Our holidays
Great British Boating offers a range of canal boat holidays on the 2,000 miles of Britain’s inland waterways, with all of the information you need to plan and make the most of your time. You can adventure at your own pace along our recommended routes, watching out for wildlife and stopping to enjoy traditional pubs, tea rooms and country walks, as well as exciting historic attractions and cultural events.
Our peaceful canals and rivers offer a great way to relax and discover Britain from a unique perspective. Choose from hundreds of top quality boats offering all the comforts of home, and all operated by established canal boat holiday companies.
Our canal boat hire operators offer a range of holidays from each starting point.
Short breaks are three-night weekends or four night mid-week holidays. They are great for beginners, providing the chance to get a taste of life afloat on Britain’s inland waterways.
One week holidays provide seven nights away, starting on a Friday or a Saturday. A week afloat offers the chance to travel further and explore more waterside attractions.
Longer holidays can be 10-days, two weeks or even longer. These holidays offer the chance to travel round some of the larger circuits, taking in a wide range of landscapes and destinations.
To find out more about the different holiday options available, please use our interactive map below.
Start Points- Click on any start location to view all of the local routes available
Please use the Key to the left of the map to view recommended Attractions and Places of Interest
WIN
A DAY OUT ON A CANAL BOAT WITH DRIFTERS BOATING HOLIDAYS
Drifters is offering the chance to win a day afloat, worth up to £189!
Things you need to know
Great British Boating offers information and advice to help you decide on the right boat, departure point and journey for you.
Operating Locks
It’s easy to learn how to steer a narrowboat and operate the locks. You don’t need a licence and all our narrowboat hire operators provide expert tuition and detailed pre-arrival information.
Great British Boating offers the choice of over 40 canal boat hire departure points, and most are located within a reasonable train or taxi ride from an international airport. Transfers can easily be arranged.
Things to see & do
From quiet country pubs and village churches, to exciting historic attractions where history and culture come to life, you’ll find plenty of places to visit on your canal journey.
Testimonials
Take a look at what some of our customers say about their holidays with us.
The Stratford Canal
Leonard, Utrecht. NL
To sum up, we had a great week on the boat, with our captain (my wife) receiving praise at several moments from other more experienced boaters and the crew receiving offers to be hired by other captains 😉
The Warwickshire Ring
Elizabeth, Wiesbaden, Germany
Their boat was excellent value, and when we needed help, they responded immediately. The staff were friendly and thoughtful, and they were completely dedicated to making sure that our holiday continued without a hitch
THE WARWICKSHIRE RING
Catherine M, Saskatoon, Canada
It was a great adventure as we went through over 20 locks. Stopped in many villages to eat in the pubs. Took a bus to Warwick Castle and Stratford
Great British Boating Holidays is brought to you by Drifters Waterways Holidays.