Canal Boat Holiday Base Information - Base 53

RIVERS LEE AND STORT
Base 53 is on the River Lee in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, north of London. It has good road and rail links.  The Marina is in the heart of miles of very attractive river cruising. For short breaks of 2/3 days, head either north to Hertford on the River Lee or north east to Bishops Stortford on the Stort. Both routes offer varied countryside, plenty of river side pubs and bustling market towns. The River Lee to Hertford is an ideal trip for the novice and the less energetic hirer as it has fewer locks than the River Stort. If you have time to spare at the end of your weekend you can always cruise past the Boat Centre and, going south, visit the historic town of Waltham Abbey. On a midweek short break it is easily possible to visit both, the upper reaches of the Lee and the Stort and still visit Waltham Abbey.

LONDON
London is easily a return trip in a week or even an energetic midweek. In a week you can probably do the London Ring, out of Limehouse, near Canary Wharf, up the Thames under Tower Bridge and then back into the canal system at Brentford. (You must check tide times with us to make sure this trip is possible.) Returning via Bulls Bridge, Little Venice, Regents Park Zoo and Camden Town Market. A midweek would probably enable you to reach Camden Market and return but this is only possible when the days are longer. Limehouse is worth a visit if you do not have time to get to Camden Market and you can visit Bow Wharf with its cafes, bars and Jongleurs Comedy Club. Catch the Docklands Light Railway at Limehouse to take you into town.

FURTHER AFIELD
Going though London or up the Thames can connect you to over 2000 miles of waterways. In two weeks you can easily reach Windsor via Hampton Court on the Thames, (though you will require an extra licence from the Environment Agency at Teddington Lock), or go through London joining the Grand Union Canal and travel up to Marsworth and back. Three weeks can take you right round the South of England Circuit via Stoke Bruerne , Blisworth Tunnel, Banbury, Oxford and back down the Thames.