Best family canal boat holiday escapes into the countryside this summer
Canal boat holidays on Britain’s beautiful inland waterways offer the chance for families to escape into the countryside this summer for a nostalgic outdoor family adventure, connecting with nature and each other.
Drifters offers a range of boat sizes with larger boats offering accommodation for 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 12 people, perfect for multi-generation holidays. Discounts are offered for multi-boat bookings, from the same location and for the same dates. So two sets of families can holiday together but with separate accommodation.
Canal boat holidays are pet-friendly with some Drifters operators offering up to three pets to join the family holiday for free. Others charge a supplement per pet, ranging from £25 to £35.
Tuition is included in Drifters canal boat hire prices, and you don’t need a licence to drive a canal boat.
Nigel Stevens of Drifters explains: “Families tend to arrive at our boat yards in a stressed and rushed state of mind. But once they’ve settled into the slower pace of life of a canal boat holiday, cruising slowly through the countryside, they unwind and become focused on the journey and each other.
“Parents often say how much they enjoyed seeing their children getting away from their screens and instead watching out for wildlife, noticing their surroundings and helping with the locks, steering and mooring up. They also enjoy playing cards and board games together in the evening, bringing back memories of their own family holidays when they were children.”
Drifters (www.drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of over 500 boats from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales. 2025 summer holiday prices start at £725 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four people, £1,235 for a week, but there are currently some great summer holiday discounts available. Just search online at drifters.co.uk and the discounts are shown.
Top destinations for families include:
Navigate to Bradford on Avon & back (20 miles, 14 locks, 11 hours)
On a short break (three or four nights) from Drifters base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes, canal boat holiday-makers can navigate to the medieval market town of Bradford on Avon and back. The route takes boaters through the Wiltshire countryside, and a series of locks and swing bridges. Bradford on Avon on the edge of the Cotswolds, often described as a ‘mini Bath’, has a great choice of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as riverside walks and historic buildings, including a stunning medieval Tithe Barn. Canalside pubs to enjoy include the Barge Inn at Seend and the Canal Tavern at Bradford on Avon.
***The 62ft ‘Foxglacier 7’ and 62ft ‘Fox Talbot 7’ narrowboats for up to seven people each are boat currently available for a mid-week break from Devizes 28 July to 1 August 2025 for £1,295, saving £504 and £1,345, saving £454 respectively. The multi-boat booking discount is £50 off the second boat. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, towels, canal map, life jackets, parking and tuition. Pets are extra, charged at £35 each.
Cruise through the Staffordshire & Shropshire countryside to Market Drayton & back (68 miles, 14 locks, 30 hours)
On a week’s break from Drifters boat yard at Gailey on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise to Market Drayton, the historic market town famous for its gingerbread. The journey takes boaters through 34 miles of quiet countryside, and along sections of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire and Shropshire Union canals. Along the way, there’s a series of villages with canalside pubs to stop off at, including the Anchor Inn at Cross Green, the Bridge Inn at Brewood and the Hartley at Wheaton Ashton.
***The 66ft ‘Pacific Gull’ and ‘Common Gull’ narrowboats for up to six people each are currently available for a week’s break from Gailey 25-July to 1 August 2025 for £2,080, saving £519 each. The multi-boat discount is 5% off each boat. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids, mobile Wifi and tuition. A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £10-15 per day.
Cruise through Cannock Chase to Fradley & back (25 miles, 10 locks, 12 hours)
On a short break (three or four nights) from Drifters base at Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, boaters can cruise to Fradley Junction and back. They journey passes through the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over 6,800 acres of heath land and ancient woodland to explore. And boaters can also explore the woodland trail at boardwalk at Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. Canalside pubs to stop off at include the Wolseley Arms at Wolseley Bridge, the Ash Tree at Rugeley and the Swan Inn at Fradley.
***The 69ft luxury ‘Phoenix’ narrowboat for up to 10 people is currently available for a 3-night break from Great Haywood 19-22 July 2025 for £1,844, saving £461. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets. A £70 fuel deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week. Charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
Boat along the Calder & Hebble to Shepley & back (22 miles, 32 locks, 16 hours)
On a short break from Drifters’ base at Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, canal boat holiday-markers can cruise along the leafy Calder & Hebble Navigation to Shepley Bridge and back. The route takes boaters through wooded valleys and the historic towns of Elland and Brighouse. At Elland there are two canalside pubs to moor alongside, and at Brighouse there’s a choice of restaurants, pubs and shops.
***The 53ft ‘York 6’ and 53ft ‘Rutland 6’ narrowboats for up to six people each are both currently available for a mid-week break from Sowerby Bridge 18-22 August 2025 for £1,350 each. The multi-boat discount is 5% on one of the boats. Price includes damage waiver, pre-holiday information, comprehensive instruction, fuel, gas, parking, buoyancy aids, bed linen and first pet. Second pet charged at £25.
Travel along the peaceful Ashby Canal SSSI to Shakerstone and back (95 miles, 8 locks, 37 hours)
On a week’s holiday from Drifters base at Braunston on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, boaters can cruise a section of the Oxford Canal and explore the beautiful Ashby Canal. The route starts with navigating a section of the Oxford Canal and passing through three locks at Hillmorton. Boaters then transfer onto the Coventry Canal at Hawkesbury Junction and onto the Ashby Canal at Marston Junction. This peaceful 22-mile long waterway passes the historic town of Market Bosworth and the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field. A six-mile stretch of the Ashby Canal from Snarestone to Carlton Bridge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its aquatic plants and dragonflies, making it one of the best canals to spot wildlife. The journey to Shakerstone and back, travels 95 miles, passes through eight locks (four each way) and takes around 37 hours. Canalside pubs to visit include the Admiral Nelson at Braunston, the Greyhound at Hawkesbury Junction and the Barley Mow at Newbold.
***The 49ft ‘Selene’ narrowboat for up to four people and the 59ft ‘Brendon’ for up to six people are both available for a week from Braunston 1-8 August 2025 for £1,725 and £2,080 respectively. The multi-boat discount for a week is 15% off the cheapest boat. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, cancellation protection, parking, tuition and first pet. Second pet is charged at £25 per week. Mobile Wifi is available at a cost of £20 per holiday.
Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ (28 miles, 4 locks, 12.5 hours)
From Drifters base at Chirk on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains can be reached on a short break, with the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to travel across along the way. On reaching Llangollen, boaters can enjoy visiting the town’s independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls. On the return journey, boaters can head back across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and then continue on past Chirk Marina to experience more of the 11-mile World Heritage site, going through Chirk Tunnel and over Chirk Aqueduct and on to Whittington. Canalside pubs to enjoy include the Bridge at Chirk Bank and the Sun at Trevor.
***The 29ft ‘Princess Signature’ narrowboat for up to eight people is currently available for a 3-night break from Chirk 30 August to 2 September 2025 for £1,700, saving £199. Price includes boat hire, non-refundable damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Fuel is charged on return based on use, circa £10-15 per day. NB Pets are not permitted on this boat.
For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk
For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
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