Avon Boating: river cruises and boat hire

About

Avon Boating runs the public river cruises from Bancroft Gardens and hires out boats from its boathouse at Swans Nest. The public cruise is 30 minutes aboard a traditional Edwardian passenger launch, downstream past the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church and upstream under the fifteenth-century Clopton Bridge, with digital audio guides on board. Tickets are sold on the day, walk-ups are welcome, and boats leave every 15 to 30 minutes from 10.30am. The hire fleet includes rowing boats and punts, motor boats, electric launches and big canoes. Season and hours: boating runs seven days a week to 1 November 2026. The launches cannot take wheelchairs because access is by steps.

Highlights

• ✓30 minute cruise past the theatre and Holy Trinity Church
• ✓Under Clopton Bridge, built in the fifteenth century
• ✓Rowing boats, punts, motor boats, electric launches and canoes to hire
• ✓Dog friendly, by its own description

Tips

• →Rowing boats and motor boats are first come, first served with a queue; no pre-booking on those.
• →The cruise is £11 adult, £10 concession, £7 child aged 4 to 15, £34 family, on the day.
• →Boat hire runs from 10am to 4pm daily during the season.

Best Season