Bath Boating Station
WHERE
Bath
What it’s like
Row, punt or canoe down the River Avon, then spread a picnic on the lawns while you dry off.
You hire a boat and take yourself down the River Avon, which is a different kind of afternoon to being herded round an attraction. There's rowing, punting either standing or seated if you fancy showing off, and canoeing if the crew are old enough. Slots run for one or two hours, so you can dip a toe in without committing the whole day, or go long if the sun's out and nobody wants to come back in.
Canoeing has a proper catch though: under-5s aren't allowed in them, and neither are non-swimmers, so that one's for the older kids who can actually handle a paddle. Rowing and punting don't have that restriction listed, which makes them the easier choice if you've got a mixed-age group and don't fancy sorting out who's swum a length before.
Once you're back on dry land there are riverside lawns for picnics. Dogs aren't allowed on site or in the boats, which is a shame if yours usually comes along, but it does mean you're not trying to keep a spaniel balanced in a canoe.
It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so don't turn up on a whim those two days, and the whole thing shuts for winter from the 27th of September. That gives you a fairly narrow window, so if a river trip is the plan, get it booked in before autumn creeps up.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Families with older kids; under 5s are barred from the canoes
- Picnics
- Allowed on riverside lawns
- Dogs
- Not allowed on site or in boats
- Non-swimmers can't go in the canoes either, not just under-5s
- Punting comes with a standing or seated option if balance is a worry
- Season ends the 27th of September, so this is a spring-to-summer plan
- Pack your own picnic, the lawns are there for it
Plan your visit
Can toddlers come canoeing?
Not in the canoes, under-5s aren't allowed on those. Rowing and punting don't have that rule, so they're the better bet for younger kids.
Do we need to book?
There's a booking option, and given the site only runs certain days it's the sensible way to guarantee your slot.
How long do we get on the water?
One-hour or two-hour slots, so you pick depending on how long your crew will last.
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes, the riverside lawns are set up for picnics once you're off the water.
What days are they open?
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and the whole place shuts for winter from the 27th of September.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs aren't allowed on site or in any of the boats.
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