Boats in Canals

Looking to rent boats in canals in Great Britain?

Drifters offers the choice of over 500 canal and boats for rent on canals and rivers in England, Scotland and Wales. 

There are over 40 locations to choose from, taking you onto the UK’s most popular canals and rivers for a canal boat holiday. Most of our boats are narrow boats, but we also offer widebeam boats at:

• Silsden on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire; and

• Falkirk on the Forth & Clyde and Union canals in the Scottish Lowlands.

You don’t need a licence to hire a canal boat on the UK’s canals and rivers, and tuition is included in Drifters boat hire prices.

Our canal boats range in size from cosy boats for two people to larger boats for up to 12 people.

There are hundreds of boating holiday destinations to choose from. Whether you’re looking for an exciting city break afloat or to escape on peaceful rural retreat, there are hundreds of boating holiday destinations to choose from.

Our boats in canals can take you to some of Britain’s best loved towns and cities including:

• The UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath on the Kennet & Avon Canal;

• The Roman city of Chester on the Shropshire Union Canal;

• The medieval city of Worcester on the River Severn;

• The university city of Oxford on the Oxford Canal and the River Thames;

• Shakespeare’s Stratford on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal and the River Avon; and

• Cambridge on the River Cam.

Some of our most popular rural retreat destinations include:

• The beautiful Vale of Pewsey and the Savernake Forest on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire;

• The Brecon Beacons on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in South Wales;

• The Cannock Chase Forest on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire;

• The remains of the Forest of Arden on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Worcestershire;

• The Shropshire Lake District on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire; and

• The Pennines and Yorkshire Dales on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire.

Drifters boats in canals are operated by 10 established and reputable UK companies.

Overseas visitors may find Great British Boating Holidays a useful site for further information.