Fourteen Locks Canal Centre
ENTRY
from £2.50
WHERE
Newport
What it’s like
Hop on a real working boat through the locks, then eat your way round an activity trail for a couple of quid.
The main event is a trip on The Lord Raglan, an enclosed boat with roof hatches and windows so you can still see the locks from inside if the weather's doing something unhelpful. It's an hour, £9 for an adult and £5 for a child, and there's no booking ahead. You just turn up and pay on the day, which sounds relaxed until you realise the slots often fill by lunchtime, so if you want a trip rather than a wander round the centre, get there earlier than you think you need to. There's also the smaller, open-sided Edith-Elizabeth for a different feel on the water when she's running.
Boats only go Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30am to 3:30pm, and only if the weather holds and there are enough volunteers on hand, so a midweek visit is really about the trails and the tea room rather than the water. The activity trail is £2.50 on its own, or £4 with a three item meal deal, which is the better deal if you know there is going to be a hungry small person at the end of it. Summer holidays bring the trail out properly, and there is walking and forest school stuff to fill in the gaps between boats.
Worth timing your food around the boats rather than the other way round. Hot food in the tea room stops at 3pm, then it's takeaway only until 4, so a 3:30pm boat trip means lunch needs to happen well before you set off, not after. The tea room does gluten free, vegan and vegetarian, plus proper coffee, which is more than you'd expect from a canal centre café.
If wheelchairs or buggies are part of your day, The Lord Raglan has a boarding ramp, a lift down into the cabin, two wheelchair spaces and its own accessible toilet, and the crew on shore will hang onto a pram while you're out on the water. Dogs are welcome throughout, parking is pay to park through the council, and there's a small donation asked for if you use the toilets.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Families wanting a real boat trip, plus a trail to fill the gaps
- Booking
- Boat trips: no advance booking needed, pay on arrival, but slots often full by lunchtime on busy days
- Parking
- Car park operated by Newport City Council
- Food
- Tea room serving hot food until 3pm, then takeaway only until 4pm
- Pushchairs
- Pram or pushchair can be left with on-shore crew during boat trips
- Wheelchairs
- The Lord Raglan boat has a boarding ramp, a lift down into cabin, two wheelchair spaces and disability-friendly toilet
- Dogs
- Welcome. Family and dog friendly centre
- Cash and card both accepted
- Dogs are welcome around the centre
- A small donation is asked for toilet use
- There's a gift shop on site
- Which boat runs on the day isn't guaranteed, it depends on the weather and volunteers
Plan your visit
How much does a boat trip cost?
£9 for an adult, £5 for a child, for an hour on The Lord Raglan.
Do we need to book the boat trip?
No advance booking, you pay on arrival, but slots often fill up by lunchtime on busier days.
What days and times do the boats run?
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30am to 3:30pm, weather and volunteers permitting.
Is there a backup if the boat isn't running?
There's an activity trail for £2.50, or £4 with a meal deal, plus walking and forest school activities.
Is the boat accessible for wheelchairs?
The Lord Raglan has a boarding ramp, a lift into the cabin, two wheelchair spaces and an accessible toilet.
What happens to the pushchair while we're on the boat?
The on-shore crew will look after it for you while you're out on the water.
What time does food stop?
Hot food in the tea room finishes at 3pm, with takeaway only until 4pm.
Is there parking, and is it free?
There's a car park run by Newport City Council, and a fee applies.
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