North Yorkshire Tea Cruise: Sandwiches & Scones Afloat

Tea and pastries on the water instead of sitting still on shore

An afternoon tea cruise in North Yorkshire serves sandwiches, scones, desserts and drinks over a two-hour journey on the canal, with a fully licensed bar onboard and a live guide in English. The boat departs from a grade II listed ticket office dating to 1774, formerly a warehouse for canal goods, and passes through Snaygill, where the winding hole and surrounding landscape carry centuries of local history. Children must be accompanied by an adult; service animals are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Afternoon tea cruise experience

• Board the boat at historic ticket office
• Enjoy two-hour afternoon cruise
• Pass Snaygill winding hole and landmarks
• Relax with sandwiches, scones, desserts, and drinks

The Experience

You board at a historic wharf in North Yorkshire where the ticket office itself is one of the oldest canal-related buildings in the area, built in 1774 as a warehouse for goods transported by water. The two-hour cruise begins from this site, which still bears the marks of its past—the large cranes outside once loaded cargo onto boats, and the cobbled car park was formerly stables for the horses that towed the craft. A live guide in English narrates the journey, pointing out the landmarks and history as the boat moves through the water.

Afternoon tea arrives as the boat travels: sandwiches, scones, desserts and drinks are served onboard while you watch the canal pass. The route takes you past Snaygill, a former separate town now part of Skipton, where a winding hole sits directly opposite what is now the Craven Nursing Home—built on the site of Snaygill House, which started as a public house called the Copper Beeches. The guide explains that Snaygill appears in the Domesday Book, listed as land owned by William the Conqueror and formerly by the Earl Edwin. The fully licensed bar onboard means you can order additional drinks beyond what tea service includes; alcoholic drinks are available to purchase if you want them.

The pace is unhurried—two hours on the water, no rushing between stops, no walking required. This works well if you have a free afternoon and want to eat without leaving the boat, or if you're new to the area and want the canal's history woven into the meal itself rather than delivered as a separate tour.

What’s included

• Two-hour afternoon cruise.
• sandwiches, scones, desserts and drinks served onboard.
• fully licensed bar.
• live guide in English.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Skipton Boat Trips

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to eat a proper afternoon tea without leaving your seat, or if you're spending a free afternoon in North Yorkshire and prefer a single unhurried journey to hopping between stops on shore. The shared boat means you'll be with other travelers, and the guide's narration is built into the experience rather than optional.

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Top questions

What's included in the afternoon tea service on the cruise?

Sandwiches, scones, desserts and drinks are served onboard during the two-hour journey. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase separately if you want them beyond the standard service.

How long is the cruise and what does the route cover?

The cruise runs two hours and passes through Snaygill, where you'll see the winding hole and hear the guide explain the area's Domesday Book history and the sites along the canal.

Is there a guide on the boat, and what language do they speak?

A live guide in English narrates the journey, sharing the history of the landmarks and sites you pass, including details about the 1774 warehouse where you board and the former towns now part of Skipton.

Can children come on the afternoon tea cruise?

Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the cruise.

What is the ticket office building, and why is it historic?

The building now housing the ticket office dates to 1774 and is grade II listed; it was originally a warehouse for goods transported on the canal, and the cranes outside once loaded cargo onto boats heading out across the water.