Bancroft River Cruises
ENTRY
from £4.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Stratford-upon-Avon
What it’s like
A private boat charter along the Avon through town and out into open countryside, with catering laid on if you want it.
This isn't a turn-up-and-hop-on trip. It's a private charter, so you're booking the whole boat rather than a couple of seats, and the cruise runs about an hour each way through Stratford-upon-Avon and out into the countryside beyond. That's the whole point of it: watching the town give way to fields and back again from the water, with nowhere to be and nothing to do but look out the window.
Because it's a private hire, the practical question isn't really age, it's numbers and occasion. Most of the catering options here, cream teas, buffets, afternoon tea, only work out if you're booking for a group of 20 or more, so this reads much more like a birthday party, christening or family celebration than a spontaneous afternoon with two kids and a picnic. If you're pulling together that kind of gathering with children in the mix, the two-hour round trip is a manageable stretch for most school-age kids, though a fidgety toddler might find the sit-still stretches long.
Food ranges from tea and biscuits at £4.50 a head right up to a 4.5-hour riverside barbecue cruise at £45 a head, which needs a minimum of 25 people. In between there's a cream tea at £10.50, and afternoon tea or a finger buffet both at £18.50, all with a 20-person minimum. Dietary needs are handled well, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free catered for, though they're upfront that nut-free can't be guaranteed since you're out on open water.
The boat itself is properly accessible, with a wheelchair lift on board, an accessible toilet and crew trained to help with boarding, which is worth knowing if you've got a grandparent or a wheelchair user joining the party. Dogs are welcome too, if that factors into your headcount.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Best suited to group celebrations with school-age kids rather than a toddler outing
- How long to allow
- About an hour each way round trip
- Food
- On-board catering options from cream teas to riverside barbecues
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair lift aboard, accessible toilet, step-free access, trained crew
- Dogs
- Welcome
- Parties
- Private charters available for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, hen & stag and corporate events
- Every cruise is a private charter, so you're booking the boat, not seats
- Catering options need a minimum of 20 or 25 people, so they suit a group booking rather than a small family trip
- Nut-free can't be guaranteed as you're out on the water
- Dogs are welcome aboard
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It depends what you add on. Tea and biscuits are £4.50 a head, a cream tea is £10.50, and afternoon tea or a finger buffet run £18.50. The riverside barbecue is £45 a head but needs a minimum of 25 people.
Do we need to book?
Yes, every cruise is a private charter, so you're booking the whole boat rather than individual seats.
Is this workable for a small family outing?
Most of the catering has a 20 or 25-person minimum, so this suits a birthday or family gathering better than a quick trip with just your own kids.
How long is the cruise?
About an hour each way, so roughly two hours for the round trip. The barbecue option runs longer at 4.5 hours.
What food is on offer?
Everything from tea and biscuits through cream teas, afternoon tea and finger buffets, up to a full riverside barbecue. Menus change with the seasons and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are all catered for.
Can you cater for allergies?
They'll tailor the menu for allergies and dietary needs if you tell them when booking, though they can't guarantee a nut-free environment since it's a water-based venue.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's a wheelchair lift onto the boat, an accessible toilet, and the crew are trained to help with boarding.
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