Stoke Prior, Worcestershire Pre-Departure Information
Stoke Prior Hire Base
Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire B60 4LA
Base Contact: Leighton Jones
Tel: 0044 (0) 1527 575115
Email: holiday@black-prince.com
We look forward to welcoming you!
Thank you for your holiday booking to depart from our Stoke Prior hire base in Worcestershire, we look forward to welcoming you.
Below is some useful information to help you plan your holiday, including handy videos to watch, directions on how to find us, places to stay if you are arriving early, grocery shopping etc. There may also be things you need to pre-book, such as lock or tunnel access.
Please do not hesitate to call our team if there is anything you would like help with, on 0044 (0) 1527 575115.
Preparation & Planning
BOATERS HANDBOOK VIDEO
The best way to be prepared for your forthcoming trip is to read or watch watch the video on the Boaters Handbook, a guide to basic boat handling and safety by the Canal & River Trust. When you receive your handover tuition at the hire base you will be asked if you have watched/read this guide and be asked to sign handover documentation to confirm this.
Watch the Boaters Handbook Video.
It’s also good to get familiar with the operation of own narrowboats and you can do this by watching our Induction video on the link below.
Watch the Induction to a Black Prince Narrowboat Video
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
It’s good to have an idea of your planned route before you go, although please bear in mind that it’s good to be flexible due to the changing nature of the canals and rivers. See all the Route Options for Stoke Prior here. If you have any particular questions about the route, places to moor up and stay etc, you can contact the base directly on the contact phone / email shown above before your trip and the team will be able to help you.
How to Find Us
Public Transport
National Rail Enquiries:
www.nationalrail.co.uk Tel: 08457 484950
www.thetrainline.com Tel: 0871 244 1545
Nearest Airport: Birmingham International – www.birminghamairport.co.uk/ Tel. 0121 767 5511
If flying into Birmingham, get a train from the airport to Birmingham New Street station, and then get a train to Bromsgrove. It is then a short taxi ride to the base
Nearest Railway Station:Bromsgrove / Droitwich (a little further but with a taxi rank)
Taxi/Minicabs:
- The People Carriers Tel: 01527 578600 / www.thepeoplecarriers.com
- BNC Taxi Tel: 01527 871485 / www.bnctaxis.co.uk
- D Line Taxis Tel: 01527 337337 www.dlinetaxis.co.uk
Approximate prices: (Prices courtesy of BNC Taxis – subject to change)
Birmingham New Street to Stoke Prior: £40
Birmingham International Airport to Stoke Prior: £50
London Heathrow Airport / Manchester airport to Stoke Prior: £200
London Gatwick Airport / Stansted Airport to Stoke Prior: £240
Flying into London
From Heathrow airport, get the London underground tube to Euston station.
From Gatwick airport, get the Gatwick Express to London Victoria station, then get a London underground tube to London Euston.
From Stansted airport, get the London underground tube to London Euston.
From London Euston, there is a train to Birmingham New Street station. You can then get a train to Bromsgrove.
Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your route on the London Underground.
Flying into Birmingham
Get a train to Birmingham New Street station, and then get a train to Bromsgrove.
How to Find us by Car
M5: Exit at Junction 5 and take the A38 North towards Bromsgrove. After approximately 2 ½ miles, turn right at the traffic lights into Hanbury Road (B4091). After the railway bridge, the base is just past the Navigation Pub on the left before you get to the canal bridge.From the South: M40 motorway then M42 (West) onto M5 (South). Exit at Junction 5 and proceed as above.www.theaa.com/route-planner
Hotels/Guest Houses
Holiday Inn Express, Worcester Road, Worcester Road, Droitwich, WR9 7PA United Kingdom
The Vernon, Droitwich Road, Hanbury, Worcs. B60 4DB Tel. 01527 821236
When to Arrive at the Hire Base
Boats are available from 2.30pm and must be returned and vacated by 9.30am. If you arrive before 2.30pm, there is a pub called The Navigation next door to the hire base which is open for pub lunches etc.
Included in the Price of Your Holiday
Everything you need for your boating holiday is included, such as lifejackets (if required), windlasses, mooring ropes, life ring etc. Bedlinen, towels and a dish washing-up pack is also included.
You can find a full list of what’s included in the boat inventory here.
For a list of recommended items to bring with you, please click here.
Please note that fuel is not included in the price of your holiday. This will be charged for on your return to the hire base. The average per day cost, depending on how far you travel, is approximately £18-£20.
Groceries
There is a large Morrison’s supermarket near the base with a petrol station if you wish to shop before you arrive at the base. Alternatively you can pre-order a supermarket delivery to the base on the date of your departure.
Please note that the freezer compartment on board is no bigger than a shoe box so best to keep freezer items to a minimum and the door on the fridge will only take medium bottles of milk, not large bottles. The base will not have anywhere to keep your shopping refrigerated so bear this in mind when doing your shop and choosing a delivery slot. You do not need to order food for the whole of the holiday, there will be ample opportunity to buy food along the way and perhaps sample local produce and specialities.
Handy Links
See our Frequently Asked Questions
Watch the Induction to a Black Prince Narrowboat Video
Watch the Boaters Handbook Video
Plan your journey! See all the Route Options for Stoke Prior