Boating in Manchester

“Such a cute place to stop for a rest and get a great iced latte! The cake is pre prepared, I’ve had a few different ones and some have been fresh and great, the others have been a little on the stale side, but still enjoyable. The bacon rolls are yummy!”

“I had such a lovely breakfast experience here. I pre ordered and booked the day before for a late morning vegetarian breakfast. The owner was very quick to respond to my social media messages and happily made adjustments to my order. Food was delicious and service was very quick. Condiments were offered and a toilet is available inside. Seating available outside during good weather. Takeaway orders are taken. The boat was warm, cosy and full of character. The owner was really friendly and asked us questions about ourselves and built up a good rapport. Will definitely return”

“From placing the order with a lovely lady on the phone to collecting our delicious Chinese, this is one of the best Chinese meals we've ever had. The prices were amazing, the taste was incredible (we had 2 Dim Sum platters, a chow mein and a special fried rice, all for just £26.60) So excited to have a new fave takeaway!”

“A perfect way to beat the heat on a warm summer’s day! The cruise was excellent, with an engaging, well-spoken guide who shared plenty of interesting facts. The crew were warm and helpful, and the boarding point—right under the Millennium Footbridge by The Lowry Theatre—was clearly signposted. Great value for money, offering a chance to explore hidden corners of Manchester and Salford you wouldn’t normally see, including MediaCity, The Lowry, the Imperial War Museum North, Old Trafford, and the historic Manchester Ship Canal. Absolutely worth it!”

“Impressed with the layout & especially the interactivity for children. Although this is a great piece of history. It is also a great day out with river walks, canal walks, boat rides countryside & woodland walks. Large carpark. Easy access even for a motorhome (well upto 7m any way) sadly no overnight parking to extend your stay to enjoy the nearby pubs. Definitely worth a visit and next time we'll bring the grandkids.”

“Canal side pub with good choice of drinks and pub-style food. Staff are very welcoming & friendly, they were very quick with food service, really good to be given such individual service. Food was presented nicely, arrived hot and was tasty - burger with blue cheese & mushrooms was really good. My sister had the steak pie & mash which she said was full of lean tender beef. Her only criticism was the gravy tasted a little like ‘bisto’, if it had been made from the pie filling juices then that would have been more to her taste. Difficult to fault this place, £34 for the meal and drinks for two. Give it a try!”

“Great little pub. Appears to be run independently (ignore the Greene King sign), food excellent, fair choice of drinks, easy to park, children's play area, outdoor seating, cabin seating. Staff superb!!”

“Well worth £10 to enjoy a sunny* boat trip to Media City and back, with interesting commentary. *Sun not guaranteed”

“Just Completed the Powerboat level two course and i can highly recommend trafford water sports centre! Chris our instructor was friendly, knowledgeable and very good at teaching and explaining the course. There was a good balance of theory and practical that it made it a really enjoyable experience! I would happily recommend this course to everyone! You won't be disappointed! A++”

“Had a lovely stay including dinner and breakfast. Food was great, we had the roast dinner which was fantastic value for money at £13.95 a head. Breakfast had a good selection of hot food at the buffet. My only, very personal, preference would have been to have more egg options as I didn’t fancy the scrambled eggs and there wasn’t any other option but the rest was delicious and plentiful. Lastly, but definitely not least were the friendly, helpful staff who really made us feel welcome and valued. Highly recommend the Boat & Horses hotel too as the rooms are big, well appointed and the beds really, really comfy. Well worth a stop off.”

“We have been coming here on and off over many years. We love the rustic and homely feel of the place. The food is always amazing and the views are on par. This is a dog friendly pub which we also love, it's nice to see a venue that caters for dog owners because with the great walking trail that surrounds the pub it's easy to be able to nip in and have a drink without the worry of having your pet with you.”

“Very unique and beautiful city. Shame that we only had a limited time to explore this place. Still worth having a bus Sightseeing tour.”

“Can't put my fork down long enough to not type and eat at the same time. I thought I'd tasted all there was to taste. I go out to eat a lot and this is the best food in Salford.”

