We look forward to seeing you onboard
Electra - canal cruises with a difference
Welcome to Electra, the all-electric 12-seater trip boat run by volunteers in Milton Keynes. Step aboard for a relaxing cruise on the Grand Union canal and get a whole new view of the city. Treat yourself to a food cruise. Or combine a cruise with a walk or a visit to a waterside pub. Electra makes a perfect day out with family, friends or colleagues. It’s great for celebrations too. Choose a public cruise or book a private group charter.
Happy 4th Birthday Electra!
This week we celebrate the fourth anniversary of Electra arriving in Milton Keynes – and we’ll be running our 1000th cruise with guests !
Bookings NOW OPEN for 2025 cruise programe
Click here to download a leaflet with Electra routes and cruise information 2025
Cruises in 2025 run from 17 April to 14 December. With over 300 cruises to choose from, there’s something for everyone. If you’ve got a party date or group outing in mind – book early to get the date and cruise you’d like!
We look forward to welcoming you on board this season. If you’ve got any booking queries, contact us on electra.bookings@bmkwaterway.org
Half Day Ploughman’s Lunch Cruises now booking! Take a midweek break and enjoy a leisurely trip to three of the most interesting canal places locally – the aqueducts on the way to Cosgrove, the lock at Fenny Stratford, and the three locks at Soulbury. Charter or public options available. Each cruise runs just once a month so book soon to ensure your place.
NEW! Skipper for a Morning
The All-Electric Experience We’re excited to launch this very special experience – a private 3-hour session on Electra, MK’s all-electric narrowboat. You’re at the helm (with an expert Trainer) and can bring up to six guests with you. You experience the absolute calm of electric boating – no noise or rumble, just the water gurgling by and herons standing still as you pass. Your guests in the saloon will have lots to see – wildlife, historic buildings, and a waterside art trail. Book now for a unique eco-friendly adventure! Available this year on 9 August, 18 September & 27 September. Take a look!
Choose your cruise
Enjoy Milton Keynes’ best-kept leisure secret! Our peaceful cruises on the Grand Union Canal run from mid-April to mid-December. You’ll see parts of Milton Keynes you have never seen before through Electra’s picture windows. You’ll be eye to eye with swans, herons and even the odd kingfisher. Stand in the bow and enjoy the breeze on a warm summer’s day, or watch as leaves start to colour in autumn. Make sure you have your camera in hand as we glide through parkland, past waterside art, alongside local wildlife and all sorts of canal users.
Booking tips for planning a trip
– Food cruise bookings close 48 hours before the start time, so remember to book a bit ahead of the day.
– Café bar cruises can be booked right up to the moment we sail, so if it’s a nice day and you can see spaces, book and come on down!
– Any public cruise with 12 seats available will become a private charter if you book all 12 – check which cruises these are on the monthly calendar below.
Electra Gift Vouchers – the perfect present
Give a Gift Card to the value of your choice and let family and friends choose the cruise they’d like to do.
For special couples with special dates in 2025 (birthdays, anniversaries, grandparents’ day) choose a Gift Certificate which gives them a morning Coffee & Cake Cruise or a Cream Tea Cruise in the afternoon. With over 70 cruise dates to choose from, and three different parts of the Grand Union canal to enjoy, they’ll be spoiled for choice.
Get in touch
Electra is run by volunteers. Please email us with any booking queries, or to get updates on new cruises bookings.electra@bmkwaterway.org
Have you enjoyed a trip on Electra?
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Electra – Milton Keynes all-electric community boat – won the Silver Award in the New Tourism Business category of the 2023-2024 Beautiful South Tourism Awards Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers, supporters and guests who are making Electra such a success!