Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday in The Midlands and Southern England
This is 147 miles along the United Kingdom’s longest canal from Birmingham to The Thames at Kew.
This is one of our Canal Walking Holidays and also one of our Southern England Walking Holidays.
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
in The Midlands and Southern England
from Birmingham to The Thames at Kew London
via Leamington Spa, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, Chilterns, Tring and Watford.
The Grand Union Canal Towpath walk is 147 miles long, starting in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham, passing through the beautiful rural countryside of Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and the Chilterns, and ending at the Thames Lock at Brentford.
The Grand Union Canal is the longest canal in the United Kingdom and the walk can be extended by walking on the Thames Path to the centre of London.
This walking holiday on the Grand Union Canal connects with:
- The Oxford Canal at Napton and Braunston
- The Ridgeway at Tring
- The Thames Path at Kew
We offer 6 suggested itineraries for walking the Grand Union Canal Towpath:
- Birmingham to Kew, 17 day walking holiday, 147 miles
- Birmingham to Stony Stratford, 10 day walking holiday, 79 miles
- Stony Stratford to Kew, 9 day walking holiday, 68 miles
- Birmingham to Kew, 11 day walking holiday, 147 miles
- Birmingham to Stony Stratford, 7 day walking holiday, 79 miles
- Stony Stratford to Kew, 6 day walking holiday, 68 miles
Please see details and prices below.
Our self-guided walking holidays are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind and can be tailor-made to your own personal requirements.
The routes are clearly way-marked to provide reassurance on your hiking vacation.
We use a selection of guest houses, inns or small hotels with en-suite or private bathroom to ensure you are well rested each night after a busy day hiking and sightseeing. Rest assured that all our accommodation walking holiday providers are hand-picked and offer you that famous British hospitality.
Special diets can be catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.
We organize the luggage transfer so your bags are at your next accommodation when you arrive. We try to get your bags delivered by 4pm, but this may be delayed due to road conditions.
Let’s Go Walking has developed one of the largest selection of walking holidays.
Our offices are staffed 9am to 9pm during our walking season (March to September) to ensure your walking holiday runs without a hitch.
All our walking holidays are self-guided and you must be a confident map reader and able to navigate from a compass bearing. The weather in the UK and Ireland can change quickly effecting visibility and underfoot conditions. It is important to carry a selection of clothing with you on your hike each day to cope with changing weather conditions. If you are not confident of completing any days walk, do not set out.
This walking holiday in the UK operates March to September and in either direction.
The daily distances are only a suggestion. If you would like to walk longer or shorter distances, we can arrange that too.
Our stated distances include mileage to the accommodation or pickup point and so may not agree with the guide book mileages.
Rest days can be taken in any location.
Why not combine this walk with a hiking tour in another part of the UK or Ireland. Our staff will be happy to advise on necessary transfers.
Online booking available.
A deposit of £85 per person is required to secure the booking, with the balance due 6 weeks before departure.
Optional extra days and accommodation upgrades can be added during the booking process online.
Please wait for the confirmation of your holiday before making final travel plans just in case your holiday is not available for your requested date.
Itineraries North to South
STANDARD PACED
These holidays can also walked in South to North direction.
