The River Avon in England encompasses several distinct waterways sharing the name, with the Warwickshire Avon and the Bristol Avon being the most documented for paddling. The Warwickshire Avon, a major tributary of the River Severn, runs approximately 85 miles in total and passes through Stratford-upon-Avon, Bidford-on-Avon, and Evesham. It offers a generally gentle flow suited to recreational paddlers, with scenic countryside through the Vale of Evesham and historic market towns along the banks. The Bristol Avon rises in South Gloucestershire, flows through Wiltshire and Bath to the Severn Estuary, and while only 13 miles from source to mouth, the actual river length is closer to 75 miles. Its width in places can make it susceptible to wind.

A licence is required to paddle the Warwickshire Avon. The Avon Navigation Trust issues short-term licences starting from £6, available online or at toll stations. Alternatively, British Canoeing membership covers the river as part of a broader waterways licence. On the Bristol Avon, British Canoeing membership covers the stretch from Hanham Lock to Thimble Mill in Bath; downstream of Hanham Lock toward Bristol is managed by Bristol City Council and requires a separate day ticket, available from the Bristol Harbour Office for approximately £7.

There are 17 locks on the Warwickshire Avon, all requiring portaging. Some locks have signed portage points, while others involve moorings that may be awkward for kayaks. A well-documented route runs from Stratford-upon-Avon to Bidford-on-Avon, approximately 10.2 miles (16.4 km), taking around 3 to 4 hours, passing Welford-on-Avon. Another route covers the 8 miles from Bidford-on-Avon to Evesham, passing Marcliff, Harvington, and Offenham locks and weirs. Near Fladbury and Pershore in Worcestershire, a roughly 8.5 km (5-mile) trip from Cropthorne Mill Bank car park to Pershore takes 3 to 4 hours, with weirs that can be portaged or run at suitable water levels. Paddlers should always inspect weirs before approaching and portage if in doubt.

On the Bristol Avon near Bath, a popular 5-mile figure-of-eight loop starts at Limpley Stoke, runs downstream to Warleigh Weir, involves a short portage across a railway line at Claverton Pumping Station to the Kennet and Avon Canal, and returns via the Dundas Aqueduct. Wildlife along the Warwickshire Avon includes ducks, geese, and swans. Craft permitted on the Warwickshire Avon include kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and rowboats; inflatable toys and homemade rafts are not permitted.