LEE VALLEY BOAT CENTRE ROUTES

From our base in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire (5 miles from Junction 25 of the M25 off A10 on A1 170)

RIVERS LEE AND STORT - Short Break or Week

Lee Valley Boat Centre 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 - 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.) You will also have to listen to VHF radio that we provide for a small charge. 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 , Blissworth Tunnel, Banbury, Oxford and back down the Thames.

Usually we never suffer from water shortages, though, conversely we can suffer from too much rain and the River Stort can become unusable. The River Lee, however, usually copes with excess water. We are open all year round except November including Christmas and the New Year.

TVs are free but very much subject to availability. We offer a refund on a Thames (above Teddington) Licence for bookings of two weeks. The Boats are licensed for the Rivers Lee & Stort so if you wish to cruise on the canals we will refund the cost of the canal licence for bookings of a week or more.