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
(Standard Paced)
from Birmingham to Kew, London
17 day itinerary
15 days walking and 16 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Birmingham
Day 2: Birmingham Gas Street Basin to Acocks Green 8 miles
Day 3: Acocks Green to Apworth 12 miles
Day 4: Apworth to Leamington Spa 13 miles
Day 5: Leamington Spa to Napton 11 miles
Day 6: Napton to Daventry 8 miles
Day 7: Daventry to Weedon Bec 7 miles
Day 8: Weedon Bec to Blisworth 8 miles
Day 9: Blisworth to Stony Stratford 12 miles
Day 10: Stony Stratford to Milton Keynes Quay 8 miles
Day 11: Milton Keynes Quay to Leighton Buzzard 10 miles
Day 12: Leighton Buzzard to Tring 12 miles
Day 13: Tring to Kings Langley 12 miles
Day 14: Kings Langley to Denham 12 miles
Day 15: Denham to Hayes 7 miles
Day 16: Hayes to Brentford/Kew 7 miles
Optional Day: walking Kew to central London 14 miles
Day 17: Depart after breakfast
17 day itinerary 16 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £1,968 | £2,912 | £3,232 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £59 per person depending on location
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
Birmingham to Kew
Suggested Tour Duration:
16 nights, 15 days walking
Total Distance:
147 miles/235 kms
Min/max daily distance:
7/13 miles
Average Daily distance:
10 miles
Grading:
Easy
Features:
Gas Street Basin in Birmingham
Iron Trunk Aqueduct at Cosgrove
Hatton Flight of 21 locks
Royal Military Depot at Weedon Bec
Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne
Kew Gardens
Syon Park House and Gardens
This route connects with:
Oxford Canal Towpath
Shakespeares Way
The Ridgeway
Thames Path
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
(Standard Paced)
from Birmingham to Stony Stratford
10 day itinerary
8 days walking and 9 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Birmingham
Day 2: Birmingham Gas Street Basin to Acocks Green 8 miles
Day 3: Acocks Green to Apworth 12 miles
Day 4: Apworth to Leamington Spa 13 miles
Day 5: Leamington Spa to Napton 8 miles
Day 6: Napton to Daventry 11 miles
Day 7: Daventry to Weedon Bec 7 miles
Day 8: Weedon Bec to Blisworth 8 miles
Day 9: Blisworth to Stony Stratford 12 miles
Day 10: Depart after breakfast
10 day itinerary 9 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £1,170 | £1,701 | £1,881 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £59 per person depending on location
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
Birmingham to Stony Stratford
Suggested Tour Duration:
9 nights, 8 days walking
Total Distance:
79 miles/126 kms
Min/max daily distance:
7/13 miles
Average Daily distance:
10 miles
Grading:
Easy
Features:
Gas Street Basin in Birmingham
Iron Trunk Aqueduct at Cosgrove
Hatton Flight of 21 locks
Royal Military Depot at Weedon Bec
Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne
This route connects with:
Oxford Canal Towpath
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
(Standard Paced)
from Stony Stratford to Kew, London
9 day itinerary
7 days walking and 8 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Stony Stratford
Day 2: Stony Stratford to Milton Keynes Quay 8 miles
Day 3: Milton Keynes Quay to Leighton Buzzard 10 miles
Day 4: Leighton Buzzard to Tring 12 miles
Day 5: Tring to Kings Langley 12 miles
Day 6: Kings Langley to Denham 12 miles
Day 7: Denham to Hayes 7 miles
Day 8: Hayes to Brentford/Kew 7 miles
Optional Day:Kew to central London 14 miles
Day 9: Depart after breakfast
9 day itinerary 8 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £1,040 | £1,512 | £1,672 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £59 per person depending on location
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
Stony Stratford to Kew
Suggested Tour Duration:
8 nights, 7 days walking
Total Distance:
68 miles/109 kms
Min/max daily distance:
7/13 miles
Average Daily distance:
10 miles
Grading:
Easy
Features:
Kew Gardens
Syon Park House and Gardens
This route connects with:
Oxford Canal
Shakespeares Way
The Ridgeway
Thames Path
Itineraries North to South
MODERATE PACED
These holidays can also walked in South to North direction.
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
(Moderate Paced)
from Birmingham to Kew, London
11 day itinerary
9 days walking and 10 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Birmingham
Day 2: Birmingham Gas Street Basin to Knowle 16 miles
Day 3: Knowle to Leamington Spa 17 miles
Day 4: Leamington Spa to Braunston 16 miles
Day 5: Braunston to Blisworth 18 miles
Day 6: Blisworth to Stony Stratford 12 miles
Day 7: Stony Stratford to Leighton Buzzard 18 miles
Day 8: Leighton Buzzard to Berkhamsted 16 miles
Day 9: Berkhamsted to Harefield 18 miles
Day 10: Harefield to Kew 16 miles
Optional Day:Kew to central London 14 miles
Day 11: Depart after breakfast
11 day itinerary 10 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £1,300 | £1,890 | £2,090 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £59 per person depending on location
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
Birmingham to Kew
Suggested Tour Duration:
10 nights, 9 days walking
Total Distance:
147 miles/235 kms
Min/max daily distance:
12/18 miles
Average Daily distance:
16 miles
