Europe
United Kingdom (UK)
England
Lancashire
Lancaster District
Lancaster
Things to do in Lancaster
Kingfisher Cruises
See all things to do

Kingfisher Cruises

See all things to do
See all things to do
Kingfisher Cruises
4
#2 of 3 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Lancaster
Boat Tours
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 10:30 PM
Write a review
Full view
About
Kingfisher Cruises is a fun, unique, multi-award-winning business. We go the extra mile for every one of our guests! We operate a range of canal cruises from Barton Grange Marina and Lancaster City Centre. Our main season is May to September but we run special cruises all year round. Our cruises offer a unique and different experience for all ages to enjoy. Enjoy a leisurely cruise along a scenic stretch of canal or take a sailing directly over the spectacular Lune Aqueduct. Even better, why not enjoy delicious food served to your table whilst you cruise, on one of our cream tea, afternoon tea, fish and chip or cheese and wine specials? There is a real mix of cruises available, during daytimes and evenings. Our Mamma Mia Abba-themed cruises with live singers and fish and chips have become legendary. Check our website to see seasonal specials including a range of Christmas cruises with Santa, Princess Elsa, or a Magician. Hire Kingfisher privately for your own special celebration!
Lancaster, Lancashire, England
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Similar Experiences

Kingfisher Cruises
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show options
Travellers talk about
“”
(17 reviews)
“”
(8 reviews)
“”
(3 reviews)
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
89 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
18
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
16
Jane Harper
7 contributions
Afternoon tea cruise
Sep 2023 • Friends
We had a wonderful experience on Saturday on an afternoon tea cruise. The staff were brilliant and served a delicious afternoon tea. The scenery was spectacular. A good time was had by all. Thank you so much. 🤗
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janice H
1 contribution
Lovely Treat
Apr 2023
Was treated by my daughters to a lovely afternoon tea on board the Kingfisher, food was delicious and fresh, lovely peaceful sail, really enjoyable, going again next month for the ABBA evening cruise.
Written 16 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FarnazUlett
Fence, UK5 contributions
Snow Queen cruise
Dec 2022 • Family
Booked Snow Queen cruise months ago. Children were so excited. Unfortunately it was raining and we arrived 15 mins early .. told to wait outside with three kids so absolutely soaked.
As we sat down the Elf announced the water is frozen so they are remaining stationary?!? If we were informed of this earlier, honestly would not have bothered turning up. We were offered opportunity to come back in the summer but will not be bothering.
Santa sounded like he had too many sherry’s ! The hot chocolate was awful and generally a waste of an afternoon. Such an unfortunate experience! The only positive was the Snow Queen was amazing, such a shame her team let her down.
Written 18 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
janegartside
Manchester, UK152 contributions
nothing to see here …
Oct 2022 • Couples
Pity the cruise itself didn’t really show much , nothing exciting to see , no landmark buildings or anything , just a few cows and ducks . It was comfortable and the fish and chip lunch was really nice . We were on the boat about an hour and 3/4 . Lady called Amy serving drinks and food was really friendly . It leaves from right inside Barton Grange garden centre . Wouldn’t bother again as nothing to see ….
Written 29 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RecliningBuddah
Bolton, UK208 contributions
Mama Mia/ABBA Cruise - great fun had by all!
Sep 2022
Booked on the Mama Mia/ABBA cruise with teenager and friends.

It was a great evening: set off at 7pm, so it was still light - music playing in the background which we could sing to or not too intrusive so we could have a chat.

About 45 mins in the chippy tea was delivered, in take away boxes, really delicious! We had a mix of fish/chips, sausage/chips and cheese pie/chips - what's not to like?!

Drinks can be purchased from the bar and very reasonable prices.

Then the singer came on and sang ABBA songs for around an hour - everyone was singing, some were dancing in the aisles and there's a little dance floor too or you can sit at the prow, or dance on the prow too, so got a nice cool breeze. To manage expectations, it's not a tribute act (I think as the picture advertising it suggests), it's one singer with backing music. This didn't matter to us, but may to some. We were there to have fun and a sing along (we didn't care that 4 people weren't singing in gold spandex! And to be fair, that would drive the price up sky high!).

All the staff were lovely - really friendly and genuinely nice ladies.

All in all, it was a great 3 hours - something a bit different to do on a Saturday night, really nice atmosphere on the barge with the other guests, and both young and old had fun!

