great canal journeys new presenters 2020

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What happened to Pru and Tim from Great Canal Journeys? Duo replaced on Channel 4 series!

Prunella Scales and Timothy West are known for being the husband-wife duo on Great Canal Journeys. So, where are they?

The twelfth season is set to air on Monday March 15th, confirming that it looks like Prue and Tim won’t be coming back to host the series.

Instead, a new presenting duo are taking their place, following their recent appearance in season 11.

So, what actually happened to Pru and Tim, the original duo who presented Great Canal Journeys? Here’s the latest on the couple…

Who are Pru and Tim from Canal Journeys?

They are a married couple who presented the Channel 4 series.

Prunella Scales, now 88, and Timothy West, 86, quit the show in early 2020, having appeared in over 30 episodes of Great Canal Journeys.

Pru was Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers , and was also known for her BAFTA-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution .

Film, stage, presenter and television actor Timothy, on the other hand, has more than fifty years of work in the TV industry.

Like Gyles and Sheila but I miss Tim and Prue #GreatCanalJourneys — ᑕᒪᗩIᖇᗴ 💙 🐻 (@ClairEar1273) November 8, 2020

• CHANNEL 4: Where is The Celebrity Circle 2021 filmed?

What happened to Pru and Tim?

• They were reportedly forced to quit due to Pru’s declining health

Pru, who has Alzheimer’s, revealed back in 2013 that she was struggling with her memory, but continued to film episodes up until October 2019.

She couldn’t remember the year she married Tim, which took place in 1963.

Since their departure, Pru and Tim were replaced on Great Canal Journeys by another duo, who presented a couple of episodes before series 12.

Never get tired of watching #timandprue on their canal trips. #truelove #greatcanaljourneys — Chris (@Poppyblew) May 4, 2019

• CHANNEL 4: Who is the voiceover of The Celebrity Circle?

Who is replacing Pru and Tim?

• Sheila Gyles and Gyles Brandreth

The friends are best known for appearing on Channel 4’s Gogglebox .

They began to feature on Great Canal Journeys in November 2020, and are now officially becoming the hosts of season 12.

Sheila, 88, is an English actress and author, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before starting her career in repertory theatre.

Gyles, 73, is a writer, broadcaster, actor, and former politician. He studied at the University of Oxford, before beginning a career in the media.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gyles Brandreth (@gylesbrandreth)

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Argy bargy! New Great Canal Journeys presenters Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth may not be married like their predecessors Prunella Scales and Timothy West, but they certainly bicker like they are

• Gyles Brandreth and Sheila Hancock host new series of Great Canal Journeys
• The show was previously hosted by Prunella Scales and husband Timothy West
•  The new hosts were encouraged to 'enjoy the countryside and the pubs'
• Tim will join Gyles and Sheila in the first episode to show them the ropes 

By Lisa Sewards For Weekend Magazine

Published: 17:31 EDT, 6 November 2020 | Updated: 17:31 EDT, 6 November 2020

View comments

There was a deep sadness when Prunella Scales and Timothy West moored their narrowboat for the last time in their hugely popular television series Great Canal Journeys, which saw them navigating the canals, lakes and rivers of the world over ten series. 

Although Prunella, best remembered as Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, first revealed she had Alzheimer’s in 2014 she continued filming the show with her husband until last year, when the advancing stages of the disease forced them, with great reluctance, to stop.

The couple’s hobby had provided them with endless delight since their children were small, when they spent their summers pootling around Britain’s glorious waterways, and their passion was such that producers felt it was almost impossible to hand the tiller over to anyone else. 

Until, that is, they came up with a replacement team in actor Sheila Hancock and author and presenter Gyles Brandreth , two firm friends who have received Pru and Tim’s full blessing with the instruction to ‘enjoy the countryside and the pubs’. 

Sheila Hancock (left) and Gyles Brandreth (right) are the new hosts of Great Canal Journeys

And the celebrity pair, whose spark and banter has lit up both Channel 4’s Celebrity Gogglebox and BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute, have done just that in a new series of the show – albeit with a great deal more bossiness and bickering than the gentle conversations of their predecessors.

‘Channel 4 thought, “What are we going to do because we’ve lost the lovely Tim and Pru? The programme will have to be cancelled,”’ says Sheila, who was married to the late Inspector Morse actor John Thaw for 29 years. 

‘And then they suddenly had this idea that perhaps we could do the same programme, but differently. Pru and Tim were both genuinely pleased it was us because I’ve known them for years. 

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'Tim and I did a series years ago called Bedtime where we were in bed all the time. It was just after John had died and Tim was wonderfully supportive to me, so we’re very fond of one another.

‘I think also that because Tim and Pru had made it their own, he knew it wouldn’t be the same. It wasn’t another married couple trying to do the kind of lyrical thing they had done. 

'It had to be different with Gyles and I, so I needed to talk to Gyles and say, “Look mate, people love this programme, how can we do it in a way that would make it acceptable for somebody else to do it?”’

Tim joins Gyles and Sheila in the first episode to hand over the ropes and see them set sail along waterways including the Thames and the Lee Navigation Canal, which flows from Hertford to Bow in east London. On the way they meet all sorts, including an inventor building watercraft in his riverside workshop, paddleboarders recycling river rubbish into boards and some of Britain’s future Olympic female rowers. 

The pair solidified their friendship while appearing on Channel 4's Gogglebox

On the Thames at Windsor they hold an onboard concert of Handel’s Water Music, composed to be played on the river in 1717.

‘It was a great day with Tim, and although Pru couldn’t make it due to an ear test she phoned us to wish us the best,’ says Gyles, 72. ‘The reason people loved their series is because it was beautiful to see a wonderful marriage in front of your very eyes. They know each other so well that they don’t need to speak. 

