Coventry Canal Basin

The canal basin in Coventry sits right in the city centre, a proper working waterway that's far more interesting than you'd expect from an old industrial town. Narrowboats bob alongside Victorian warehouses that have been converted into cafes and galleries, and the whole thing feels genuinely alive rather than museum-fied.

You can walk the towpath for miles in either direction - the stretch towards Bedworth is particularly pleasant, with locks to watch and weeping willows drooping into the water. On a decent day, this is exactly where you want to be with a coffee or a pint rather than tramping round another shopping centre. Kids will get a kick out of spotting the boat names and watching the locks work, though it's not a full-day attraction unless you're combining it with the city's other draws like the cathedral or the transport museum.

It's free to wander about, and admission to anything depends entirely on where you fancy stopping. Allow a couple of hours minimum for a proper mooch along the water. The basin itself is compact - you could cover it in thirty minutes if you're rushing - but the real appeal is settling in for a longer walk.

Stay at Hollyfast Caravan Park three miles out and you're close enough to pop in without the hassle of city centre parking. Avon Wild Camping, just four and a half miles away, works brilliantly if you want something lower-key. From either base, the canal makes for a genuine escape from the built-up bits of Coventry.