Definitely recommend and would do another barge trip in the future.
Written 3 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anne s
Morecambe, UK10 contributions
Enjoyable cruise
Jul 2022 • Couples
We really enjoyed our afternoon tea cruise, our only disappointment was getting the afternoon tea in a box, as I had assumed it would have been on the tiered plates as I know have been done previously. As this was a present for our wedding anniversary that was the only negative.
Written 21 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mo M
I am so sorry for your disappointment with the Afternoon Tea Cruise. I reached out to our Operations Manager and this is her response. The afternoon tea comes on a tier normally, however that particular day was the day it was roasting on the boat due to our heatwave. It was the second cruise, and as Newfields send them to us boxed per person I decided for the health and safety of my crew (John had felt unwell due to the heat at one stage) it would take too long to set up and leave the passengers standing on the side waiting whilst we faffed about aboard. So we served them as they came, I have spoken to barry about it as I completely take it as my responsibility that we got that review. But I had to think of the fact the boat was an oven. There's also the added fact that had we served it on the tiers, it would have all melted and turned crispy before we even boarded the passengers. Again we are sorry for your disappointment but do hope you will consider joining us again in the future on Kingfisher
Written 4 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bartonian
Lancashire18 contributions
Absolute Perfection
Jul 2022
I hired the boat for sole use as a venue to treat my family and friends to join me to celebrate my 80th Birthday. Booking was easy, staff and service on board was exccellent. I had ordered afternoon tea to be served and this was delicious and well presented on tiered plates. I have been on several cruises with this company and others and know how very relaxing and enjoyable this can be. There were 32 of us on board and it was totally perfect. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE Absolutely loved it. Many who had never cruised the canal before were very keen to do it again and soon. Many of my guests didn't know anyone else, not even some of my family but conversation began immediately we got on board and never stopped. We all got the chance to go outside fore and aft, though many were more than content to just sit back and enjoy the tranquility, I cannot recommend the Kingfisher enough. Absolutely the perfect venue for a special occasion and of course you can just book individuals onto one of the special cruises as well, If you don't want to share space with people you don'tt know, I suggest you book groups of 4 as each table serves 4 and let the company know that's how you would like to be seated. However you do do it, I am sure you will LOVE it, as much as my guests and I did.
Written 14 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mo M
Thank you so very much for such a wonderful review. Please excuse the delay in responding but we have had trouble with our Tripadvisor login.
Written 4 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nigel T
Rossendale, UK690 contributions
Fishy dinner
Jul 2022 • Friends
An excellent evening trip along the canal with a fish and chip supper. Easy access onto the boat. Fish and chips were brought on board, delicious and nice and hot. On the return leg there was a general and musical quiz and despite getting only 22 points out of a possible 60 it was most enjoyable.
Written 11 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mo M
So sorry for the late response we have had trouble with our Tripadvisor login. Thank you for taking the time to send such a positive review despite your poor quiz performance lol We look forward to cruising with you again soon😃
Written 4 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anne J
Prescot, England, United Kingdom178 contributions
Don't assume that you will sit together if you go as a group of three
Jun 2022
I booked the Abba cruise from Barton Grange for myself and my two daughters, one of whom was visiting from Scotland for the first time since 2019. I was expecting a pleasant outing in each other's company but because of the seats that we were allocated I spent the two and a half hour trip with three ladies who I had never met before while my daughters were seated at a table on the other side of the central aisle. To add insult to injury we were at the back of the boat facing the toilets and had our backs to the entertainment which was at the far end of the boat so we could not hear the singer. The crew did apologise that we weren't together and we were given a couple of complimentary drinks by way of compensation. The ladies I was sitting with were nice and there was nothing to be done but make the most of it or it might have put a dampener on their evening too so I spent the cruise putting on an act when really I just wanted to go home where I could spend some valuable time with my daughters. While I realise that a group of three might be difficult to fit in I suggest that it would be a good idea to at least give that size group the benefit of seats nearer to and facing the entertainment and yes I did see in the small print that it says you might end up with a stranger sitting at your table, I just hadn't realised in my ignorance that there was a chance that I would be that stranger at someone else's table. On the plus side the crew were friendly and the fish and chips were nice but the disappointment at not sitting together coloured the whole experience. I generally do not like to give a negative review but on this occasion I felt it needs to be said so at least others travelling in groups of three can take into consideration that one of their party may be sitting with strangers for the evening. I think that if we had been seated together it would have been an enjoyable evening but as we were sitting separately that is not possible to say.
Written 11 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mo M
Sorry for the delayed response. We have had some issues with our Tripadvisor login. It is a shame you were unable to sit together. I spoke with our MD who actually was on the cruise with you and was aware of the situation and apologized. We do try to let everyone know of our seating arrangements on Kingfisher and on our booking page, it states Please note: Seating on Kingfisher is arranged by tables of 4. On busy cruises, if your party is less or more than 4 you may be seated with other passengers. Again we are sorry this caused you to not enjoy the cruise. It is one of our most popular cruises with many of our customers returning year after year.
Written 4 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gaskies
Preston, UK52 contributions
Fantastic family celebration 🍾
Mar 2022 • Family
We hired the canal boat to celebrate a significant family event. We had a wide spread of ages from 4 years to 92. Usually we go to a restaurant but decided to do something different. The evening cruise was excellent. The crew were very friendly and attentive and provided a great buffet. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We would definitely recommend private hire for a unique way to celebrate.
Written 29 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mo M
Sorry for the delayed response we have had some trouble with our Tripadvisor login. Thanks for such a positive review and your recommendation for others to enjoy our private hire and unique way to celebrate special occasions. We look forward to cruising with you again soon
Written 4 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 89

KINGFISHER CRUISES (Lancaster) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go