'You watch them and you can see them hearing each other without speaking. They understand each other completely.

‘So we were very conscious we couldn’t try to be like them because we’re not like them. We’re friends, not a married couple, although if you could hear us bickering you’d think we were! I think Sheila and I are quite similar. 

'She denies it, but she’s an incredible control freak, like me. From the beginning she was the natural captain and I fell into the role of cabin boy, which I didn’t mind at all. But what made me laugh was that she kept telling me to talk less. 

'The only person in the world who talks more than me is Sheila Hancock.’

Sheila, a sprightly 87, is appalled at the allegation. ‘That’s absolute rubbish,’ she says. ‘I can’t get a word in edgeways with Gyles. He just goes on and on and on. We were actually told not to talk so much in the last two episodes.

Gyles and Sheila take over the show's reigns from Prunella Scales and Timothy West (pictured) who hosted the programme from 2014-2019

‘Gyles is hopeless. If there’s anything tricky I have to take over. It’s partly because he has to be talking all the time, and if somebody goes by on the riverbank he has to shout, “Ho, ship ahoy, hello, how are you?” And then we go bashing into the side. He’s admitted now that he can’t talk and sail the boat at the same time.

‘Curiously, we’re not buddy friends in real life. I’m always very pleased to see him but we always had rather barbed encounters on Just A Minute. I used to tell him to shut up and say, “You’re so boring.” So we built up a jokey relationship and I think, as a result, we did Celebrity Gogglebox.’

Gyles, who’s been a fan of Sheila’s since he was 11 years old and saw her perform at the Theatre Royal Stratford East, thinks Celebrity Gogglebox cemented their friendship. 

‘We got on famously. She was 86 then and I was 71, and there we were watching Naked Attraction. If you want to get to know somebody well, watch Naked Attraction with them,’ he laughs. ‘I was a very enthusiastic theatre-goer as a child and in 1959 I went to the Theatre Royal to see a show called Make Me An Offer and that’s when I first set eyes on Sheila. 

'So in episode two of the canal series I took her back to this theatre and we sat in the room where I first saw her 60 years ago.

‘We filmed the first two episodes early in the year, and then two after lockdown, although it was trickier because of social distancing. Sheila and I formed our own bubble, as it were. It’s like a fantasy come true – in a bubble with Sheila Hancock with the pair of us talking non-stop.’

With Gyles struggling to navigate bridges without bumping into the sides, Sheila assigned him to opening the locks and cooking. ‘I seem to be the one that ended up in the galley,’ he confirms. ‘Neither of us are cooks so she was very happy with that. And she accepted my signature dish – baked beans – which we lived off.

‘We played a few games of Scrabble and we learned some poems together. I think we relaxed. Occasionally – and she won’t have noticed this – she would forget and call me John. 

Timothy (right) will join Gyles and Sheila on the first episode of the new season to show them the ropes

'She’d say, “Oh, John, bring me a cup of tea.” I never mentioned it. In a way, being with her is like being with mother, sister, wife, girlfriend, performer – all rolled into one.

‘I’m a happily married man. Sheila knows my wife Michele and we’re all friends. Michele, who I met in 1968, is very grateful to Sheila for sharing the burden. Sheila’s immensely tolerant but I got on her nerves by being so jolly all the time. 

'She kept telling me off for waving at everyone, even though this is part of the courtesy of the canal. She kept saying, “The cameras aren’t running now. You don’t need to be larking about,” and I’d say, “But this is me!”’

Sheila says she found his unfailing optimism suspicious. ‘I did an impersonation of him, how he says, “Hey, hey, hello, how is everyone? Isn’t it wonderful?” Because whatever happens it’s wonderful for Gyles. I’m more pessimistic and dreary and he’s continuously upbeat,’ she says. ‘It’s partly that he feels he’s so blessed he hasn’t got the right to complain.’

Sheila, though, has had more than her fair share of anxiety. She was married to actor Alec Ross from 1954 until his death from oesophageal cancer in 1971, and to John from 1973 until his death – also from oesophageal cancer – in 2002. 

She has two daughters, Melanie from her first marriage and Joanna from her second, plus a stepdaughter, Abigail Thaw. 

‘Both my daughters have had cancer this year, so it’s all been a bit hairy. It’s been a tough old time, quite honestly, so this programme has been an absolute joy because I don’t have to learn lines. 

'People often say to me, “What’s your secret?” and I say, “I don’t have a secret, but if there is one thing that drives me it’s curiosity.” I am endlessly nosy, so it’s the perfect programme for me.’

Sheila suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, and we see her doing her daily exercises on the narrowboat, with Gyles joining in for moral support. ‘I’m on amazing drugs and I do a lot of exercise,’ she says. ‘I’m generally fine but I do have horrible days. I managed the canal series though, which many women of my age would find tricky. I had lots of passers-by saying, “If you can do it, so can I.”’

Sheila and Gyles are hoping they will be as well received as Pru and Tim. ‘We’re more barbed. They were so lovely with one another, and the weather was always good as well. It’s always pouring with rain with us,’ laughs Sheila. ‘Gyles is an endlessly fascinating man and I’m enjoying finding out about him. There’s nothing he doesn’t know, and nobody he doesn’t know either.’

Gyles agrees. ‘A year ago it would never have been on my list to go on a narrowboat but I surprised myself. I already knew how funny and lovely Sheila was, but she’s even funnier and lovelier than I thought. And she’s a bossy-boots who doesn’t realise it. And I probably am one too!

‘When I was a small boy I shared a bath with Julian Fellowes – his family lived in the flat upstairs from us in Kensington. So aged three I was sharing a bath with Julian Fellowes, and aged 72 I’m sharing a boat with Sheila Hancock. Who could ask for anything more?’

