces and sent to different parts of the country as a warning to his supporters.

• Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, steeped in culture and history.
• Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust has five houses all connected with the life of Shakespeare. All within 5 to 15 minutes of the river.
• Royal Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, right in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon alongside the river. It also has details of performances in other associated theatres in Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Holy Trinity Church with the gave of Shakespeare is also worth visiting.
• Stratford Butterfly farm. Europe's largest Butterfly farm. It is just five minutes from the river.
• Stratford Town Walk. There is a guided town walk every day of the year (including Christmas Day!). Each Guide provides walks and tours that are informative, and interesting.
• Shakespearience. The perfect introduction to William Shakespeare and his plays - using the latest special effects to bring his characters to life!

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk