Tardbigge to Lapworth

Journey Overview

This is a fabulous, meandering canal boat, lock-free cruise through beautiful countryside. Starting in the blissful retreat of Tardebigge, the boat makes its way along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal deep into the Forest of Arden and onwards to Kings Norton Junction. Through three tunnels the boat ventures through and it really is an enchanted adventure, almost story-tale style!

The banks of the canal are willow-fringed, with stone bridges and sedate tow paths – there’s an unhurried rhythm as open countryside intersperses with tree-lined mystique as the boat explores the heart of classic Warwickshire, Shakespearian countryside.

It’s soon a slick transfer onto the famous Stratford Canal to moorings in Lapworth, before a lovely sojourn back to Tardebigge, but first taking in to delightful and iconic Yew Garden at the Tudor Packwood House which is just a short walk away – a real gem on a trip of terrific treats and delights.

A Fab Trip!

It’s an amazing trip and a long but enthralling one, so you may wish to moor the boat overnight in Lapworth and explore before making the 7 hour return the following day.

Before getting on a boat at Tardebigge, it’s worth spending time exploring one of the most striking canal locations in the country. Tardebigge is best known for the Tardebigge Lock Flight, the longest continuous flight of locks in the UK. Watching boats work their way through the locks is quietly absorbing and gives a real sense of the physical effort and engineering behind canal travel. The towpath here is ideal for a short walk, with views across open countryside and plenty of chances to spot swans, ducks, and canal-side wildlife. At the top of the locks, Tardebigge Top Lock Cafe is a popular and welcoming stop. It serves hot drinks, homemade cakes, and simple lunches, and its outdoor seating makes it a perfect place to pause and watch boats preparing for their journey. Maybe pay a visit to the delightful 18th Century, Tardebigge St Bartholomew’s Church which is hugely photogenic!

Your narrow boat awaits for an incredible adventure, that climaxes in Lapworth. Moor-up the boat, have an overnight sleep perhaps and explore, a short walk away, Packwood House which offers a very different experience. The house is an Arts and Crafts-style country home, known for its carefully curated interiors and characterful atmosphere rather than grand scale. Inside, you’ll find richly coloured rooms, historic furnishings, and collections gathered by its former owner, Graham Baron Ash. Outside, the gardens are the main attraction. The iconic yew garden, with its dramatic clipped shapes, feels almost theatrical, while the surrounding orchards, meadows, and woodland paths provide peaceful walks with wide views across the Warwickshire countryside. So too, a visit to the atmospheric 13th Century, Baddesley Clinton Manor House, which is a 15 minute walk from Lapworth is highly recommended!

At Lapworth the canal landscape becomes more intricate. Lapworth is a key junction where several canals meet, making it an interesting place to watch boats navigating lock flights and tight bends. Towpath walks here pass traditional cottages, bridges, and quiet rural scenery. The village itself feels calm and settled, offering a gentle, scenic stretch that neatly rounds off a canal journey through this part of the Midlands. There’s an opportunity, if you want to make a longer trip of it and another overnight stay or more, to pay a visit down the Canal to Stratford and enjoy all the treats of this famous Shakespearian town.  Explore the timbered streets, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, and Holy Trinity Church. Stroll the River Avon, watch swans from Bancroft Gardens, or take a boat trip. Enjoy theatres, independent shops, historic pubs, and riverside walks that blend literary heritage with relaxed market-town charm year-round. Festivals, museums, and seasonal performances animate the town.