Great Canal Journeys returns tomorrow at 8pm on Channel 4.

Share or comment on this article: New Great Canal Journeys presenters Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth are... ARGY-BARGY 

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Great Canal Journeys

GYLES BRANDRETH HAD never been on a narrowboat before he set sail on one as the co-presenter of the new series of Great Canal Journeys. The writer and broadcaster and his Celebrity Gogglebox partner and friend of 40 years, actor Sheila Hancock, have taken over the tiller from Timothy West and Prunella Scales, who hung up their windlass last year. "I understood my place immediately," says Brandreth. "Sheila was captain; I was cabin boy, chief cook and bottle washer. She had my signa-ture dish many times - baked beans on toast." Brandreth admits that he had reservations about replacing West and Scales, who are life-long canal enthusiasts and captured viewers' hearts, partly thanks to their candour about Pru's dementia. "Sheila and I don't know anything about canals and Tim and Pm were old hands. Initially I thought we shouldn't do it, because we're not them and everyone loves them. But I wrote a book a few years ago about the secrets of being happy and one of them was to embrace change, do different things, challenge yourself - I decided this certainly would be challenging, as I don't know one end of a narrowboat from another." He soon discovered that pootling down water-ways at 4mph isn't as relaxing as Tim and Pru made it look. At first it was a little bit frighten-ing, to be honest. Although you're not going very fast, it seems fast. 

"I found the steering very difficult because I don't stop talking and I can't do two things at once. When I'm in the car, I have to turn down the sound on the radio if I want to turn left or right. And also because you push the steering wheel to the right if you want to go to the left, which Sheila found terribly easy. "When they edited the first episode, they cut out me crashing because it happened so often. So it was quite traumatic and Sheila did most of the steering. I did the locks, which is heavy work, and we managed the tying up and the mooring between us. There was a lot of shaking of heads from the lock-keepers when I turned up and tried to moon" Nevertheless, by the time they embarked on their final trip, along the picturesque Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, Brandreth had mastered the tiller and could enjoy the scenery. "We really did learn and that's one of the reasons for doing it: I'm in my 70s, Sheila's in her 80s, and we both learned a great deal about canals, boating, the British Isles and each other. It was truly a journey of discovery, more than I ever anticipated. You saw a side of England that you wouldn't otherwise see. Canals were the roads of our country during the Industrial Revolution. We learnt how hard life was for people on the canals, and how tough they were:' 

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Great Canal Journeys Season 11 Episodes

• Documentary, Travel
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To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on four spectacular canal journeys, sharing a passion that they've enjoyed for decades. To start the series, Tim and Pru revisit the Kennet and Avon Canal in the West Country. Back in 1990, to promote the fully restored canal, Tim and Pru were invited to be the first boat in 42 years to travel the full length of the K&A.

Season 11 Episode Guide

9 Episodes 2020 - 0

Sun, Nov 8, 2020 60 mins

Sun, Nov 15, 2020 60 mins

Brand new series

Mon, Jun 20, 2022 60 mins

Fri, Oct 7, 2022 65 mins

Mon, Oct 10, 2022 65 mins

Tue, Oct 11, 2022 65 mins

Wed, Oct 12, 2022 65 mins

Thu, Oct 13, 2022 65 mins

Fri, Oct 14, 2022 65 mins

How to Watch Great Canal Journeys in 2021

Image: Gyles and Sheila travel the Lea Navigation, visiting the former Royal Gunpowder Mills and tackling their first manual locks before travelling up the Thames – Nov 2020. Credit: Deposit Photos 318706968.

Great Canal Journeys cruises forward into 2021 with the latest episodes following Sheila and Gyles exploring Staffordshire’s waterways. If you’re not familiar with this Channel 4 TV series, it follows Timothy West, Prunella Scales, Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth taking spectacular canal journeys across Britain and abroad.

Tim and Pru both spoke frankly about Pru’s dementia during the series, which has been praised by Alzheimer’s Research UK. The programme became much more than a calming travelogue exploring beautiful scenery, as a touching portrait of the couple’s marriage began to emerge. It was a sensitive exploration of the trials and joys of growing older. It was both humorous, poignant and meditative. But after ten series of navigating the waterways of the world, Pru’s struggle with Alzheimer’s forced the couple to stop filming.

Will there be any more Great Canal Journeys?

In 2020 Channel 4 continued the series with two new presenters, actor Sheila Hancock and author and presenter Gyles Brandreth. Read: Great Canal Journeys Has Two New Skippers.

In the first episode Timothy West gave the two novice canal boaters some basic training in boat handling. If you want to see what people love about this programme here are some ways to catch up with what you’ve missed.

Watch the Series

Many episodes are available to watch on Channel 4’s on demand streaming service. Great Canal Journeys. The first eight series have also been released on DVD, which you could find on Amazon or look for second-hand copies on eBay.

Read the Book

Timothy West tells the story of the couple’s life and travels, illustrated with beautiful photography in Our Great Canal Journeys: A Lifetime of Memories on Britain’s Most Beautiful Waterways. The book describes their careers as actors while recording their journeys along some of the world’s most scenic waterways. Beyond this, however, it explores with sensitivity how Prunella’s struggle with dementia has both changed, and yet failed to change, their lives together. It is a sometimes funny, sometimes moving reflection on love and life.

If you prefer to listen to the audio book it is read by Timothy West. The book and audio book are available in most good book shops. Great Canal Journeys – book.

What Next for Great Canal Journeys?

