Entries by Drifters

Best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting

Here at Drifters we offers some of the best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting. Cruising gently through the countryside, there’s so much wildlife to see. From ducks, moorhens, swans and dragonflies, to kingfishers, otters, bats and water voles.  Even in city centres, waterways provide safe havens for a wide variety of plants and animals. Here’s […]

Our holidays are pet friendly

Canal boats provide a floating holiday home, so it’s possible to take all sorts of pets Our holidays are pet friendly, and as well as dogs we’ve accommodated rabbits, hamsters, caged birds, goldfish, cats, lizards and tortoises. Seven reasons why our holidays are pet friendly: 1. The majority of canal boats for hire allow up […]

Visit Saltaire & The Hockney Gallery

Reach Sir Titus Salt’s fascinating model town at Saltaire by canal boat You can visit Saltaire and The Hockney Gallery on a short break from Silsden. Saltaire, on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Bradford, was founded by Salt in 1851. In 2001, Saltaire became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with UNESCO noting: “Saltaire is […]

Top 10 canal boat holidays for 2025

The best boating breaks on Britain’s inland waterways in 2025 To help plan your next boating adventure, we’ve published a guide to our top 10 canal boat holidays for 2025. With boats travelling at a maximum speed of 4mph, and over 3,000 miles of navigable inland waterways to explore across Britain, canal boat holidays really […]

Best canal ghost stories

Britain’s 250-year old canal network has creepy tunnels, spooky locks and plenty of ghosts Britain’s 250-year old canal and river network provides the perfect backdrop for a haunting Halloween. From shaggy coated beings to shrieking boggarts, here’s a guide to the best canal ghost stories: 1. Prepare to be spooked at Blisworth Tunnel One of […]

Best canal and riverside pubs

There are hundreds of lovely canal and riverside pubs to enjoy across Britain It’s great to be by the water in the summer time. And there are plenty of canal and riverside pubs with waterside gardens perfect for watching the world go by. To celebrate, we’ve listed our top 10 canal and riverside pubs for […]

Culture on the canals

Enjoy culture on the canals on your next narrowboat holiday. There are dozens of fantastic art and historic centres on or very close to Britain’s 3,000 mile canal and river network. We’ve put together a list of our top seven cultural destinations: 1. The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford From Wootton Wawen on the Stratford […]

Pennine one-way trips

We offer one-way narrowboat holidays across the Pennines for experienced boaters Explore Yorkshire’s inland waterways and cross the Pennines on a one-way canal boat holiday adventure with Drifters. You’ll encounter some of the Wonders of the Waterways, including the Bingley Five Rise Locks at Bradford. And you’ll enjoy incredible views of the Pennines, Yorkshire Dales […]

Summer holiday boating

Take to the water for some summer holiday boating fun with Drifters Waterway Holidays and choose from over 550 boats and 45 locations. From lazing on the Llangollen to bobbing through Bath, Britain’s 3,000 mile canal and river network offers the fastest way to slow down. And there are plenty of exciting family attractions to […]

Why canal boat holidays are great for families

Experience a family adventure afloat making memories together With thousands of miles of inland waterways to explore on a boating holiday in England, Scotland and Wales, canal boat holidays are great for families. There are hundreds of exciting waterside destinations to choose from. So whether you are looking for a rural retreat or a city break […]