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Debbie Ludford2025-06-11 12:44:282025-06-11 12:44:28Explore Birmingham city centre by boatWelcome to Drifters
Drifters brings you Great British Boating
Drifters is made up of nine professional canal boat holiday operators, handpicked because they uphold the highest standards.
With over 500 narrowboats for hire from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales, Drifters offers the choice of hundreds of narrowboat holiday routes and destinations.
Our operators invest more in new canal boats each year than all the other UK operators put together, ensuring we offer high quality holidays afloat. We are all independently assessed and accredited by the trade federation for the boating industry British Marine, so you can embark on your canal adventure with confidence.
We work with the Canal & River Trust for the good of Britain’s canal network – and to promote the enjoyment of canal boat holidays.
To find out more about Drifters Standards offering excellence afloat, please Click here
Hire Boat Survey
The Canal & River Trust’s annual Hire Boat Survey is now live.
The national waterways charity wants to know about your experience of hiring a boat on the canals and rivers in its care, to help make the experience better.
If you take a canal boat holiday this year, please do share your feedback here
Drifters price promise
If you see the same holiday elsewhere at a lower price,
we will match it.
Sign-up for our free Newsletter
Drifters’ monthly e-newsletter offers subscribers updates on:
offers, special events, competitions, destinations, boating tips and holiday reviews.
Click here for details
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.
We’ve got lots of advice for beginners, including the best routes, what to pack and how to prepare for a holiday afloat.
Latest news from
The Blog
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Debbie Ludford2025-06-11 12:44:282025-06-11 12:44:28Explore Birmingham city centre by boat
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Debbie Ludford2025-06-10 07:06:152025-06-10 07:06:15Grand Union Narrowboats has joined Drifters
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Debbie Ludford2025-06-06 12:48:272025-06-06 16:00:15Step off the grid for a mindfulness break
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Debbie Ludford2025-05-21 13:26:542025-06-02 12:46:00Top 5 canals on screen