The new presenters have been well received by the British public. Sheila, 88, is an English actress and author, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before starting her career in repertory theatre. Gyles, 73, is a writer, broadcaster, actor, and former politician. He studied at Oxford University, before beginning a career in the media. Last year he also founded Poetry Together, bringing together young and old to connect over the joy of performing poetry. Despite the pandemic, schools and care homes still signed up in their hundreds.

Hopefully the easing of lockdown restrictions will allow Sheila and Gyles to record more episodes exploring the British canals. If you want to take your own great canal journey this year check availability now . We have some great holiday deals to enjoy this summer.

To be notified with new holiday information as it changes, sign up for updates from this blog. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.) Just look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and we’ll send you stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens in 2021.

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Great Canal Journeys

To celebrate their golden wedding anniversary, actors Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on four spectacular canal journeys, sharing a passion that they've enjoyed for decades. To start the series, Tim and Pru revisit the Kennet and Avon Canal in the West Country. Back in 1990, to promote the fully restored canal, Tim and Pru were invited to be the first boat in 42 years to travel the full length of the K&A. Almost a quarter of a century later, they navigate the 21 miles along its most picturesque stretch, starting in Bath and ending in Devizes.

De brittiska skådespelarna Prunella Scales och Timothy West har varit gifta i 50 år. Förutom kärleken till varandra och skådespelandet älskar de båtliv och kanalfärder.

• TheTVDB.com Series ID 279560
• Status Continuing
• First Aired March 10, 2014
• Recent September 15, 2021
• Airs Sunday, at 8:00pm
• Network Channel 4
• Average Runtime 60 minutes
• Genres Documentary Travel
• Original Country Great Britain
• Original Language English
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• Created March 14, 2014 by Kerbouchard
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TV tonight: Great Canal Journeys in Staffordshire

Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth meander around Stoke. Plus: a look at one of Picasso’s masterpieces with Andrew Marr. Here’s what to watch this evening

Great Canal Journeys

8pm, channel 4.

Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth take to the British waterways once more for this two-part special exploring the canals of Staffordshire. In tonight’s opening episode, the pair try to navigate the twisty Caldon canal, before pootering on to the Trent and Mersey canal, where they explore the history of Stoke’s potteries. At Cheddleton flint mill, Brandreth pays tribute to one of his favourite local writers, Arnold Bennett, while Hancock visits the former home of one of her favourite ceramicists, Clarice Cliff. Ammar Kalia

Scotland: A Year in the Wild

7pm, channel 5.

Summer has finally arrived in Scotland for this episode of the stunning nature series. Two white-tailed eaglets get viciously competitive while learning how to fly on the west coast. Meanwhile, near the Cairngorms, a family of efficient beavers set about constructing a dam while on the lookout for otters. AK

Great Paintings of the World With Andrew Marr

9pm, channel 5.

Andrew Marr tackles perhaps the most recognisable name in modern art in this week’s instalment of his art history series: Pablo Picasso. Marr recounts the harrowing inspiration behind Picasso’s Weeping Woman – a fragmented portrait that helped make his cubist style notorious. AK

Gardeners’ World

9.30pm, bbc two.

Here’s one for the #PeoniesPosse: Nick Bailey is visiting a Worcestershire garden where these floral Insta influencers take centre stage. Meanwhile, Adam Frost is planting shady borders and demonstrating how to make a window box for growing herbs and veg, and Kate Bradbury is enticing wild visitors to her city oasis. Ellen E Jones

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9.30pm, bbc four.

Always operating at a slight angle to its US neighbour, Canada has produced many of the most distinctive musical voices of the rock era. And most of them have found their way on to the BBC at some point. Expect to hear from Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Arcade Fire, Neil Young and many more. Phil Harrison

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10pm, channel 4.

Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdecombe front another bright, satirical overview of the week’s biggest news stories, intertwined with an ongoing preview of the Tokyo Paralympics. The guests in the studio this week are top-notch: actor/comedian Aisling Bea and presenter/chef Nadiya Hussain. Jack Seale

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Great Canal Journeys

• Thread starter thamesS23
• Start date 8 Nov 2020

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New series tonight at 8pm on channel 4, with new presenters, starting on the river Thames.  

Wont be the same without Presila  

Not certain the replacement crew are of the same calliber as those who sadly have had to retire and might be slightly irritating for a whole series.  

ashtead said: Not certain the replacement crew are of the same calliber as those who sadly have had to retire and might be slightly irritating for a whole series. Click to expand...

Lady Sm has the rubbish on now, typical BBC "Jobs 4 the Boyz" rehash  

You could always watch it at a later date on All 4 on demand. I’m not expecting much, but at least it’s hopefully going to be nice to see our summer weekend back garden on the tv. Roll on 2021 boating  

I'm enjoying it  

thamesS23 said: You could always watch it at a later date on All 4 on demand. I’m not expecting much, but at least it’s hopefully going to be nice to see our summer weekend back garden on the tv. Roll on 2021 boating Click to expand...

sailorman said: Lady Sm has the rubbish on now, typical BBC "Jobs 4 the Boyz" rehash Click to expand...

Chris_d said: It More 4 not BBC Click to expand...

Terrible continuity, as they leave Shiplake with aerial shot of Hambledon.  

Active member

Chris_d said: I'm enjoying it Click to expand...

Shite show  

Parabordi said: Saw your boat on it, apparently its between sonning and shiplake, but every fill in piece was medmenham then back to mapledurham again and their first lock was shiplake with bazzer. Dunno where they moored 2nd night apparently henley , didnt recognise it. Click to expand...

Chris_d said: French Horn then George and Dragon at Wargrave. Click to expand...

Not often I use such words but "what a lot of crap" Continuity was the worst I have seen. No Volunteers or Lock and weir keepers shown and I could not beleive that they had Tim giving training. Not sure what the aim of the program was for or who it was aimed at.  

