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

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

Welcome 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 550 narrowboats for hire from 45 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

Read More

Try out our Interactive map

Try out our canal boat holiday destinations Interactive map

Click here

Early Bird Discounts on 2024 holidays

Many of the Drifters canal boat holiday operators are offering discounts on 2024 holidays if booked early.

Book-by dates and discounts vary, but the discounted rate is is shown when you search availability here on the Drifters website.

You can search for all offers and availability at the top of each page of our website.

WIN

A DAY OUT ON A CANAL BOAT WITH DRIFTERS BOATING HOLIDAYS

Drifters is offering the chance to win a day afloat, worth up to £189!

You can enter our FREE competition 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.

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.

Read More
Latest news from

The Blog

Visit Edinburgh on a canal boat holiday

Visit Edinburgh on a canal boat holiday

November 25, 2023
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Avon-Aqueduct-Union-Canal-credit-Scottish-Canals-e1700920124748.jpg 666 1000 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2023-11-25 13:51:052023-11-25 13:51:05Visit Edinburgh on a canal boat holiday
Canal boat holidays in Cheshire

New canal boat holidays from Nantwich in Cheshire

November 20, 2023
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Alvechurch-16-2021.jpeg 1366 2048 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2023-11-20 15:35:452023-11-20 15:37:35New canal boat holidays from Nantwich in Cheshire
Canal boat holidays in England, Wales and Scotland

Best canal boat holidays in 2024

November 15, 2023
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AW-170-web-res-scaled-e1700066894381.jpg 562 1000 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2023-11-15 16:49:502023-11-15 16:49:50Best canal boat holidays in 2024
Electric day canal boat hire on the Peak Forest Canal

New electric day canal boat for hire on the Peak Forest Canal

October 28, 2023
Read more
https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Perfect-Day-23.jpeg 1366 2048 Debbie Ludford https://www.drifters.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/logo-300x62.png Debbie Ludford2023-10-28 15:55:322023-10-28 15:55:32New electric day canal boat for hire on the Peak Forest Canal

Popular Pages

  • Day Boat Hire
  • Map of the Canals
  • Canal Boats

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