Boating Holidays in the Birmingham area

Pictures from the area - Birmingham

By the river Trent you’ll find the city of Stoke. Or should we say cities of Stoke. Because back in 1910 the cities of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton and Fenton entered a union under the name Stoke. The population of the city grew spectacularly during the industrialization where ceramics was the main industry in the city. Actually, the city was the main centre of the ceramics industry in Britain. A history that still lives on amongst the citizens who are also known as “Potters”. In the six boroughs you will find many museums dedicated to the history of ceramics. You can also take a stroll through some of the many elaborate parks and gardens. Stoke is also a great city for indoor activities if the weather forecast brings rain during your boating holiday. Maybe you would like try making your own ceramics?

Right in the marshlands around the river Sow you’ll find the city of Stafford, which has given name to the area of Staffordshire. The city offers many interesting sites such as the stone ruins of Stafford Castle which was originally built as a wooden structure by the Normans in the 11th century. In the city you can also let your eyes wander across the surface of another impressive building “The Ancient High House”. This house is said to be the largest remaining half-timbered house in England. It was built in the end of the 16th century and today it houses a museum for history of the building. From the base in Gailey there is just short trip to Stafford. Here the amazing green areas of Victoria Park is especially attractive to families with younger members before you enjoy drinks and solid meal on one of the city’s many cosy pubs.  

Worcester is not just the place for one of the bases in the Birmingham area, but also a city worth spending a little extra time exploring either before or after your boating holiday. The impressive Worcester Cathedral dominates every panoramic picture of the Worcester skyline. The inside of the cathedral is breathtakingly beautiful. For many Worcester is probably associated with the famous Worcestershire sauce that the two chemists John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins developed in the city in the 1830ies. The tasteful sauce is used as a spice in everything from Caesar Salad to the famous drink Bloody Mary. It is also very useful as an ingredient in marinades, so maybe you should bring home a flask of sauce from Lea & Perrins Factory in Worcester? From the base in Worcester you can travel through the stunning landscape of central England, where cities such as Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon is possible destinations on your boating holiday.   

All through the Middle Ages Coventry was one of the most important cities in all of Britain and the city centre was a historic landmark up until World War 2. But during the war the Luftwaffe bombing raids targeted Coventry heavily thus destroying many of the historic buildings beyond repair. Therefore, you’ll see a large number of modern buildings when you stroll through downtown Coventry today. One of the reasons Luftwaffe targeted Coventry was the huge amount of industry for Britain’s war effort that was produced in the area. After World War 2 Coventry remained an important industrial hub in Britain, especially for the car industry. Even though the British car industry has since experienced a downturn Coventry remains the place of the headquarters of London EV Company. You might not know the firm, but you surely know their main product: The famous black cabs of London.   

As in many other cities in central England a castle was built in Warwick in the middle of the 11th century when William the 1st was on his way to Yorkshire to fight a rebellion against his rule. In the city you’ll see many buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, since a huge fire razed the old town in 1694. Warwick is also home to a horse racing track. This is a nice place to feel the sunshine while you and the rest of your crew enjoys a great cultural experience. If you like to feel the soft green grass of a golf course you should also go to horse racing track. “Why?” you might think. Well, in the large green area which the horses races around is home to 9-hole golf course as well as a driving range, if you feel more like taking some time practicing your strokes.