If you’re looking for something to do this coming May Bank Holiday, why not take a walk down to Little Venice and Paddington Basin to experience the annual Inland Waterways Association May Bank Holiday Canal Boat Cavalcade? The boats will be moored between Blomfield Road, Warwick Avenue and Warwick Crescent, with entertainment stretching into Paddington Basin.
Each early May Bank Holiday, over 100 narrow boats from all over the country converge on Little Venice to create a truly unique spectacle. The event takes place over the whole weekend, this year it will be from the 4th-6th May and will showcase canal boat living to its full, with a wonderful array of floating colour and entertainment.
For 2024, ‘Fund Britain’s Waterways’ is the theme and there’s a lot to see. Along with the boats themselves, you’ll find stalls selling unique items, a real ale bar and a fantastic selection of street food stalls for a quick snack. Other features are the eclectic live music, Morris Dancers and plenty of children’s entertainment. This year, for the first time, there will be a special illuminated boat parade between 9 pm and 10.30 pm on Sunday.
Opening times for the May Bank Holiday Canal Boat Cavalcade will be 10am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday and 10am-5pm on Monday. You can find out more on the Inland Waterways Website.
If you’d like to find out more about the history of Little Venice, take a look at our post here.
Photo credits – steve_w via creative commons, garryknight via creative commons and Inland Waterways Association
