This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Accept settingsHide notification onlySettingsWe may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.
If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Privacy Policy
Top 8 museums to visit on a canal boat holiday
/in News /by Debbie LudfordBritain’s canal network is home to exciting waterside museums We’ve published a guide to the top 8 museums to visit on a canal boat holiday. The fascinating history of Britain’s 3,000-mile network of navigable canals and rivers and our nation’s industrial past are brought to life through our waterside museums. 1. National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere […]
Family holiday on the Llangollen Canal
/in News /by Debbie Ludford15 reasons why you should take a narrowboat holiday on the Llangollen Canal Earlier this month, Jenny from Monkey and Mouse experienced a family holiday on the Llangollen Canal. Setting off from our Whitchurch base with her husband and two children, the family spent a week cruising to Llangollen and back. In her review ‘15 […]
Canal anniversaries in 2026
/in News /by Debbie LudfordEvery year there are anniversaries celebrated across the canal network There are some exciting canal anniversaries in 2026, including the 200th birthday of the Lancaster Canal. We’ve listed canals and structures celebrating birthdays in 2026, that you can reach on a Drifters boating holiday: The Leeds & Liverpool Canal main line is 210 years old […]
Best family canal boat holiday escapes this summer
/in News /by Debbie LudfordCanal boat holidays on Britain’s beautiful inland waterways offer the chance to escape into the countryside for a nostalgic outdoor family adventure, connecting with nature and each other. To help plan your next adventure afloat, we’ve published a guide to our best family canal boat holiday escapes this summer. There are over 3,000 miles of […]
Canal anniversaries in 2025
/in News /by Debbie LudfordMost of the canal network was built over 200 years ago With dozens of canals and hundreds of iconic structures, every year there are canal anniversaries to be celebrated across the network. Here are some of the canal anniversaries in 2025, and our nearest bases for visiting on a canal boat holiday: The Anderton Boat […]
Guidance for hire boaters
/in News /by Debbie LudfordWe provide expert tuition as part of our canal boat hire package Drifters is made up of nine canal boat hire operators, all providing expert guidance for hire boaters on how to navigate the canals safely and respectfully. All our operators uphold industry standards of excellence, ensuring we are among the best in the business, […]
Best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting
/in News /by Debbie LudfordBritain’s canals and rivers provide homes for many birds, animals, fish and insects To celebrate #EarthDay2025 (22 April) we’ve published a guide to the best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting. Cruising gently through the countryside, you can enjoy spotting anything from ducks, moorhens and swans, to dragonflies, kingfishers and bats. Even in city centres, waterways […]
Best canal and riverside pubs
/in News /by DriftersThere are hundreds of lovely canal and riverside pubs to enjoy across Britain It’s great to be by the water in the summer time, so we’ve published a guide to the best canal and riverside pubs, with our nearest canal boat hire bases: 1. The Bridge Inn, Chirk Bank in Shropshire You can reach this […]
10 reasons to take a canal boat holiday
/in News /by Debbie LudfordStep back in time and connect with nature on a boating holiday this summer The clocks go forward this weekend and, with summer on the horizon, we’ve listed 10 reasons to take a canal boat holiday this summer. There are over 1,000 self-drive canal boats available to hire on the 2,000 miles of navigable inland […]
Best days out boating on the canals this spring
/in News /by Debbie LudfordDrifters offers canal boat day hire from 19 locations in England and Wales. We’ve published a guide to the best days out boating on the canals this spring. With prices starting from just £10 per person, hiring a canal boat for the day is a great way to get the family together for a memorable […]