“there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
Support our work
We need your support to keep canals and rivers alive. Donate today to make a difference
The charity making life better by water
Making life better by water
The clocks go forward this weekend and, with summer on the horizon, UK holidaymakers are being urged to take a leaf out of the classic book The Wind in the Willows* when it comes to making plans:
“there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”
There are over 1,000 self-drive canal boats available to hire on the 2,000 miles of navigable inland waterways in England and Wales cared for by us. With canals running through the UK’s most stunning landscapes, numerous pretty towns and villages, and into the heart of major cities, there’s a wide range of options for families, friends and couples.
Matthew Symonds, our head of boating & customer service, explains: “Our unique British canals are still navigated by boats just as they were hundreds of years ago. Today, people recognise that spending time on the water is a tonic for mind and body. Boating holidays are a way people can step back in time and connect with nature and our nation’s living heritage.
“Nine out ten people who responded to our Hire Boat Survey last year said they would recommend canal boat holidays to others and nearly one in five had travelled from overseas to experience boating on our peaceful inland waterways.”
Haley Hadley, of Drifters Waterway Holidays, which is made up of nine hire boat companies, says: “Travelling at less than four miles per hour through peaceful countryside, past canalside pubs and sleepy villages, canal boat holidays are often described as ‘the fastest way to slow down’. Every year around 450,000 people enjoy holidaying on Britain’s canal network and around a fifth of hirers are first timers.”
We've worked with hire boat operators to provide a welcome pack for holidaymakers, including Waterfront magazine, information about the charity, a postcard, bookmark and game sheet. Holidaymakers are encouraged to fill out the Hire Boat Survey and tell the Canal & River Trust about their time on the water.
To find out more about booking with Drifters Waterway Holidays visit drifters.co.uk.
We need your support to keep canals and rivers alive. Donate today to make a difference
Last Edited: 27 March 2025
Sign up to our monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about campaigns, upcoming events and fundraising inspiration