Take a trip along the historic and picturesque Grand Union Canal & through Blisworth Tunnel in our hospitable narrowboat 'Indian Chief'. The purpose built trip boat was named after the last traditional narrowboat in the Woodward family's cargo carrying fleet.
See suggested trips for more information.
Throughout December: Depart from The Boat Inn for an 80 minute cruise through Blisworth Tunnel in our narrowboat 'Indian Chief' to Blisworth, where Santa will join the boat for the return journey, meet each child and give them a present.
Trips are available from half an hour (Blisworth Tunnel & Return) up to six hours long, including the Blisworth Tunnel experience. Light buffets and teas are also available by arrangement. See suggested trips for more information.
Dug over 200 years ago by the original 'navvies' (short for 'navigators'), the Grand Union Canal was the main commercial lifeline between London and the Midlands before the development of the railways.
At 2800 meters long (1¾ miles), Blisworth Tunnel is the longest continous open-bore canal tunnel in the UK. Construction was started in 1793 in order to link London to the industrial Midlands through a chain of navigable waterways. The tunnel has a harrowing history, with many tragic events as it was built. Even today, boat users report strange lights in the gloom and cries of workers lost during the construction.