Grading:
Easy/Moderate
Features:
Gas Street Basin in Birmingham
Iron Trunk Aqueduct at Cosgrove
Hatton Flight of 21 locks
Royal Military Depot at Weedon Bec
Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne
Kew Gardens
Syon Park House and Gardens
This route connects with:
Oxford Canal Towpath
Shakespeares Way
The Ridgeway
Thames Path
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
(Moderate Paced)
from Birmingham to Stony Stratford
7 day itinerary
5 days walking and 6 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Birmingham
Day 2: Birmingham Gas Street Basin to Knowle 16 miles
Day 3: Knowle to Leamington Spa 17 miles
Day 4: Leamington Spa to Braunston 16 miles
Day 5: Braunston to Blisworth 18 miles
Day 6: Blisworth to Stony Stratford 12 miles
Day 7: Depart after breakfast
7 day itinerary 6 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £780 | £1,134 | £1,254 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £59 per person depending on location
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
Birmingham to Stony Stratford
Suggested Tour Duration:
6 nights, 5 days walking
Total Distance:
79 miles/126 kms
Min/max daily distance:
12/18 miles
Average Daily distance:
16 miles
Grading:
Moderate/Easy
Features:
Gas Street Basin in Birmingham
Iron Trunk Aqueduct at Cosgrove
Hatton Flight of 21 locks
Royal Military Depot at Weedon Bec
Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne
This route connects with:
Oxford Canal Towpath
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
(Moderate Paced)
from Stony Stratford to Kew, London
6 day itinerary
4 days walking and 5 nights
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive Stony Stratford
Day 2: Stony Stratford to Leighton Buzzard 18 miles
Day 3: Leighton Buzzard to Berkhamsted 16 miles
Day 4: Berkhamsted to Harefield 18 miles
Day 5: Harefield to Kew 16 miles
Optional Day: walking Kew to central London 14 miles
Day 6: Depart after breakfast
6 day itinerary 5 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2024 | £650 | £945 | £1,045 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £59 per person depending on location
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
Stony Stratford to Kew
Suggested Tour Duration:
5 nights, 4 days walking
Total Distance:
68 miles/109 kms
Min/max daily distance:
16/18 miles
Average Daily distance:
17 miles
Grading:
Moderate/Easy
Features:
Kew Gardens
Syon Park House and Gardens
This route connects with:
Shakespeares Way
The Ridgeway
Thames Path
Please note the Grand Union Canal Race will take place on Sat 25th May 2024.
This affects the availability of accommodation in Birmingham and your enjoyment of the canal towpath.
Therefore when booking your walking holiday on Grand Union Canal we suggest you avoid this date.
What’s included
in your Grand Union Canal walking holiday in The Midlands, Southern England
- accommodation at high quality guest houses, inns or small hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- room with en-suite or private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities
- daily luggage transfer
- support should there be any problems on route
- detailed itineraries
- 1:50,000 map
Optional Extras
for your Grand Union Canal walking holiday in The Midlands, Southern England
- upgrade to the region’s most elegant, prestigious and famous hotels, where available
- transfers back to car or station
- parking facilities
- rest days
- inn to inn walks
What’s not included
in your Grand Union Canal walking holiday in The Midlands, Southern England
- lunches and dinners
- travel insurance
Lunches and Dinners
These are not included.
Evening meals
These are available at overnight locations, either at your accommodation or in the town/village.
Packed lunches
These can be provided by your accommodation or can be obtained from a local store, or cafe or inn along the route.
Holiday Travel Insurance
We require that you take out holiday insurance as Let’s Go Biking Ltd accepts no liability for the following:
cancellation, personal accident, illness, loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money, and any unforeseen circumstances, especially travel delays.
This is in addition to our existing
booking conditions.
Grand Union Canal Walking Holiday
How to get there:
- By Plane to London, Luton or Birmingham where we can arrange transfer to the start of your walk
- By Car to Birmingham area or Stony Stratford where parking is available
- By Train/Bus to Birmingham or Stony Stratford
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Our telephone Lines are open 7 days a week.
UK +44 (0)1837 880075
or +44 (0)207 193 1252
March to September 9am to 9pm
October to February 9am to 5pm
US +1 (646) 233-1541
New York 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
AUS +61 (02) 8006 0182
Sydney 10 hours ahead of UK time:
March to September 7pm to 7am EADT
October to February 7pm to 3am EADT
CAN +1 (647) 4786251
Toronto 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
or
Our canal walking holidays in the UK include Grand Union Canal Towpath, Great Glen Way, John Muir Way, Kennet and Avon Canal Towpath, Leeds and Liverpool Canal Towpath and Oxford Canal Towpath.
This is one of our categories of walking holidays.
