Waterways of England & Wales
(Canal Boats & Narrowboats)

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The English & Welsh Waterways consist of three types:

1 - Navigable rivers

They typically allow the passage of wide boats of 11 to 14 feet or considerably wider. Lower parts of rivers are often tidal and should not be navigated by inexperienced captains.

Examples are the Rivers Avon & Severn in the West Midlands, the River Trent in Yorkshire, the Rivers Ouse & Nene in the East, and the Rivers Thames, Kennet, Wey & Lee in the South-East.

2 - Broad canals

These often interconnect the navigable rivers to form South-to-East connections throughout the country, such as the Kennet & Avon Canal in the South or the Leeds & Liverpool Canal up North. The most famous one is the Grand Union Canal connecting London with Birmingham.

3 - Narrow Canals

These are the waterways of the Midlands built to take boats of 7 feet wide. They form the dense network of inland connections between navigable rivers and broad canals. Access to these canals is restricted to the typical English narrowboats, which are unique to Europe.

Waterways of England & Wales (Canal Boats & Narrowboats)

2 - Broad canals

3 - Narrow Canals

Waterways of England & Wales
(Canal Boats & Narrowboats)