Educational Media Reviews Online

To travel through England by boat is perhaps not the first means that comes to mind, but after watching the beautiful scenery from such a vantage point, it seems the most logical way of all to see the sights of this country. The pace is leisurely and oftentimes brings the passengers very close to historic ruins, breathtaking landscapes, and interesting towns and villages, all without even leaving the boat. David Suchet, renowned for his portrayal of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot on the PBS series Mystery is the perfect host to guide the viewer through the English countryside. The rivers traveled include the River Severn, River Avon, Stratford-on-Avon Canal, Grand Union Canal, and Oxford Canal to the final destination of the River Thames. Among the places visited are Worcester, Tewksbury Abbey, Evesham, the Royal Shakespeare Theater, Holy Trinity Church, Banbury Cross (of nursery rhyme fame), a windmill, and the famous town of Oxford itself. Along the trip, interesting episodes from England's historic past are related while pointing out the correlating buildings, ruins and sites that accompany the events. As the boat passes places where unusual accidents and mishaps have occurred, these events are shared with the viewer. Buildings of historic importance are proudly highlighted, as well as the places to visit in each of the towns passed--pubs, inns, shops, and churches.

Included in this travelogue are fascinating facts about the canals themselves, such as the types of locks used (some have been the same type for 250 years), and special features of some of the bridges, such as the wood lift up type at Oxford. At the end of the trip, the viewer sees rowers training along the river at Oxford. England's waterways are of obvious importance to the locals, but to anyone visiting a more breathtaking experience cannot be imagined.

For anyone seeing England for the first time, and for those who've already visited, such an excursion is highly recommended, in order to see England as she was should be seen. As part of the world's most beautiful waterways series, this video is recommended, providing a lesser-known aspect of travel, accompanied by informative narrative and breathtaking scenery. Audience: Int. - Adult.