From historical drama, to biography and romance, Cambridge and Ely have featured in many impressive films over the years. To celebrate this, Fox Narrowboats have put together a list of some of the best real movie locations that you can actually visit by narrowboat.

Maurice (1987)

In this romantic drama, a young man tries to come to terms with his sexuality, in the oppressive atmosphere of Edwardian society. The university scenes were filmed at Cambridge. Exterior shots are of Trinity College, at the Quad and under the Wren Library. The Gothic William IV Porter’s Lodge can be seen at King’s College, where the Latin grace was also filmed, in the Dining Hall.

The punt trip is on the River Cam at Clare Bridge, and the romantic scene between Maurice Hall (James Wilby) and Clive Durham (Hugh Grant) in the field is near Ely in Cambridgeshire. Wandering the magnificent colleges of Cambridge is just one film location you can include in your narrowboat itinerary.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

This movie stars Cate Blanchett when Elizabeth’s barge sails down the Thames, but it was actually filmed on the River Cam! In this historical drama a mature Queen Elizabeth endures multiple crises late in her reign including court intrigues, an assassination plot, the Spanish Armada, and romantic disappointments. You can travel down the River Cam yourself when you hire a Fox narrowboat.

The Other Boleyn Girl (2007)

In this story, Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) competes with her hitherto little-known sister Mary (Scarlett Johansson) for the affections of the young King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). The grand ceremonial areas of the palace are represented by Ely Cathedral. You can clearly see its elaborately carved spiral Organ Stairs. The cathedral was also seen as ‘Whitehall” in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and featured in the popular Netflix series The Crown.

The Kings Speech (2011)

Ely Cathedral stood in for Westminster Abbey in Colin Firth’s 2010 historical drama about King George VI. Founded in 673, the history and architecture of the cathedral will overwhelm you, making it a must-see if you’re narrowboating on the River Great Ouse.

The Theory of Everything (2014)

This dramatised biography follows the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife. Locations featured include St John’s College, the Kitchen Bridge, the River Cam, the Cambridge Bridge of Sighs, and several Cambridge streets.

For more films featuring Cambridge check out The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015), Chariots of Fire (1981) Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983) The History Boys (2006) and Sylvia (2003) (about the relationship between the poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.)

Why not chill out on a cosy Autumn evening with one of these movies, and picture yourself exploring these epic locations on a narrowboat holiday next year?

Our route guides to Ely and Cambridge will talk you through the boating journeys, showing highlights on the waterways and places to visit.

1 March to Ely – Approx 18 cruising hours return trip

2 Ely to Cambridge – Approx 5 hours narrowboat cruising each way

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The post 5 Real Movie Locations You Can Actually Visit by Narrowboat appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Credit: By Photos taken for William Winfield; uploaded by Kimberlyblaker –
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Visit Ely Cambridge and Peterborough for some incredible history

Was your summer too busy to take a break?

Are you waiting for term time, to get cheaper deals?

Want to find bargains by booking last minute?

Our September narrowboat holiday deals could be just what you’re looking for.

Sometimes life and work gets in the way. We get it. Suddenly it’s Autumn and you still haven’t booked a break away with your nearest and dearest. The good news is that now the school term has begun it’s a great time to pick up a last minute narrowboat holiday deal.

Our luxury narrowboats can be hired for weekend, midweek or week breaks as well as holidays up to 14 nights. We also have two boats for day hire which take up to 10 people.

Here are three things you can do this Autumn on a Fenlands narrowboat holiday.

1) Visit Ely

Visit Ely’s skyline-dominating cathedral with its origins traced back to AD 673. Discover its historical connection to William the Conqueror and check out the stunning architectural design. Then take a quirky tour, around the Stained Glass Museum, which has a fascinating collection of rescued stained glass windows stretching back 1,300 years. This Autumn they have a varied programme of lectures and workshops in painting, fusing, leading and copper foiling.

Oliver Cromwell’s House, near Ely, is a now a museum and offers a peek into the 17th century, with re-created period rooms and some fascinating exhibitions revolving around the Civil War. They also now host Escape Rooms, a fun, interactive and immersive puzzle activity designed around the heritage of the building.

2) Visit Cambridge

In Cambridge you can go on a punting tour and see famous landmarks like the Bridge of Sighs, all while relaxing and floating down the River Cam. Visit the university grounds by taking a walking tour seeing some of the 31 ancient colleges. When visiting churches and chapels don’t miss St Peter’s Chapel, the smallest church in Cambridge dating back to the 12th century. St Mary the Great is known as the university church and all distances in Cambridge are measured from its location. King’s College Chapel is a true masterpiece of English craftsmanship.

The Cambridge food tour is a walking tour introducing the visitor to pubs, fish-and-chip shops, delis and speciality shops. If you enjoy shopping you’ll find high street brands, local markets and bohemian boutiques in Cambridge.

3) Visit Peterborough

From the bustle of the huge shopping complex to the serenity of open fields and historic buildings Peterborough is well worth a visit. Ferry Meadows Country Park is a convenient place to moor the boat, with over 250 acres, a watersports centre, lakes for boating and sailing, and the nostalgic Nene Valley Railway. Explore Peterborough to enjoy history, wildlife, walking, cycling, eating, markets and shopping.

Whichever city you visit you will be travelling in style on one of our comfortable narrowboats. Before leaving our hire boat marina you will be fully trained as a narrowboat steerer and one of our instructors will explain how to operate the locks.

Day boat hire begins at £175 and you can search all of our special offers for longer breaks here: SPECIAL OFFERS. You can get up to 15% off when you book online, and prices include fuel, insurance and a damage waiver.

Hey! Are you new here? Subscribe on the right to receive more secrets of the undiscovered Fenland waterways, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

The post Why Boaters Like You Are Booking Last Minute Holidays appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.