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Steam Railways & Boat Trips in Stoke-on-Trent
A day on the water round here usually means taking the tiller yourself. Heritage Narrow Boats Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent hires out day boats, or longer trips along the Four Counties, Cheshire or Llangollen canals if you fancy going further. Out at Penkridge, Jones Family Cruising does week-long narrowboat hire from £45, with kids taking turns steering and working the locks on the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. For something free and less committing, it is a longer trip out to Northwich for the Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre, an engineering landmark with a boat trip, a play area and a maze built from the old counterweights, plus a cafe and baby change for younger children. That one suits a day out without booking anything. If your children are older and you want a proper stretch of canal, the week-long hires make more sense, but check what age the kids need to be before they are allowed to help with locks.
6 places 1 free to visit
FreeAnderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre
Northwich
Free to visit engineering landmark with a boat trip, a play area and a maze made from the lift's old counterweights.
Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+2 more
Black Prince Holidays
Stoke-on-Trent
Hire a narrowboat and let the kids work the locks and take a turn at the tiller under supervision.
Indoor seatingToilets
from £20Churnet Valley Railway - Leek Brook station
Leek · ages 0-16
Steam trains through the Staffordshire Moorlands, with up to four kids travelling free per paying adult.
Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCafé+7 more
from £16Floating Holidays
Middlewich
A self-drive canal boat holiday where you learn to sail the boat yourself and fish straight from the deck.
Parking
Heritage Narrow Boats Ltd
Stoke-on-Trent
Take the tiller yourself on a hired day boat, or head off for days at a time along the Four Counties, Cheshire or Llangollen canals.
from £45Jones Family Cruising
Penkridge
Hire a narrowboat for the week and let the kids take turns steering and working the locks on the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal.
Booking requiredFood on siteToilets
Good to know: steam railways & boat trips in Stoke-on-Trent
Are any of them free?
Yes, Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre is free to visit.
What does a paid visit cost?
Paid entry starts from £16 at Floating Holidays. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.
Whereabouts are they?
You'll find steam railways & boat trips in Northwich, Stoke-on-Trent, Leek, Middlewich and Penkridge. Every place we list is in or around Stoke-on-Trent, and each listing has the full address and directions.
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