English Holiday Cruises

Edward Elgar cruising under Holt Bridge on the River Severn

A Unique Weekend Break - 2 nights

Cruise the Massive Gloucester and Sharpness Canal

This English holiday cruise will appeal to anybody wanting a weekend break, short break, or quick getaway perhaps with a group of friends. It’s a bargain cruise holiday and also a great gift idea for your special birthday or anniversary. The Edward Elgar Riverboat Hotel sails from the historic Gloucester docks along the massive Gloucester and Sharpness canal to stunning views in the lower Severn Vale. We serve up delicious meals and some fun live entertainment and there is an opportunity to visit an excellent wildlife centre. It is probably the cheapest river cruise holiday in Europe and one of the best short breaks in the UK.

We now have a Video Featurette for this Trip. Watch it here.

The Fun Starts Friday

Board the Edward Elgar Riverboat Hotel in Gloucester Docks on Friday at 6pm, unpack and enjoy dinner in the main saloon. We usually run a table quiz after dinner - a good opportunity to meet other passengers before you retire to your cosy cabin.

‘Very pleasant relaxing break. Good food and comfortable surroundings. Many Thanks’ – E & S, Alton

Sail on Saturday

On Saturday morning, our hotel boat cruises down the Gloucester & Sharpness Ship Canal. This is no ordinary narrow-boat canal – it was built to accommodate the huge Tall Ships of the early 19th Century. It was the largest ship canal in the world when it opened and it is still as wide in many places as the River Severn itself. There are also some beautiful views over the surrounding countryside. We moor up around lunch time near Slimbridge.

‘Gliding along through the very English countryside was good for the soul’ - Mrs P of Hampshire

Visit the Slimbridge Wildfowl Centre

After lunch, we taxi you to the famous Slimbridge WildFowl and Wetlands Centre where you may like to explore this briding centre founded by Sir Peter Scott. Later we cruise on to moor up near Sharpness for some fabulous views over the Severn Estuary to the Forest of Dean.

‘A unique bargain break, we will be back for more’

Enjoy an Evening of Dining and Live Entertainment

In the evening, we stage the Captain’s cocktail party, serve a delicious dinner and offer some fun live entertainment. If you are interested in the history of the Waterways, you may also like to take a walk to explore the nearby Purton Hulks.

‘What Luck, we found a super holiday with a super talented crew! It was great!’ – A & S

Take a Sunday Stroll

On Sunday morning we cruise to the quaint village of Frampton where you may take a short walk into the village to buy a Sunday newspaper. We serve Sunday lunch as you sail back to Gloucester, where we moor up around 1.30pm to complete a bargain cruise holiday and superb weekend break.

New for 2011: 3-night Midweek Break on the Big Canal

This is an extended version of our weekend break with one extra night PLUS inclusive guided tours of the Slimbridge Wildfowl Centre, Berkeley Castle and the Purton Hulks. Board in Gloucester at 1PM on Tuesday, return after lunch on Friday.