highlighting this much-loved English waterway's good and bad points in a helpful guide for canal boat holidaymakers of all ages and expertise.History of the Oxford Canal
Seventy-eight miles long, the Oxford Canal's outstanding natural beauty is a welcome surprise to many – in fact many people outside of the local area are unaware of its existence, often choosing more well-known waterways for their boating holidays. Originally the dream of celebrated English engineer James Brindley, it became a true family affair when brother-in-law Samuel Simcock took over the canal's construction after Brindley's death in 1772. Frequent financial problems meant when it finally opened on 1st January 1790, the project had taken twenty years to complete.
Initially intended for transporting trade, the Oxford Canal was an important link to London for traders shipping their wares south from the Midlands and was vital to the success of the Industrial Revolution in the south-east. Today it links to the River Thames via two connecting points, the original point located near Oxford city centre's mainline railway station and the second and most favored link just outside of the city boundaries near the hamlet of Godstow. The latter is known as the 'Duke's Cut' and is by far the easiest to navigate for beginners, the other being cut at a very sharp angle and therefore only advisable for skilled and experienced helmsmen.
The city of Oxford and beyond
The southernmost section of the Oxford Canal is largely unaltered by modern straightening measures and gently meanders through the rolling, picturesque Oxfordshire countryside with an average amount of locks of which the most famous (and most difficult) being the five Claydon Locks located north of the village of Cropredy. As you would expect, the warmer months can get busy, so novices should consider travelling at quieter times of the year. Nevertheless, the Oxfordshire scenery invites you to take your time and stop at whichever of the region's towns and villages catch your eye, regardless of weather or pace.
The city of Oxford itself is well worth a visit with so much to see and do that you would be well advised to allow at least a day to explore it properly; indeed, with a multitude of historical buildings, museums, art galleries, exhibitions, theatres, parks, shops, pubs, and clubs you could quite happily entertain yourself for much longer. The city's only drawback is its lack of permanent moorings, so make sure you plan ahead if you do intend to stay a while.
Just a few miles north from Oxford you will find the old village of Thrupp, a delightful picture postcard hamlet that's a great place to rest a while. Further on you will pass through many attractive towns and villages, each one offering something special including traditional public houses, historical buildings and modern masterpieces. Approximately thirty miles north of Oxford is the market town of Banbury, home to Tooley's Boatyard, the oldest continuous working dry dock in Britain and a must-see for canal devotees.
Whatever you like to do and however fast you choose to live, the advantage of the Oxford Canal is the large variety of rest stops it provides, from modern, bustling towns to sleepy hamlets you won't be disappointed and are bound to discover something new every time you go.
