Canal Boat Day Hire & Holiday Guides In England & Wales

Spend Christmas or New Year on the canals with Anglo Welsh This winter, we're offering winter cruising* over Christmas and New Year from six of our narrowboat hire bases. The...

A brief history of the canals

A canal boat holiday takes you back in time. You'll be journeying through history when you float along our inland waterways constructed in a bygone era of horse-drawn transport. The...

Easy recipes to cook on a canal boat holiday

Our modern narrowboats have well equipped kitchens so you can prepare tasty meals on board In our galley kitchens, you’ll find a sink with hot and cold running water, a...

Our top 3 celebration destinations

Britain’s beautiful canal network passes through some of our most exciting towns and cities In many of our canalside cities, waterfronts have been transformed into vibrant destinations, with shops, bars,...

Top 5 places to celebrate Halloween on a canal boat holiday

Canal boat holidays offer the chance to enjoy a family staycation afloat this October Half Term You can spend time together exploring the waterways and visit waterside destinations hosting spooky...

UK’s most impressive aqueducts

To help you plan your next narrowboat holiday, we've listed the most impressive canal aqueducts to look out for in England and Wales There are few things as magical as...

Top 7 holidays for 2025

Top 7 canal boat and narrowboat holidays in England and Wales for 2025 Our 2025 holidays are now available to book at 2024 prices with an early booking discount* 1....

Top 7 canal boat holidays for beginners

We've got some great short break canal holiday destinations perfect for beginners You don’t need a licence to steer a canal boat and it’s easy for first-timers to learn to...

Top canal boat holiday wildlife hotspots

Narrowboat holidays are like floating safaris, giving you the chance to spot a wide range of wildlife The nation’s network of inland waterways have become an important place for biodiversity....

Top 6 Easter family canal boat holidays

Take to the water this Easter to enjoy a family boating adventure You can cruise slowly through the spring countryside aboard your own floating holiday home and stop off at...

Best narrowboat holiday getaways for couples

A boating break on Britain's beautiful inland waterways can be a perfect minibreak for couples wanting to experience life in the slow lane Slow life down to a tranquil three...

Top 9 canal boat holiday staycations

Britain’s beautiful canal network provides the perfect destination for a boating staycation experience Whether it’s the appeal of pottering slowly through the countryside, watching out for wildlife and stopping off...

Best pet friendly canal boat holidays

Narrowboats provide a floating holiday home so it’s possible to take many types of pets on the canals Canal boat holidays are especially great for dogs, with plenty of towpath...

Historic sites to visit on your canal boat holiday

There's a great choice of stately homes and historic sites to visit on a narrowboat holiday in England and Wales One of the joys of a canal boat holiday is...

Best February half term canal boat holiday destinations

There's a great choice of exciting family destinations to visit on a half term boating breaks on the canals All our boats have central heating, and some also have multi-fuel...

Best canal boat holidays for beginners

Every year more people experience the delights of holidaying on Britain’s beautiful inland waterways network You don’t have to be an expert and you don’t need a licence to steer...

Tips for canal boat holiday beginners

We've gathered some helpful tips for those embarking on their first canal boating break You don’t need to be an expert to hire a canal boat and each year around...

Christmas canal boat holidays

Kevin Yarwood, Anglo Welsh's canal boat hire base manager at Great Haywood in Staffordshire, describes the winter wildlife he sees on the canals and Christmas canal boat holiday options. Here at...

Top 8 gardens to visit on a canal boat holiday

Gardens are great places to visit on a canal boat holiday, offering beautiful vistas, cafes serving dishes made with produce grown on site, and places for quiet contemplation and inspiration....

Seven reasons to take a boating holiday on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal

At 127 miles, the Leeds & Liverpool Canal is the longest single canal in the country and offers holiday-makers stunning scenery to enjoy. Opened in 1816, it crosses the Pennines...

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