Birmingham Return

The Midlands City Loop – A Waterway Journey Through History and Industry

Begin your adventure at our Stoke Prior narrowboat hire base, a peaceful starting point located in the Worcestershire countryside.

Worcester

From here, your journey winds down the Worcester & Birmingham Canal toward Worcester. You can moor close to the town and explore the city’s cobbled streets and Tudor buildings, and marvel at the imposing 12th-century cathedral.

River Severn cruising

Turning northward onto the River Severn, you’ll glide past quiet meadows and wooded banks, heading toward the junction at Stourport-on-Severn. Here, you join the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, that climbs its way towards Stourton.

You’ll pass some dramatic sandstone cuttings at this point, before before opening up near Kinver, a village known for its rock houses carved into the cliffside.

Wolverhampton & Dudley

From here, your route leads on to Wolverhampton, once a key player in the Midlands’ booming canal trade and onwards to Dudley. Stop here to visit the Black Country Living Museum, recently voted  Large Visitor Attraction of the Year by VisitEngland. Explore the underground mine and experience the authentic sights, sounds, smells and tastes from the past!

Birmingham

Once being at the heart of the Industrial Revolution, the city is now a vibrant hub of culture, cuisine and canal-side life. Moor up and explore the Gas Street Basin, visit a museum or two, or simply relax at one of the many canalside cafés.

Return Cruise

Your return route meanders back along the Stourbridge Canal to Stourton, where you’ll head south back towards Stourport. From here, you can choose whether to cruise south through historic Worcester, or take the quieter, more rural detour via the Droitwich canals.