Big John said: Not often I use such words but "what a lot of crap" Continuity was the worst I have seen. No Volunteers or Lock and weir keepers shown and I could not beleive that they had Tim giving training. Not sure what the aim of the program was for or who it was aimed at. Click to expand...

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Timothy West

Prunella Scales

Mike Taylor Producer

Matt Young Producer

Great Canal Journeys

Timothy West and Prunella Scales embark on spectacular canal journeys that span Britain and beyond.

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Years: 2014 - 2020

Genre: Lifestyle

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Timothy West, Prunella Scales, Sheila Hancock and Gyles Brandreth embark on spectacular canal journeys across Britain and abroad

Tim and Pru take a boat ride in the Argentine jungle. There's gin and tonic with some remote Anglo Argentines, hummingbirds, honey, and a spot of tango.

Series 13 Episode 4: Peak Forest Canal

Sheila and Gyles boat the beautiful Peak Forest Canal and have a go at dry stone walling

Series 13 Episode 3: Grand Union and Stratford Canal

Sheila and Gyles learn about brewing ale and brave the 500-foot-long Edstone Aqueduct

Series 13 Episode 2: West Lancashire Coastal Plain

Gyles takes on the world pie-eating champion in Wigan. Then all canals lead to Liverpool.

Series 13 Episode 1: Cambridgeshire Fens

Sheila and Gyles explore the Cambridgeshire Fens and make a pilgrimage to Ely Cathedral

Best of Wales and the West Country

A look back at Tim and Pru's adventures on the waterways of Wales and the West Country

Best of Scandinavia

A look back at Timothy West and Prunella Scales' 350-mile journey across Sweden by boat

North of England

Tim and Pru look back over their many great adventures along northern England's canals

Best of Scotland

Tim and Pru look back at one of their favourite locations

Global Adventures

Tim and Pru share a stash of memories of their canal journeys overseas

The British Isles

Tim and Pru go on a voyage through the beautiful Cherwell Valley

Series 10 Episode 2: Asian Odyssey (Part Two)

Timothy and Pru complete their tour of South East Asian waterways on the Mekong Delta

Series 10 Episode 1: Asian Odyssey (Part One)

The 'ancient mariners' travel the waterways of Vietnam - from Halong Bay to Hanoi

Series 9 Episode 6: Rideau Canal, Canada

Tim and Pru embark on an epic journey along Canada's Rideau Canal

Series 9 Episode 5: Lancaster Canal

Tim and Pru navigate the Lancaster Canal, an early masterpiece of the waterways

Series 9 Episode 4: Argentina

Tim and Pru take a boat ride in the Argentine jungle

Series 9 Episode 3: Manchester

Tim and Pru explore the waterways of north west England, from Manchester to Ellesmere

Series 9 Episode 2: North Italy

Tim and Pru cross Italy's largest lake and travel down Europe's oldest working canal

Series 9 Episode 1: The River Nile

Tim and Pru explore one of the world's great waterways

Series 2 Episode 4: Forth and Clyde and Union Canals

Timothy and Pru travel through the stunning scenery of central Scotland

Series 2 Episode 3: Canal du Midi

Timothy and Pru explore the picturesque Canal du Midi in the south of France

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15 Fantastic and Easy Day Trips From Moscow

Is the hustle and bustle of Moscow starting to wear you down? No worries. There are multiple great day trips from Moscow that will let you see a different side of Russia that you won’t find in the metropolitan area. Each day trip I’ve listed below can easily be done by train from Moscow, and there are trains every day of the week.

The area surrounding Moscow is rich in cultural attractions and natural beauty. By traveling only a short distance, one feels far away from the crowds, and lines of the sprawling Russian capital. Since Russia is undoubtedly an expansive country it may take from half an hour to two hours to reach some of the landmarks on this list (by train or car) from the Moscow city center.

You can escape to the picturesque Russian countryside, visit war memorials, battlefields, admire onion-domed churches, and get insight into the local way of life. Easy day trips from Moscow include the incomparable white-stone Trinity Cathedral in Sergiyev Posad, the spectacular Cathedral of the Assumption in Dmitrov, and the Russian military aircraft in Monino. For those who love rural tranquility, Suzdal and Vladimir are a must-see. History buffs will appreciate the Patriotic War of 1812 reenactment that took place in Borodino on the first weekend of September.

Without further ado, here are 15 best day trips from Moscow that are well worth your attention.

The Best Day Trips from Moscow

There’s a reason Moscow is one of Europe’s most enigmatic destinations. It’s got culture, class, food, history, and more, but even better, is that it is the country’s main transport hub with so many attractions within a day trip from Moscow. While you can definitely spend days or even weeks in Moscow, it can, of course, be done in just one week. What can you do in Moscow in seven days ? Well, you can do a lot if you know how to plan a trip to a place you know so little about.

If you’re ready to get out of the city a bit and soak up the culture, fresh air, and enchanting architecture, I’ve rounded up my favorite day trips outside of Moscow. I often get asked: What are the best cities to visit in Russia? And these are places that I’ve been and loved.

My Favorite Easy Day Trips from Moscow:

Dmitrov Kolomna Zvenigorod Sergiyev Posad Yaroslavl Arkhangelskoye Estate Vladimir Suzdal Korolev Borodino Patriot Park in Kubinka Melikhovo Gorki Leninskie Kaluga Monino

1. Day Trip to Dmitrov from Moscow

Dmitrov may not be as popular as other cities in Russia, but the fact that the city was founded only 7 years earlier than Moscow makes for a great day trip. This small city some 90 kilometers from Moscow is particularly beautiful in the summer. As you walk the streets you can see sparkling fountains, charming centuries-old buildings, yachts and boats transiting through the canal and, of course, the Museum-Reserve Dmitrov Kremlin.

