Drifters Narrowboat and boating holidays in England and Wales

Drifters Standards
All our canal boat hire operators uphold standards of excellence, find out more here
So much choice
There are hundreds of narrowboat holiday routes to choose from, find the best one for you here

Welcome to Drifters

Good news – our holidays can resume on 4 July

Visit Britain approved as Good to Go

The government has given permission for staycations in England to return from 4 July.

The Welsh government has said it will make the decision on whether to open up the country to tourists again on 9 July. If this is given the go ahead, it’s likely to take effect from 13 July.

The date for proposed resumption of Scottish tourism is 15 July.

We are looking forward to welcoming you back to our boat yards. In the meantime, we are putting in place measures to help keep our staff and customers safe during the pandemic.

These measures are based on the guidelines that have been produced by government, British Marine and the Canal & River Trust.

Key measures

Social distancing: We are putting in new social distancing measures at all our boat yards. These include signage to help keep staff and customers 1m+ apart, as well as staggering boat collection and return times to reduce the number of people on site at one time.
Cleaning: We are introducing extra cleaning measures for all our boats between each hire. This includes the use of approved antiviral cleaning products, and paying extra attention to surfaces that are touched regularly, such as door handles, taps, guard rails and keys. We are also ensuring our reception areas are regularly cleaned, and hand gel or hand washing facilities are available.
Boat Handovers: We are providing extra information to customers in advance of their holidays, about our boats and how to operate them. Handovers will be done a little differently, but you will meet one of our professional instructors and be shown how to steer and operate the boat. Handover staff will wear masks and gloves.

Individual Drifters operators are providing more information about the measures they have put in place on their own websites and customer communications.

There’s more advice and guidance for using the canals safely here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways/coronavirus

Up to date travel advice from the government can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-essential-travel-guidance

For more information about restrictions in Wales go to: https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance

For further information about restrictions in Scotland go to: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-what-you-can-and-cannot-do/pages/sport-culture-and-leisure/

Cancellations due to coronavirus

Bookings made through Drifters are subject to each operator’s own terms and conditions.

During the 2020 season, Drifters operators are accepting holiday deferrals where customers have to change their booking due to coronavirus*. Where deferrals due to coronavirus are not possible, vouchers or refunds will be given.

*See individual operator’s websites for qualifying reasons

Drifters Waterways Holidays

Drifters Waterway 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 boat holidays to online booking.

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.

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

New to the

Canals?

If you’ve never been on a canal boat 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.

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Drifters Standards

So much choice