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Drifters brings you Great British Boating

Drifters brings you Great British Boating

Drifters is made up of 10 independent and professional canal boat holiday operators, handpicked because they uphold the highest standards.

With over 500 narrowboats for hire from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales, Drifters offers the choice of the best of British inland waterways boating.

Our operators subscribe the highest standards and invest more in new boats each year than all other UK operators put together, ensuring we offer excellence afloat. Drifters members are all independently assessed and accredited by the trade federation for the boating industry British Marine, so you can embark on your canal adventure with confidence.

We work together, and with the national canal charity Canal & River Trust to promote Britain’s canal network and canal boat holidays.

All members are trained and accredited by British Marine for Hire Boat Instruction and Handover Procedures.

Drifters are at the forefront of setting new standards in safety and customer care. We’ve worked with the Canal & River Trust to create a boating safely video to help newcomers to our holidays navigate the canals safely.

Click here to view Drifters Standards

Great British Boating Holidays.

Tuition

Tuition is included in all Drifters holiday packages and if you’ve never been on a canal boat holiday, there couldn’t be a better time to try it. Managed by national canal charity the Canal & River Trust, Britain’s waterway network is enjoying an incredible renaissance with hundreds of miles of waterways restored in recent years, and over 3,000 miles of fabulous navigable waterways to choose from.

Britain’s canals and rivers run through many miles of beautiful unspoilt countryside, as well as passing pretty villages with historic canalside pubs, and find their way into the regenerated heart of many cities.

The fact that you take your holiday home with you as you travel, and you can stop more or less where you wish, means you can tailor your holiday adventure to suit your tastes. The countryside looks so different from the wonderful viewpoint and the view is ever changing.

On a canal boat holiday you will discover so much more about our wildlife and countryside as you drift along, leaving everyday cares behind.

The world of the waterways is a place of its own, in some ways it is a way to slip back in time. Drifters’ boats are fully-equipped with essential mod cons, including central heating, hot water, TV, well-equipped kitchens, showers and flushing toilets. And some offer five star accommodation, with extras like WiFi, wider beds, larger showers, baths, wine fridges and solid-fuel stoves.

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