Kittywake Canal Cruises - Wigan
WHERE
Wigan
What it’s like
A canal cruise with a proper meal on board, from pizza to a full roast, and a lock or two along the way.
The boat's the thing here, and the food's the other thing. You're not just sat on a canal for an hour looking at ducks, you're being fed a pizza, a chippy tea or a full roast while you go, which changes the whole feel of the trip. Group cruises get history talks and a look at how the locks work, so if you've got a curious kid who likes knowing how things actually happen, this is the bit they'll bang on about after.
There's no set age range given, but the mix of a slow-moving boat, a meal and a bit of history talk suggests it suits kids who can sit still for a stretch rather than toddlers who need to be up and moving every ten minutes. A cream tea cruise is a gentler option if you want something shorter and calmer.
You'll need to book ahead, there's no just turning up on the day. The office keeps fairly normal hours, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from half nine to five, and it's shut on a Wednesday, which is worth remembering if you're trying to sort a booking mid-week and wonder why nobody's answering.
It's wheelchair accessible and they do birthday parties and group bookings too, so it's not just a one-off family trip option, you could build a bigger do around it.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Suits kids old enough to sit through a meal and a history talk, not toddlers
- Food
- Pizza, cold and hot buffets, chippy tea, afternoon and cream tea, roast dinner, pies, sandwiches, pasta and cakes available
- The office is closed on Wednesdays, so plan your booking call around that.
- There's no walk-up option, cruises need booking ahead.
- Group cruises come with history talks and a look at the locks, worth asking about if that's the appeal for your kids.
- The food ranges from a quick pizza to a full roast dinner, so it's worth deciding what kind of trip you want before you book.
Plan your visit
Do we need to book in advance?
Yes, you'll need to book ahead rather than just turning up.
What food is on offer?
Quite a lot, actually: pizza, hot and cold buffets, chippy tea, afternoon and cream tea, a roast dinner, pies, sandwiches, pasta and cakes.
What do kids actually do on the cruise?
They're on a canal cruise with food and entertainment, and on group cruises there are history talks and a look at how the locks work.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
It's listed as wheelchair accessible.
Can we book it for a birthday party?
Birthday parties and group bookings are both catered for.
What are the office hours if I want to call and book?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:30am to 5pm. The office is closed on Wednesdays.
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