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Kings Bromley Marina to Shakespeare Marina by narrowboat

It is 128 miles and 61 locks from Kings Bromley Marina to Shakespeare Marina, about 51 hours 50 minutes of cruising, comfortably done in 9 days at 6 hours a day. The route is checked against live closure notices from the Canal & River Trust and the other navigation authorities, and is currently planned around the 11 active stoppages on its waterways (last checked 28 Aug 2026).

128 miles

61 locks

51 h 50 min cruising

9 days at 6 h/day

Recalculated 6 Aug 2026 against live closures.

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Kings Bromley Marina sits on a quiet stretch of the Trent & Mersey Canal just north of Fradley Junction, where the Midlands network fans out in every direction. The journey south to Shakespeare Marina finishes within walking distance of Stratford-upon-Avon’s theatres, Tudor streets and the church where Shakespeare is buried. More than one line of canals links the two, so the plan below always follows the water that is actually open, working around any live stoppages on the way.

The route in words

Waterways on this route, in order:

Dunsley Tunnel (tunnel, 45.35 miles in)
Cookley Tunnel (tunnel, 49.52 miles in)
Penkridge flight (lock flight, 3 locks)
Four Ashes flight (lock flight, 4 locks)
Bratch Locks (lock flight, 3 locks)
Bratch Locks (lock flight, 5 locks)
Stourport Staircase (lower) (staircase locks)

Junctions along the way: Great Haywood Junction, Hatherton Junction, Autherley Junction.

The route works 2 movable (swing or lift) bridges.

Day by day

Day 1

17.93 mi 4 locks 6 h 0 min arrive ~14:00

Overnight: Marina
Day 2

13.12 mi 10 locks 6 h 0 min arrive ~14:00

Overnight: Wolverhampton Boat Club
Day 3

10.49 mi 12 locks 6 h 0 min arrive ~14:00

Overnight: Ashwood Marina
Day 4

11.35 mi 11 locks 6 h 0 min arrive ~14:00
Day 5

13.99 mi 7 locks 6 h 0 min arrive ~14:00

Overnight: Mooring
Day 6

19.61 mi 1 lock 5 h 51 min arrive ~13:51

Overnight: Mooring
Day 7

16.61 mi 5 locks 6 h 0 min arrive ~14:00

Overnight: Wyre Marina
Day 8

15.75 mi 6 locks 6 h 0 min arrive ~14:00

Overnight: Marina
Day 9

9.65 mi 5 locks 4 h 0 min arrive ~12:00

Live closures on this route

Most planners list stoppages and leave you to plot around them. Canal Nav checks every live notice and plans this route around anything blocking - automatically, each time it is recalculated.

20 live notices on this route's waterways (last checked 28 Aug 2026, 06:29). The live map routes around anything blocking.

Restriction 2027-02-15 – 2027-03-12

Bridge 57 and 15m either side, Handsacre
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Closure 2027-01-04 – 2027-03-12

Peirpoints lock 55 Hassall Green
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Closure 2027-01-04 – 2027-03-12

Bridge 70, Wolseley Bridge
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Closure 2027-01-04 – 2027-03-12

Lock 51 Rode Heath
Read the notice →
Closure 2027-01-04 – 2027-03-12

Wychnor Lock 11
Read the notice →
Closure 2027-01-04 – 2027-01-22

Lock 11, Wolverhampton
Read the notice →
Closure 2027-01-04 – 2027-02-19

Lock 17, Junction Lock
Read the notice →
Closure 2027-01-04 – 2027-03-12

Autherley Junction Stop Lock , Wolverhampton
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Advice 2026-11-29

9 Locks Autumn 10k - Between Round Oak Bridge, 1, and The Moorings Tavern Pub, Stourbridge Bonded Warehouse
Read the notice →
Closure 2026-11-02 – 2026-12-18

Lock 1, Stourbridge, Top lock
Read the notice →
Closure 2026-11-02 – 2026-12-18

Lock 5, Stourbridge
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Closure 2026-11-02 – 2026-12-18

Stourton Lock 4 (Bottom Lock)
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Advice 2026-10-17

Bridges 24 to 72, Shropshire/Staffordshire border
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Advice 2026-10-03

The event will use a section of the river between Worcester Footbridge and Bevere Lock.
Read the notice →
Advice 2026-09-16

Railway Bridge 13A, Swarkestone
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Advice 2026-09-13

Bridge 23 to Lock 6 on the River Severn Navigation and Bridge 2 to Lock 1 on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal
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Advice 2026-09-12 – 2026-09-13

Bridges 24 to 72, Shropshire/Staffordshire border
Read the notice →
Advice 2026-09-12

The event will use a section of the river between Worcester Footbridge and The Wheatsheaf Pub.
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Advice 2026-08-31 – 2026-09-18

Bridge 123 Newport Lane Bridge, Middleport
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Closure 2026-08-27

Between Vines Park Barge Lock and Lock 6, Droitwich
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Coming back the other way

The return from Shakespeare Marina to Kings Bromley Marina covers the same water, the same 128 miles and 61 locks, again over about 9 days - only the overnight moorings shift.

Reverse day-by-day plan

Day 1: 14 mi, 8 locks - overnight Mooring
Day 2: 16.6 mi, 5 locks - overnight Pershore Marina & Boatyard
Day 3: 18.3 mi, 3 locks - overnight Mooring
Day 4: 18.37 mi, 3 locks - overnight Mooring
Day 5: 12.25 mi, 10 locks - overnight Whittington Lock Visitor Moorings
Day 6: 10.5 mi, 11 locks - overnight Mooring
Day 7: 14.86 mi, 7 locks - overnight Marina
Day 8: 11.81 mi, 12 locks - overnight Mooring
Day 9: 11.81 mi, 2 locks

Plan the return on the live map

Start and finish