In July we sent our newsletter subscribers a short survey and asked why canal boat holidays are so special. Well done to 97% of respondents who correctly said ‘No’, you don’t need a licence to drive a canal boat. The same number of people said they think narrowboat holidays are good for families and 96% said […]
Whether you are enjoying a canal boat holiday, or just planning a day out by the water, when the weather is good, it’s lovely to picnic by the water. Here are some of our favourite canalside picnic spots, all perfect for watching the boats go by: 1. Tring Reservoirs, alongside the Grand Union Canal in Hertfordshire, […]
Canal boat holidays are great for families, offering the chance to set off on an adventure together, work the locks, spot wildlife, explore traffic-free towpaths and visit waterside attractions along the way. Our August bank holiday weekend canal boat hire prices start at £585 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for […]
A series of exciting canalside events are taking place over the summer holidays, so enjoy some festival fun afloat on your next canal boat holiday. From small-scale village festivals to world-class city attractions, here are our top five: The Llangollen Eisteddfod, 9-14 July The International Musical Eisteddfod at Llangollen on the Llangollen Canal is one […]
With the help of the Canal & River Trust, Drifters has gathered a list of the top 20 most popular canal boat names: 1. Kingfisher 2. Dragonfly 3. Phoenix 4. Willow 5. Merlin 6. Poppy 7. Serenity 8. Tranquility 9. Serendipity 10. Sapphire 11. Dreamcatcher 12. Free Spirit 13. Blue Moon 14. Freedom 15. Narrow Escape 16. Grace 17. Bluebell 18. […]
Over a quarter of a million people enjoy canal boating every year on Britain’s peaceful network of canal and rivers, including a number of celebrities. Last month, the BBC’s outdoor girl Julia Bradbury enjoyed a trip on a canal boat at the Crick Boat Show & Waterways Festival. Julia said:“I thoroughly enjoyed exploring some of […]
Narrowboat holidays are a great way to sightsee and there are hundreds of top historic attractions on, or close to, Britain’s 3,000-mile canal network. We’ve listed of our top five favourite canalside castles to visit on your next holiday afloat, together with our nearest canal boat hire base. Warwick Castle on the River Avon…said to be […]
Pubs and boats – sound like a good combination for a Father’s Day treat? Most Dads would agree there’s nothing quite like messing about in boats, so why not hire a canal boat for the day and plan a visit to a pub along the way. Drifters offers day boat hire at nine of its […]
Narrowboat holidays offer families the chance to set off on an adventure together – learning how to work the locks, navigate tunnels, speak the boating lingo, spot wildlife, explore mile upon mile of traffic-free towpaths and visit waterside attractions along the way. All our operators provide hirers with life jackets and boat steering tuition. Bikes […]
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 five cultural destinations to head for on your narrowboat holiday, together with our nearest canal boat hire base. ***The Swan Theatre in Stratford…Drifters’ base at Wootton […]