The Oxford Canal
Superior canal boating holidays with College Cruisers.
The Oxford Canal is probably England's most delightful boating holiday area, meandering through glorious countryside from the outskirts of Coventry down to our own dreaming spires of Oxford.
The Oxford Canal starts by the River Thames in Oxford and runs for 77 miles, mainly through quiet rolling countryside. From world famous Oxford, founded nearly a thousand years ago and with its many University Colleges, the canal heads north through pleasant pastures, through the old canal village of Thrupp and passing close to the magnificent Blenheim palace, Winston Churchill's birthplace. The countryside becomes more isolated with rolling hills around the old village of Lower Heyford, neighbouring Upper Heyford had a large USAF base. Banbury is an interesting medieval market town with many fine old pubs.
Enticing landscapes of soft gentle pastureland, passing by antique Cotswold villages, the Oxford canal's unique charm has made it the country’s most popular boating holiday by canal.
The Oxford Canal really is a beautiful choice for a canal cruising holiday. It was built by James Brindley in the 18th century. Many of the locks and bridges are as they were when they were built. The canal follows the contours of the land, giving it many twists and turns as it seeks a passage through the delightful Oxford countryside.
A canal boating holiday along the Oxford Canal allows you to escape the rigours of modern living. You can operate the locks and bridges or simply visit the pretty towns and villages along the way. When all this gets too much, then stop and take rest and refreshment at the many pubs along the way. Or, just moor up and watch the gentle activity as other boats pass you by. And when you are ready just turn the boat around and do it all again, but it really all will look quite different!
OPEN year round
The Oxford Canal is a great place to escape to at any time, not just in
Summer! College Cruisers is open for business right through the year and our
boats are cosy and comfortable whatever the season.
See more about off peak canal breaks.
OUR CANAL MAPS
We have a detailed cruising map of the southern Oxford Canal up to Banbury you can download. » (.6Mb pdf)
You can also view & download a copy of our illustrated hand drawn Oxford Canal map. » (.4Mb pdf)
