Canal boat holidays on Britain's beautiful inland waterways offer the chance for families to escape into the countryside this summer for a nostalgic outdoor family adventure, connecting with nature and each other.

All the family can team-up to plan the route, steer the boat, work the locks and enjoy exploring traffic free towpaths and canalside market towns and villages.  There are hundreds of family-friendly destinations to visit along the way, including museums, castles, nature reserves and steam railways.

Nigel Stevens of Drifters explains: “Families tend to arrive at our boat yards in a stressed and rushed state of mind.  But once they've settled into the slower pace of life of a canal boat holiday, cruising slowly through the countryside, they unwind and become focused on the journey and each other. 

“Parents often say how much they enjoyed seeing their children getting away from their screens and instead watching out for wildlife, noticing their surroundings and helping with the locks, steering and mooring up. They also enjoy playing cards and board games together in the evening, bringing back memories of their own family holidays when they were children.”

Drifters (www.drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of over 500 boats from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales. All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition and canal boat holidays are pet friendly. 

2026 summer holiday prices start at £910 for a short break (three or four nights) on a boat for four people, £1,265 for a week.

Drifters has published a guide to its top 10 family summer escapes:

1. Cruise to Shackerstone and the Bosworth Battlefield and back (95 miles, 8 locks, 37 hours)

On a week-long break from Drifters' base at Braunston on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise the Oxford and Ashby canals to Shackerstone and back. The route passes a series of villages with pubs to visit, including the Stag & Pheasant at Hillmorton, the Barley Mow at Newbold on Avon, the Greyhound Inn at Hawkesbury Junction, Hercules Revived at Sutton Cheney and the Dog & Hedgehog at Dadlington. Boaters can visit the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park at Sutton Cheney and the Battlefield Steam Railway at Shackerstone.

***The 40ft 'Malvern' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for the Easter weekend (24-31 July 2026) for £1,265. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, cancellation protection, parking, tuition and first pet. Mobile Wifi is available at a cost of £20 per holiday.

2. Float across 'The Stream in the Sky' (37 miles, 4 locks, 16 hours)

From Drifters base at Blackwater Meadow on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, boaters can reach the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains a short break. The route takes canal boat holiday-makers across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 38 metres high above the River Dee Valley. On reaching Llangollen, boaters can enjoy visiting the town's independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway, Castell Dinas Bran and Horseshoe Falls. Canalside pubs to enjoy include the Bridge at Chirk Bank and the Sun at Trevor.

***The 47ft 'African Black Swift' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a 3-night break from Blackwater Meadow 7-10 August 2026 for £1,200, saving £300. Price includes damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, three pets, buoyancy aids, Wi-Fi and tuition.  A fuel deposit of £60 is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are approx. £15 per day.

3. Cruise through the Fens to Cambridge and back (34 miles, 4 locks, 12 hours)

On a weekend break from Drifters narrowboat hire base at Ely on the River Great Ouse, boaters can cruise gently through the countryside to Cambridge and back. The journey begins on the River Ouse to Wicken Fen, one of the National Trust's beautiful wetland nature reserves. There boaters can moor up to enjoy walking through fenland and farmland, past marshes and reed beds. The journey then connects to the River Cam, and goes into the famous university city of Cambridge, where there are many beautiful buildings, including King's College Chapel. Cambridge also has a great choice of shops and restaurants to visit, including the Ivy Brasserie and Bills.

***The 52ft 'Princess' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a weekend break from Ely 15-18 August 2026 for £1,467, saving £163. Price includes boat hire, non-refundable damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet.  Fuel is charged on return based on use, circa £10-15 per day. 

4. Navigate the Oxford Canal to Oxford and back (29 miles, 20 locks, 16 hours)

On a short break from Drifters narrowboat hire base at Lower Heyford on the Oxford Canal, boaters can cruise through the Oxfordshire countryside to Oxford and back. The journey passes the Boat Inn and Jolly Boatman canalside pubs at the pretty village of Thrupp. After the village of Kidlington, the route takes boaters through the outskirts of Oxford to moorings after Aristotle Bridge or Jericho Footbridge. From there, it's a short walk into Oxford city centre where there are so many famous sites to explore, including the Ashmolean Museum, Bodleian Library and Oxford Castle.

***The 69ft 'Duchess Signature' narrowboat for up to eight people is currently available for a mid-week break from Lower Heyford 25-29 August 2026 for £1,972, saving £219. Price includes boat hire, non-refundable damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen, towels and first pet.  Fuel is charged on return based on use, circa £10-15 per day. 

5. Navigate to Georgian Bath & back (39 miles, 16 locks, 22 hours)

On a 4 or 7-night break from Devizes on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, canal boat holiday-makers can navigate to Georgian Bath and back. The route takes boaters through the Wiltshire countryside, and through the medieval town of Bradford on Avon, where there's a great choice of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as riverside walks and historic buildings, including a stunning medieval Tithe Barn. Canalside pubs to enjoy along the way include the Barge Inn at Seend, the Canal Tavern at Bradford on Avon and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff. When they reach Sydney Gardens, boaters can moor up and take the 15-minute walk into Bath City Centre to explore this UNESCO World Heritage City, with its cobbled streets, Abbey, Roman Baths, shops, restaurants and museums.

***The 62ft 'Foxglacier' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a mid-week break from Devizes 3-7 August 2026 for £1,678, saving £175.  Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, towels, canal map, life jackets, parking and tuition. Pets are extra, charged at £30 each.