The Kremlin (castle) is the city’s main draw. The 10m high and about 1km long earthen rampart remained behind the wooden wall and gives an idea of how the castle looked like 400 years ago. The oldest surviving building on the Kremlin grounds is the 16th-century Assumption Cathedral with a unique five-tier iconostasis.

Not far from the Kremlin there is a compact 15th-century Borisoglebsky convent. Its main building – the 16th-century Cathedral of Sts. Boris and Gleb is open to the visitors only for services of worship. In the 1930s in the convent housed a labor camp, which contained the builders of the Canal named after Moscow.

Getting There: Dmitrov sits an easy hour and sixteen minutes by train from Savyelovskiy Rail Terminal. This cheap day trip from Moscow is a great chance to soak up the historic charm to be found in Moscow Oblast.

2. Day Trip to Kolomna from Moscow

Situated to the south-east of Moscow, Kolomna is a beautiful port city on the Oka River. This is one of the oldest Russian cities in the region. So you can discover the old history in museums and monasteries. Interestingly, the city was a site for important weapon factories under the Soviet Union. Although it was opened up in 1994 Kolomna is not as popular as other day-trip destinations in the region.

Nevertheless, it is a great place to visit with friends and family where you can explore the 15th-century Kremlin made of red brick, try incredibly sweet traditional pastila (marshmallow), and visit some of the cute little churches and 19th-century mansions.

Getting There: Take the express train (commuter line train) from the Kazansky rail terminal to Golutvin station. The trip lasts one hour and forty minutes.

3. Day Trip to Zvenigorod from Moscow

This one is usually a given due to its proximity to and ease of transport from Moscow. It’s one of the easiest day trips from Moscow by train. You can easily hop on the train from the city and land right in the town of Zvenigorod where you can visit the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery and sample the sparkly and refreshing kvass, a Russian specialty beverage that’s enjoyed in the summer months.

Zvenigorod is an adorable little town just under an hour away from the Moscow city and is an amazing place to visit as it will give a relaxing break from the hectic life of Moscow. Check this day trip if you don’t feel like planning.

If you have a sweet tooth, spend some time in the quirky Museum of Russian Desserts, where you can indulge in uniquely delicious treats and explore the intersection of food and culture.

Then you may want to pay the Zvenigorod Museum of History, Architecture, and Art a visit. The museum’s exposition is located on the territory of the Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery, or rather, in the 17th-century Tsaritsyny chambers, built for the wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Stroll through the museum halls to view the permanent exhibitions, which offer insights into various aspects of Russian history. The intricate museum’s building is adorned with a decorative porch, complex patterned elements, and looks very impressive in general.

4. Day Trip to Sergiyev Posad from Moscow

If you’re looking for cheap day trips from Moscow, Sergiyev Posad is a good choice at just a few dollar train ride away. Known as a major center of pilgrimage and home to one of the largest Russian Orthodox Monastery which has been here for hundreds of years, Sergiyev Posad is a fun day trip from Moscow and can be combined with Abramtsevo Museum Estate. As the only town in Moscow Region which is included in the Golden Ring of Russian cities, Sergiyev Posad is an incredible destination for a day trip from Moscow that packs UNESCO-protected Trinity Sergius Lavra, great museums, and gorgeous architecture into one day.

Make sure you see the six-pillared Assumption Cathedral that was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in mid-16th-century and go inside to marvel at the impressive iconostasis that features Simon Ushakov’s masterpiece, the icon of Last Supper. Enjoy a delicious lamb steak with wheat kasha, Ukha fish soup, or hand-made dumplings as you learn a lot about religious and cultural history.

Getting There: Known for its small-town charm and welcoming feel, you can get to Sergiyev Posad by train, by bus, or by car. Trains depart from Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal every thirty minutes, and the trip lasts about an hour and a half. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus at the ‘VDNKh’ metro station. A bus trip to Sergiyev Posad takes two hours on average but can be reached in 90 minutes depending on traffic. If you go by car expect to spend about an hour and a half attempting to traverse the congested Yaroslavskoye highway.

5. Day Trip to Yaroslavl from Moscow

Going from Moscow to Yaroslavl may seem like a really long day trip, but honestly, if you take the comfortable train, it only takes about four hours to reach the city, so making a Yaroslavl day trip is totally doable. Although I do recommend much more than one day in Yaroslavl, especially if it’s your first time.

Cultural tourists visiting Yaroslavl should start their exploration by strolling the historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A spacious 100-hectare area enclosed by Sobinova and Republican streets is home to most popular attractions – the 17th-century Church of Elijah the Prophet that survived almost exactly in its original form, and in contrast to it, the white stone Assumption Cathedral, restored in the 2000s.

If you walk a bit further passing the Holy Trinity sculpture and city’s foundation stone, you will find yourself at Strelka, a park on the cape, which offers panoramic views of the spot at the confluence of Volga and Kotorosl rivers. On the way back, there is a pleasant walk along the picturesque Volga embankment to the Governor’s Garden with shadowy alleys and an open-air Sculpture museum.

Getting There: Yaroslavl is about 280 km (173 miles) northeast of Moscow, so the best way to get there is to take a morning train from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal. A tour is also a great way to see the Yaroslavl without having to worry about driving or searching for trains. You can book a tour here.

6. Day Trip to Arkhangelskoye Estate from Moscow

Situated on the outskirts of Moscow and dates back to the late 18th-century, Arkhangelskoye Estate was the domain of the nobility for over a century until the Russian Revolution swept people who owned the estate out of the country. The estate was turned into a museum, which it remains today.

