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“Knowledge, the wing wherewith we fly to heaven” – King Henry VI, part II: IV, vii

Our relaxing sightseeing experience is the tranquil way to discover Shakespeare’s Avon. Bancroft Cruiser’s friendly onboard guides are renowned for bringing the past to life – engaging passengers of all ages with their encyclopaedic and unusual knowledge of local history.

What do guests think of our daily cruises? Check out our testimonials page.

Sightseeing Cruises last 45 minutes or one-hour and depart from the landing stage at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon.

On your river cruise you pass through Stratford’s two historic bridges, Clopton and Tramway, wend your way past the Royal Shakespeare Theatres down to Holy Trinity church where William Shakespeare is buried and then return upstream into the pretty Warwickshire countryside. On your cruise upstream you pass some very lovely riverside gardens and it’s very possible that you’ll spot our resident herons, buzzards and if you’re very lucky catch sight of kingfishers on the wing. We can guarantee you’ll definitely see Stratford’s swans!

On board The Rita Ellen you can enjoy hot and cold drinks, a tipple from the bar, or sample one of our  Bancroft Traditional Cream or Afternoon Teas. We get very busy in summer months so please visit the home page or call to check the  availability. We have customers booking exclusive cruises so the schedule may change.

If you would like to find out more about our sightseeing cruises, or book an exclusive cruise for a  group or club please contact us for details.

Cruises depend on weather & river conditions. Our website home page is updated regularly so check before you come. Please note that if the river is high cruises may be cancelled or the cruise route may change to upstream only – this is for your safety. The crew will advise before you board if the route has changed.

Family friendly cruise

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