Because it takes boats approximately one week to complete the circuit, it is suited to narrowboat holidays that start at and return to the same location.

When commercial carrying declined after the Second World War, sections of the Rochdale, Ashton and Peak Forest canals that make up the urban part of the ring had gradually fallen into disuse, and by the early 1960s were impassable, with little depth of water and many locks in an unusable condition.

Perseverance by the IWA and the Peak Forest Canal Society paid off, and on 1 April 1974, following restoration, the ring was re-opened to navigation.

In 2002, as part of the restoration of the Rochdale, ownership of the Rochdale Canal Company passed to the Waterways Trust, and British Waterways became the navigation authority, bringing to an end the £35 toll that had been charged to use the one-mile section through Manchester which had deterred some boats from attempting the ring.

[3] Canals and places on each (clockwise from Ducie St Junction, just north of Manchester Piccadilly station):