The Arkhangelskoye Estate Museum holds the largest rare-book collection. The exhibition also includes old manuscripts, historical documents, photos from the past, a vast collection of sculpture, paintings, engravings, and exceptional examples of decorative art. These art objects once belonged to Prince Nikolai Yusupov, the former owner of the estate.

Arkhangelskoye Estate is often referred to as the Russian version of Versailles because of the intricately manicured garden and beautiful 18th-century park. Famous Russian writers and poets such as Pushkin, Herzen, Mayakovsky loved to spend their free time here making long excursions in the surrounding area. Arkhangelskoye is a perfect place to appreciate the terraces decorated by delightful statues, exquisite vases, and busts.

Visitors can take tours, which introduce them to vibrant examples of Russian art and culture.

Getting There: To reach the estate it’s best to take a bus or a privately-owned minibus that departs from Tushinskaya metro station.

7. Day Trip to Vladimir from Moscow

Situated only two hours east of Moscow, Vladimir is absolutely one of the best places to visit near Moscow for a day trip. This splendid city dates back to the 12th century and has a very rich history. If magnificent Orthodox cathedrals and traditional white-stone architecture entice you, then this place is perfect for a day trip with your significant other.

First things first, you need to see the Golden Gate, which indicates the entrance into the old town. This 12th-century medieval masterpiece of military architecture is associated not only with Vladimir but with the Golden Ring tourist route itself. At the top of the gate, where once was the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, there is the Museum of Weapons. Great looking arrowheads and spear points date back to the Grand Principality of Vladimir, while the exhibition in an impressively majestic setting features a number of Batu-Khan related artifacts.

There’s a variety of attractions to put on your must-see list: the Old Believers Trinity Church right behind it, the Cathedral of St Demetrius, and Dormition (Uspensky) Cathedral. If you plan on shopping for souvenirs like birch-bark masterpieces of Kunov’s masters, drawings, carving, embossing, figures of people and animals, stop by the Lacquer Miniature, the Museum of Crystal, and the Gingerbread Museum. Many of the local attractions were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites.

Getting There: The best way to visit this area is to catch an early train from Moscow and book a full-day tour of Vladimir in advance. This one includes the town of Suzdal as well.

8. Day Trip to Suzdal from Moscow

This gem of a little medieval town perched on a hill just a 30-minute ride from Vladimir is one of those places I’ve visited and could move there permanently and be happy! It’s a charming little piece of history that also has a Kremlin and visiting it feels like stepping back in time. if you’re a culture enthusiast you’ll be glad to know there are numerous churches, five monasteries, including Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery in Suzdal. Check them out if you want to get a real taste of the country!

pend some time shopping at the Torgovaya ploshchad (Market Square), where you can buy baskets made of birch bark, ceramic handmade plates, honey or souvenirs and, of course, grab some afternoon tea!

Getting There: Trains leave regularly from Moscow’s Kurskiy Rail Terminal to Vladimir where you can hop on a bus to Suzdal. You can also take a bus from Moscow. In this case, it might take longer and you’ll probably encounter infamous traffic jams. If you go by express train the trip takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes. There are slower trains of course, but I’d recommend going with the fast one and save a lot of time!

9. Day Trip to Korolev from Moscow

Located some 30 kilometers northeast of Moscow, Korolev has become arguably the most important space research center with skilled workers from across the Soviet Union who came here to expand the space program.

It became a leading institute dedicated to aerospace research in the country. Today, that tendency can still be clearly seen on the streets and in the buildings. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the city retained its status as the headquarters of Russia’s space surveillance network and now it hosts the Russian Mission Control Center, an analogue of the American Mission Control Center at NASA’s Space Center in Houston.

If you want to learn more about Mission Control Center and the former Russian Mir space station, book a tour with a knowledgeable guide who can clearly tell the history of this place.

If you’re not into space exploration there is also a Memorial Apartment Museum of Marina Tsvetaeva in Bolshevo. With a picturesque park next to the museum, it’s a great place for walking in the fresh air. The highlight of the park is memorial stones with quotes from Tsvetaeva’s poems.

Getting There: I’d recommend going by train. Catch one at Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal that departs every 30 minutes to reach Bolshevo station.

10. Day Trip to Borodino from Moscow

The historic Battle of Borodino on September 7, 1812, took place just outside the small village of Borodino, about 140 km west of Moscow, and about 15 km from the nearest town of Mozhaysk. Although the French won the Battle of Borodino and went to capture Moscow, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the pre-twentieth-century that is also predetermined Napoleon’s defeat.

While it was a battlefield back then, not much remains today. It’s mostly a green and grassy field now with a few monuments of military honor, architectural objects dated back to 19th and 20th century, and fortification facilities scattered throughout the area. The largest of these is the 27-meter high obelisk located right at the heart of the former battlefield.

Every year the military and patriotic festival and theatrical performance take place in Borodino. Early September is considered to be the best for visiting. But if you just want to feel the spirit of the battle, it’s better to go at any other time of the year.

Getting there: Hop on a train from the Belorussky rail terminal, disembark in Mozhaysk, and then take a bus to the museum. The whole travel time is about 2 hours.

11. Day Trip to Patriot Park in Kubinka from Moscow

Once a Red Army tank training ground, now it’s a military Disneyland with history, structure, guns, and armored vehicles! The tank museum originally housed one of the world’s largest and rarest collections of tanks. In 2016 they combined the training grounds with the newly-created Patriot Park. Since then, some of the notable and rare items have been moved to the Patriot Park site, so you may want to combine both sites into one tour (only about 20 minutes apart).

The exhibition grounds include some very rare specimens that are must-see for any military enthusiasts out there. The staff is friendly, helpful and kind, while the museum has a small shop. As this site is part of an operating military base, they may ask you to show your passport, or provide them with a photocopy of the front pages. There are vending machines for snacks and drinks, and there are bathroom facilities. There’s plenty to see, so I recommend setting aside an entire day!