6. Cruise up the Shroppie to Barbridge and back (84 miles, 58 locks, 42 hours)

On a week-long break from Autherley near Wolverhampton, boaters can cruise up the Shropshire Union Canal to Barbridge and back. The route takes boaters through the Staffordshire countryside and a series of villages with historic pubs, including the Lesters Arms at Brewood, the Hartley Arms at Wheaton Aston, the Boat Inn at Gnosall and the Shroppie Fly at Audlem. The canal goes through a series of deep cuttings, full of vegetation and wildlife. Along the way, boaters can visit Market Drayton, famous for its gingerbread, the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum and the Dorfold Hall Jacobean Museum at Nantwich. At Barbridge boaters will find the canalside Olde Barbridge Inn.

***The 60ft 'Grace' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a week from Autherley 14-31 August 2026 for £1,994, saving £352. Price includes diesel, gas, cancellation protection, parking, Wi-Fi and tuition. There's a compulsory £75 damage waiver and pets are charged at £45 each.

7. Visit the old mill town of Hebden Bridge (14 miles, 20 locks, 11 hours)

On a short break from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, canal boat holiday-makers can travel along the Rochdale Canal to the old mill town of Hebden Bridge and back. Climbing through woods, fields and small stone towns, the journey there and back covers 14 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 11 hours. Once at Hebden, boaters can enjoy a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs, as well as stunning countryside walks with woods and crags to explore, and the Calder running alongside. Canalside pubs to visit include the Shoulder of Mutton at Mytholmroyd and the Stubbing Wharf at Hebden Bridge.

***The 56ft 'Buckingham' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a mid-week break from Sowerby Bridge 27-31 July 2026 for £1,359, saving £151. Price includes damage waiver, pre-holiday information, comprehensive instruction, fuel, gas, parking, buoyancy aids and bed linen.

8. Cruise through Cannock Chase Forest to Fradley & back (25 miles, 10 locks, 12 hours)

On a short break from Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal near Stafford, boaters can cruise to Fradley Junction and back. They journey passes the National Trust's Shugborough Estate and Cannock Chase Forest with over 6,800 acres of heath land and ancient woodland to explore.  And at Fradley, boaters can explore the woodland trail at boardwalk at Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. Canalside pubs to stop off at include the Wolseley Arms at Wolseley Bridge, the Ash Tree at Rugeley and the Swan Inn at Fradley.

***The 65ft 'Curzon' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend break from Great Haywood 14-17 August 2026 for £1,545. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets. A £70 fuel deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week. Charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day. 

9. Navigate the Grand Union Canal to Linslade and back (73 miles, 28 locks, 30 hours)

On a 7-night break from Weedon in Northamptonshire, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise along the Grand Union Canal to Linslade and back. The journey takes boaters past a series of canalside pubs, including the Narrow Boat at Stowe Hill, the Boat Inn at Stoke Bruerne, the Navigation Inn at Thrupp, the Red Lion at Fenny Stratford and the Three Locks at Soulbury. Places to visit along the way include the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne and Linford Lakes Nature Reserve at Great Lindford. The route also goes through the 1.74-mile long Blisworth Tunnel, the third longest navigable tunnel on the UK canal system. At Linslade, next to Leighton Buzzard, there's an arts centre and a choice of places to eat and shop.

*** The 55ft 'Driftweed' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a 7-night break from Weedon 7-14 August 2026 for £2,097. Price includes damage waiver, parking, gas, bedding, buoyancy aids, towels and tuition. Fuel is extra, charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day. Pets are extra charged at £30 each.

10. Navigate through the Brecon Beacons to Brecon and back (51 miles, 12 locks, 24.5 hours)

Isolated from the main canal network, the beautiful Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal runs through Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, designated an International Dark-Sky Reserve. This peaceful canal with very few locks, offers canal boat holiday-makers incredible mountain views, a series of historic village pubs to visit and on clear nights, views of the Milky Way. On 7-night from Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, boaters can cruise to Brecon Basin and back. The route goes through a series of villages with historic pubs, including the Lion Inn at Govilon, the Bridge End Inn at Llangattock, the Coach & Horses at Llangynidr and the Royal Oak at Pencelli. On arriving at Brecon Basin, boaters can moor up to explore this historic market town, home to Theatre Brycheiniog, Brecon Cathedral, Brecknock Museum and the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh.

***The 56ft 'Red Rumped Swallow' narrowboat for up to eight people is currently available for a 7-night break 22-29 August 2026 from Goytre for £2,699. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, three pets, buoyancy aids, tuition and Wi-Fi.  A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are based on use, approx. £10-15 per day.

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk

For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

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For Drifters press enquiries contact Debbie Walker on Tel 077486 40577 walker.debbie@sky.com

Notes to editors

Drifters Waterway Holidays is made up of nine hire boat companies: ABC Boat Hire, Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Countrywide Cruisers, Foxhangers, Kate Boats, Napton Narrowboats, Shire Cruisers and Union Canal Carriers. Between them they offer over 550 boats for hire, operating from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales. 2026 hire prices start at £713 for a short break, £980 for a week on a boat for up to four people. Narrowboats range from 32ft to 70ft and can accommodate up to 12 people.  All Drifters operators provide hirers with life jackets and boat steering tuition. Drifters holidays are pet-friendly.