The Drifters narrowboat and canal boating holiday blog

Cruising across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on a narrowboat

Llangollen Canal still open for holidays

30 miles of the Llangollen Canal from Llangollen to Whitchurch…
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Canal boat holiday on Britain's inland waterways

Best spring canal boat holidays 2026

Drifters guide to the best spring canal boat holidays in 2026 Cruising…
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Best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting.jpg

Best narrowboat holidays for wildlife spotting

Britain’s canals and rivers provide homes for many birds, animals,…
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Canal boat travelling along the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire

May bank holiday weekend breaks on a canal boat

There are hundreds of destinations to visit on a bank holiday…
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Canal boating on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire

Top 8 Easter 2026 narrowboat holidays

Choose from hundreds of Easter canal boat holiday destinations…
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Experience Christmas or New Year on a narrowboat

Experience Christmas or New Year on a narrowboat

Drifters offers winter canal holidays from seven locations in…
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Double cabin in narrowboat

New Narrowboats for hire in 2026

Every year new boats are added to the Drifters fleet. We offer…
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Canal boats on the Ashby Canal at Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire

A short break from Springwood Haven

Mary & Kevin of Luxe Beat review their first canal boat holiday Departing…
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Spot kingfishers winter cruising on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Winter cruising on the K&A

Allways Travellers describe the experience of winter cruising…
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Foxy Lark, and canal boat available for hire from Drifters boating holidays

Holidaying on the Ashby Canal

Little Wandering Wren has reviewed a canal boat holiday on the…
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Autumn events to visit on a canal boat holiday

Autumn events to visit on a canal boat holiday

Drifters offers over 500 boats for hire from 40 locations across…
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A weekend boating from Stockton on the Grand Union Canal

A weekend boating from Stockton

Holidaying on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Suzanne…
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canal boat holidaying on the Llangollen Canal

Love Travelling’s guide to holidaying on the Llangollen Canal

A week-long narrowboat holiday on the Llangollen Canal Setting…
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Visit Edinburgh on a canal boat holiday

Visit Edinburgh on a canal boat holiday

Cruise to Edinburgh on a week-long break from our boat hire base…
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Narrowboats are like floating holiday cottages

What it’s like on board a narrowboat

Narrowboats are like floating holiday cottages Marion Collinson…
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Blue Light Card Discount

Blue Light Card holders save 10% with our Blue light card discount. It’s our way of saying thanks to our NHS, social care & emergency workers.

Blue Light Card Discount

Drifters price promise

If you see the same holiday elsewhere at a lower price, we will match it. It would be good to flesh out this offer a little more to balance out

Drifters Price Promise

Hire Boat Survey

The national waterways charity wants to know about your experience of hiring a boat on the canals and rivers in its care, to help make the experience better.

Launch Survey

Drifters UK boating holiday blog

All the latest canal boating news from drifters

Luxury Travel reviews a Llangollen Canal break with Springer spaniel George

Llangollen Canal break review

Interior of Chirk Tunnel on a narrowboat holiday

Top tunnels to navigate on a canal boat holiday

Drifters narrowboat moored up on the River Avon

Canal boat journey to Shakespeare’s Stratford

Celebrate Father's Day afloat with a day out on a canal boat

Celebrate Father’s Day afloat

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Drifters Standards

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Interactive Canal Map

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