Getting there: Situated halfway between Borodino and Moscow, the best way to reach Patriot Park in Kubinka is by car. Alternatively, if you don’t want to rent one, consider car-sharing apps like Gett or UBER. The price of ride-sharing services is cheap enough to make them a viable proposition for choosing them.

12. Day Trip to Melikhovo from Moscow

Located some 80 km from Moscow, Melikhovo is one of the most important museums dedicated to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. This renowned Russian writer and playwright acquired Melikhovo in 1892. He lived there with his parents and close relatives for 7 years before moving to the Crimea in 1899. Melikhovo is where he wrote his plays “The Man in the Case” and “The Seagull”.

The estate faded into oblivion right after the Revolution but in 1939 Anton Chekhov’s sister Maria and his nephew established a museum based on Chekhov’s place of living. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1941.

Today museum’s exhibition reveals the legacy of a celebrated writer and shows his path not only as a writer but as a doctor and public figure as well. The collection also features some of the best-known paintings by famous artists like Isaac Levitan and Vasily Polenov, who were Chekhov’s friends. When it comes to fun and educational day trips from Moscow, Melikhovo is a nice place for learning more about Chekov’s life and work.

Getting There: You can reach Melikhovo by train from Kurskiy rail Terminal. Disembark in the town of Chekhov and hop on a minibus that will get to the estate. Alternatively, hop on a bus that departs from the Yuzhnaya metro station.

13. Day Trip to Gorki Leninskie from Moscow

Once the realm of Russian nobles, Gorki Leninskie was turned into Lenin’s museum some 25 years after his death. The estate sits some 30-minute bus ride from the Domodedovskaya metro station and houses Soviet-era memorabilia and Lenin’s memorial flat recently transferred from the Kremlin, as well as his vintage Rolls-Royce.

Most people only associate this place with the name of the first communist leader. In fact, the name of the estate was first mentioned in documents dating back to the 16th-century. Throughout its history, the estate was owned by a number of prominent figures. It’s in fact one of the best museums that holds the country’s finest collection 19th-century furnishings and a unique collection of domestic items owned by nobles. Plus, ancient Vyatichi native tribe or East Slavs who inhabited a part of the Oka basin’s burial mounds and a few notable sculptures are hidden behind the avenues of lime trees in the park.

Getting There: You could, of course, hop on a bus from Domodedovskaya metro station. But it would be much easier just to use UBER or Gett. The estate isn’t that far from the Moscow Circle Road but going there by bus may involve some navigating.

14. Day Trip to Kaluga from Moscow

If you’re looking for an educational day trip from Moscow, look no farther than Kaluga! This beautiful city could really entertain you for more than just a day, but to get a taste of science, be sure to visit the Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics. Or in other words, the Space Museum.

Visitors to the museum will learn more about the history of space exploration. In fact, this is one of the largest Space Museums in Russia, which opened its doors in Kaluga in 1967. Here you can see a prototype of the iconic MIR space station and a duplicate of the Voskhod rocket. The very same rocket that took the first man to space. There’s also a planetarium, which from the outside resembles a spaceship.

Kaluga is a totally walkable city. Make sure to spend some time strolling Teatralnaya street with the authentic 19th-century pavement that now marks the Kilometer Zero. Then walk across the 18th-century Kamenniy Most (the Stone Bridge) that somewhat resembles a Roman aqueduct. If you’re an architecture buff marvel at the Church of St. Cosmas and Damian.

It is assumed that the church was erected by one of the followers of Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli in 1794. The church resembles the Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg. With five church towers directed upward and six tiers of oblong windows give the exterior a sense of lightness and airiness.

Getting There: Trains from Kiyevsky Rail Terminal to Kaluga leave every 90 minutes. The trip takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes.

15. Day Trip to Monino from Moscow

Are you looking for great family & kid-friendly day trips from Moscow? If so, consider visiting the Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino. This unique military open-air museum is home to over 180 Russian aircraft and 100 aircraft engines and the perfect place to go when your crowd is looking for a break from hectic city life. Check this tour if you don’t feel like planning.

This site was formerly an operational airbase from 1932 till 1956 and many of the Russian aviation Design bureaus have made a contribution to the operation and maintenance of the museum. Along with aircraft from the Second World War, there are the TU-95 Bear four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and the TU-144 Charger a Soviet supersonic passenger airliner (which resembled the Concorde). The museum also has exhibits related to military aviation history such as the uniform of captured U2 pilot Gary Powers.

Getting There: This museum is located at Monino Town, about 30 km from Moscow. It is open on all days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except Mondays and Tuesdays. To get there take a train departing from Yaroslavskiy Rail Terminal and disembark at Monino station. Alternatively, hop on a bus from Schelkovskaya or Partizanskaya metro station.

Final Thoughts on the Best Day Trips from Moscow

I hope this post has helped you discover some amazing day trips from Moscow. From imposing cathedrals, mighty fortresses and monasteries, there are a lot of incredible places to visit the Russian capital, and the best part is that getting there is always ways to get around on the cheap.

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Great article for visitors in Moscow , thanks for sharing

Marie Hernandez

I hadn’t considered traveling to Moscow until NOW! Fantastic post and ideas for visitors! Thanks!

Graham Marsden

Nice to see so many options outside of Moscow, but I have to say I wish this list had a recommendation for a hike or a beautiful natural areas or national parks. Maybe the next list!

I have to admit that I knew nothing about the area surrounding Moscow. This is definitely an inspiring list of places to go.

When I read this article about Moscow. I wanted to pack my bags and get there sooner. thank you for the great write up.

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