From rural retreats to vibrant city centres, narrowboat holiday-makers can use their boat as a floating holiday home to explore our beautiful 2,000-mile network of canals and rivers, with the choice of hundreds of waterside destinations and historic canalside pubs to enjoy visiting along the way.
Whether you're an accustomed boater or are looking to try something new, a holiday afloat will never disappoint. Find out more by looking through our directory pages.
We caught up with the team at Drifters to hear about their top canal boat holidays.
1. Celebrate 20+ years since the reopening of the Anderton Boat Lift
Also known as 'the cathedral of the canals', the impressive Anderton Boat Lift recently celebrated its 20th anniversary since it reopened after extensive restoration.
Originally constructed in 1875 to connect the Trent & Mersey Canal with the River Weaver Navigation 50 feet below, the lift operated for more than 100 years before it was closed down in 1983 after extensive corrosion posed safety risks. After major restoration works, which took the best part of two years, the Anderton Boat Lift begain operating again in 2002.
A four night break from Acton Bridge will see you cruise the Trent & Mersey Canal to Barbridge via the Anderton Boat Lift. The journey to Barbridge and back cruises 42 miles, passes through 16 locks and takes around 21 hours.
2. Cruise to the historic Inland Port at Shardlow
On a week's break from Springwood Haven, boaters can travel to the historic inland port of Shardlow and back. The journey passes through the village of Atherstone, past Alvecote nature reserve, across the Tame Aqueduct, through Fradley Junction, Alrewas, Barton-under-Needwood, Braunston and Burton-on-Trent, home of the National Brewery Centre.
At Shardlow there are over 50 listed buildings, including the Salt Warehouse, which houses Shardlow Heritage Centre. The journey there and back passes through 58 locks and takes around 49 cruising hours.
3. Visit the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games site
With more canals than Venice, Birmingham is a fantastic city to visit by canal boat.
Many of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games venues were very close to a canal, including the gymnastics at the Arena Birmingham next to the Birmingham Canal Old Line.
From Tardebigge on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove, boaters can complete the Birmingham Ring in one week, which takes you right into the heart of the City.
Starting in Stockton, on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, boaters can cruise to Warwick and back in around 14 hours. The route passes through 40 locks (20 each way).
Overnight moorings are available close to Warwick Castle on the banks of the River Avon. The castle is said to be Britain's greatest medieval experience with ramparts to climb, dungeons to visit, live action performances, the UK's largest birds of prey show and the Horrible Histories Maze.
5. Potter through the Shropshire countryside to Market Drayton
Starting at Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal, it takes around 10 hours to reach the historic market town of Market Drayton, home of the gingerbread man.
Along the way, boaters pass through just six locks, a number of deep canal cuttings which have become havens for wildlife, and a series of villages with canalside pubs, including the Royal Oak at Gnosnall.
6. Cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal to Norbury
This rural route, perfect for beginners, takes boaters through 15 miles of peaceful countryside.
Beginning the journey at Autherley, this short cruise meanders along the Shropshire Union Canal to Autherley and back. It passes through just two locks and a series of pretty villages with canalside pubs, including the Bridge Inn at Brewood and the Hartley Arms at Wheaton Ashton.
7. Watch out for wildlife on the Ashby Canal
A week's adventure will see boaters cruise to the pretty village of Snarestone and back.
This largely rural route heads up the North Oxford Canal to Rugby and on to Hawkesbury Junction to join the Coventry Canal. Five miles later, the route transfers onto the lock-free Ashbury Canal, which winds gently through countryside for 22 miles. From Carlton Bridge to Snarestone, the canal is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), recognising the diversity of its plant, insect and animal life, including nine species of dragonfly, and rare native white-clawed crayfish.
The journey travels a total of 47 miles, passing through just eight locks (four each way) and takes around 32 hours.
8. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky' to Llangollen and back
From the base at Chirk on the beautiful Llangollen Canal in North Wales, the awesome UNESCO World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen, can be reached on a short break.
Standing at over 125ft high above the Dee Valley, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is 1,000ft long, supporting a cast iron trough across 19 enormous hollow pillars. With not even a hand rail on the south side of the aqueduct to obscure the stunning views of the valley below, canal boaters literally feel like they are floating above the earth. Once in Llangollen, boaters can moor up to enjoy exploring this pretty town nestled on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains, including its regular markets packed with local produce, choice of independent shops and restaurants and famous Horseshoe Falls.
9. Cruise to Todmorden for stunning Pennine scenery
For a short break from Sowerby Bridge, canal boat holiday-makers can travel to Todmorden and back along the Rochdale Canal.
The historic town of Todmorden offers visitors fine Victorian architecture, plenty of pubs and restaurants, and a busy market. Along the way, boaters pass through the beautiful Calder Valley village of Mytholmroyd, the birthplace of Ted Hughes, and the old mill town of Hebden Bridge, with a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs and a series of scenic waymarked walks.
The journey travels a total of 20 miles, passes through 34 locks and takes around 16 hours.
10. Discover the Droitwich Ring
The reopening of the Droitwich canals in 2011, 70 years after they were abandoned, led to the creation of this short circular route (also known as the Mid-Worcester Ring).
The Droitwich Ring totals 21 miles, and passes through 33 locks.
Get booking
Drifters Waterway Holidays offers over 550 boats for hire from 45 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. Tuition is included in all Drifters holiday packages.
For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk.
