Boating holidays on the UK canals & inland watersways UK
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  • Drifters Standards

    All our canal boat hire operators uphold standards of excellence, find out more here

  • So much choice

    There are hundreds of narrowboat and canal boating holiday routes to choose from, find the best one for you here

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Welcome to Drifters

Our holidays and the road map

Following the Government’s announcement on 22 February 2021, we regret to say that all our holidays booked to depart prior to 12 April 2021 are cancelled.

We will contact everyone affected, offering to either move or refund your holiday. Please bear with us as this will take a little time. If you have an urgent query, email the Drifters operator you have booked with.

Our holidays can resume from 12 April 2021.

In line with current government guidance, we are now accepting bookings for holidays departing from Monday 12 April 2021 onwards.

The current government guidelines allows only single households to travel together from 12 April 2021.

From 17 May 2021, the rule of six or two households is likely to apply indoors.

From 21 June 2021 all restrictions will hopefully be relaxed.

Please note, all these dates are subject to change in line with government guidance.

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Drifters narrowboat and canal boating holidays offers over 550 canal boats for hire from 45 bases in England, Wales and Scotland.  We offer you a one stop shop, from just finding out about canal boating holidays to online booking.

Narrowboat and canal boating holidays

All Drifters operators uphold certain industry standards of excellence, ensuring we are among the best in the business and all our customers can expect professional care and attention.

Please click here to view the measures we have put in place to help control the spread of Covid-19

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Try out our Interactive map

See the canals and all the holiday options

Click here

Drifters price promise

means our prices are always competitive.

If you see the same holiday elsewhere at a lower price,
we will match it.

Tuition is included in all Drifters holiday packages and if you’ve never been on a canal boat holiday, there couldn’t be a better time to try it.  Managed by the charity the Canal & River Trust, Britain’s waterway network is enjoying an incredible renaissance with hundreds of miles of waterways restored in recent years, and over 2,000 miles of fabulous navigable waterways to choose from.Britain’s canals and rivers run through many miles of beautiful unspoilt countryside, as well as passing pretty villages with historic canalside pubs, and finding their way into the regenerated heart of many cities.

The fact that you take your holiday home with you as you travel, and that you can stop more or less where you wish, means you can tailor your holiday adventure to suit your tastes. The countryside looks so different from the wonderful viewpoint of the water that there is a potential adventure round each bend.

On a canal boat holiday you will discover so much more about our wildlife and countryside as you drift along, leaving everyday cares behind.

The world of the waterways is a place of its own, in some ways it is a way to slip back in time, but with a modern boat.  Drifters boats are all fully equipped with essential mod cons, including central heating, hot water, TV, fully-equipped kitchens, showers and flushing toilets.  And some offer five star accommodation, with extras like WiFi, wider beds, larger showers and solid-fuel stoves.

DRIFTERS TOP 10 CANAL BOAT HOLIDAYS FOR 2013
Top 5 Yorkshire Canal Boat Holidays
New to the

Canals?

If you’ve never been on a narrowboat and canal boating holiday before, it’s easy to learn how to drive a boat and all our operators include tuition in their holiday packages.

You don’t need a licence and it’s easy to learn how to drive a boat. All our operators include tuition in their holiday packages.

We’ve got lots of advice for beginners, including the best routes, what to pack and how to prepare for a holiday afloat.

Drifters Narrowboat Holidays

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Latest news from

The Blog

Enjoy a day out boating this Spring

March 3, 2021
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Katya-Kids-Gayton-Sep-2020-e1614789167571.jpg 757 750 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2021-03-03 16:40:492021-03-03 16:40:49Enjoy a day out boating this Spring

Our holidays and the #RoadMapOutOfLockdown

February 23, 2021
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Blackwater-Meadow-9-e1614100413585.jpeg 600 900 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2021-02-23 17:15:102021-02-23 17:35:38Our holidays and the #RoadMapOutOfLockdown

Top 10 reasons to take a canal boat holiday

February 11, 2021
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Alvechurch-1-credit-Canal-River-Trust-e1613058316667.jpg 667 1000 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2021-02-11 15:47:572021-02-11 15:47:57Top 10 reasons to take a canal boat holiday

'Top of the locks' narrowboat holiday destinations for 2021

February 8, 2021
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Caen-Hill-Locks.jpeg 1333 2000 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2021-02-08 09:30:112021-02-08 09:30:11'Top of the locks' narrowboat holiday destinations for 2021

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@Drifters6 Top 7 May bank holiday #narrowboatholidays No.4 Glide along the Forth & Clyde Canal to visit Glasgow #holiday #staycation drifters.co.uk/top-7-may-bank… pic.twitter.com/0SuoZsk7UN

Yesterday from Drifters Waterways Holidays's Twitter via Twitter Web App

@lisaminot has included @Drifters6 #narrowboatholidays in her #staycation guide thesun.co.uk/travel/1416800…

About 2 days ago from Drifters Waterways Holidays's Twitter via Twitter Web App

Join @CanalRiverTrust #PlasticsChallenge and pick up a piece of litter next time you visit a waterway #biodiversity canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-a… pic.twitter.com/YnQNTDzH4B

About 6 days ago from Drifters Waterways Holidays's Twitter via Twitter Web App

@CanalRiverTrust are holding a series of virtual open days to showcase their £45million winter works programme #wellbeing #narrowboatholidays #staycations #lifesbetterbywater canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-… pic.twitter.com/ednHP8DC6D

About 6 days ago from Drifters Waterways Holidays's Twitter via Twitter Web App

@MirrorTravel @TravelEdNigel lists the best aqueducts in the UK #narrowboatholidays #staycation #lifesbetterbywater mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-irel…

About 6 days ago from Drifters Waterways Holidays's Twitter via Twitter Web App

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