“My little boy absolutely loves going to nursery. He wasn’t saying any words at all before starting here and and now he’s saying a lot of words. The staff are amazing and are really helpful. Would highly recommend”

“I’m a DJ currently on tour around the UK and stopped by Slow Boat for a quick bite and honestly, it was one of the best takeaway meals I’ve had on the road. The food was amazing, packed with flavour and cooked perfectly. The salt and pepper chips and salt and pepper chicken were absolutely top-tier, crispy, well-seasoned, and full of that classic wok-fried flavour. The staff were so polite and helpful, making the whole experience even better. You can tell they really care about their customers. Great portion sizes, fair prices, and everything came out fresh and hot. Highly recommend Slow Boat if you’re anywhere nearby, proper comfort food and great service all around. I’ll definitely be back next time I’m in town! ~ DJ JXYK”

“Had a wonderful experience. My kids enjoyed ride. Well maintained boats. Kids and pets friendly.”

“Really great service and price, boat was lovely”

“Had a lovely, relaxing trip on the Judith Mary Canal boat today, from Whaley Bridge travelling along the High Peak Canal,which was very enjoyable.The Atmosphere aboard the boat was great, it was decorated out for Christmas, the staff were all very friendly and helpful, working very hard to make sure everyone was happy. We had a Christmas meal, which consisted of a Turkey batch, roast potatoes, pig in blanket and a stuffing ball, served with gravy and cranberry sauce, followed by a very tasty warm mince pie and fresh thick double cream.(included in price) You can have an alternative menu for dietary requirements arranged when booking. There is a well stocked bar on the barge, serving beers, lagers, cider,wines, and spirits, with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, mulled wine, and speciality coffees, all at reasonable prices. There are toilets on board, which are clean. The trip lasts roughly 2 hours, but to be honest, time went so quickly. hardly noticed . Trip turns around at some point during the cruise, so you end back up at Whaley Bridge.”

“I started from Lock 54 the Ship Inn at Stakehill Industrial estate,Middleton towards Rochdale.Me and my dog went for a walk along the canal towards the allotments and then towards Hopwood College which leads to the Hopwood Woods.There is 2 pubs,petrol station and a car park if you didn't park at the pub,just before the petrol station there is a small bumpy car park, NO FEES”

“Always fun! Staff are always amazing. Young people got to canoe, paddle board and donut! They absolutely loved it!”

“Had my peugeot van in for some warranty work with Eddie and the lads, super quick turnaround and my van feels like new again. To top it off all the work carried out came with 12 months warranty. Really cant fault this place. Well done Eddie and the team for your help and honest advice and quick quality fix.”

“Great venue for gigs. Reminds me of a mini Manchester academy. Will definitely watch more bands here. Beer prices 4.70”

“Diggle lock is a must visit in the Oldham/saddleworth area I’ve been lots of times it’s always great and the staff a super friendly. My favourite at the moment is the steak and eggs with halloumi on the side. The peach ice tea is a must try also!”

“If you like lake or that kind of water body, This place is a beauty. So serene. We picked some wild blackberries too.”

“Such a beautiful and well kept park that we went before and after the pub lunch! Well worth the drive from Manchester City centre. The dog loves it and so does the grown up child who loved a quick go on the swings!”

“Nice area for walk, picnic, and get together. Views are awesome, 3 tracks for walk, including one middle of the lake. One side lake and one side river. Nice view of mountains and forest from parking side of lake. Lot of sitting places. Parking available 0.9 £ per hour, need cash or through App. Need some maintenance and cleaning.”

“Friendly, quick service with a smile. Good cup of coffee. Had the coffee sat outside overlooking the lake. Very relaxing. Well worth checking out the café and park.”

“Excellent play area. And the kids like it too. Good parking, good activities for all ages, especially the BIG slide.”

“Wythenshawe Park and Gardens is one of the best green spaces in South Manchester, offering a mix of open fields, formal gardens, woodland walks, and family-friendly facilities. The park is well kept, with plenty of benches, flat paths for walking or cycling, and a relaxed atmosphere. The community farm and horticultural centre add extra interest, especially for younger visitors. There’s also a good café near the courtyard area, ideal for a quick lunch or coffee. It can get busy during events and weekends, but there's usually space to find a quiet corner. A reliable choice for a free day out with plenty to explore.”

“Excellent, swift and efficient service. From the moment I put my claim in over a ruined pramgood cover on my boat, caused by the severed storms Alix was fantastic, he handled everything from start to finish and we couldn’t be more impressed! We’ve recently renewed again with GJW we were so impressed and would highly recommend to anyone else! Thank you again Alix.”