Top 9 canal boat holidays for 2026

Britain’s peaceful inland waterways provide the perfect staycation destination for 2026

Boating slowly through the countryside at just four miles per hour, watching out for wildlife, is a great way to relax. It’s free to moor up almost anywhere on Britain’s 3,000-mile network of navigable inland waterways. So you can stop off at canalside pubs, villages and waterside destinations along the way.

Book by 30 September 2025 and you can secure your 2026 holiday at 2025 prices with a £150 deposit, and receive a 10% early booking discount.

To celebrate our early booking offer, we’ve published a guide to our Top 9 canal boat holiday destinations for 2026:

1. Boat through the Staffordshire countryside to Fradley

On a weekend break from Great Haywood you can cruise along the Trent & Mersey Canal to Fradley Junction and back. The journey takes you through a series of villages with historic pubs, including the Colliers pub at Rugeley and the Crown Inn at Handsacre.  Places to explore along the way include Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Wolseley Centre. Once at Fradley, you can moor up to visit the Canalside Café, the Swan Inn and Fradley Pool Nature Reserve.

The journey from Great Haywood to Fradley and back takes around 12 hours and passes through 10 locks (5 each way).

2. Cruise through the beautiful Bath Valley to Georgian Bath

On a weekend break from our canal boat hire base at Bradford on Avon, you can cruise along the Kennet & Avon Canal to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath and back. The route will take you through Bradford on Avon Lock and past English Heritage’s medieval Tithe Barn.  You’ll cruise across the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts and then you’ll pass the entrance to the Somerset Coal Canal.  Boating on through the Bath Valley, you’ll pass Claverton Pumping Station and the American Museum at Claverton Manor. Next you’ll reach Bathampton and the iconic canalside George Inn.  Soon after, you’ll reach Sydney Gardens where you can moor up and take a 15-minute walk into Bath city centre. There are many world-class attractions to explore in Bath, including the Roman Baths and Royal Crescent.

The journey to Bath and back from Bradford on Avon travels 18 miles, passes through two locks (one each way) and takes around seven hours.

3. Glide across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ in North Wales

On a week’s break from Trevor near Wrexham, you can travel along the Llangollen Canal to Whitchurch and back.  You’ll begin your holiday crossing the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, also known as ‘The Stream in the Sky’, which carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres high above the Dee Valley. You’ll cross the border into England at Chirk, home of the National Trust’s Chirk Castle. Then you’ll pass through the picturesque town of Ellesmere, with woodland walks, castle remains, cycle trails and Boathouse café at the Mere. You’ll then cruise on through the beautiful Shropshire Lake District to Whitchurch, where you can moor up to explore this historic market town, with a great choice of places to eat out, including the award-winning Black Bear pub.

The journey from Trevor to Whitchurch and back takes around 25 hours and passes through four locks (two each way).

4. Visit Shakespeare’s Stratford in Warwickshire

On a 3 or 4-night break from Wootton Wawen, you can navigate the Stratford Canal to Stratford-upon-Avon and back.  You’ll cruise slowly through the Warwickshire countryside, crossing over the 105-metre long Edstone Aqueduct. At the top of the Wilmcote flight you can moor up and walk into the village, where you’ll find the Mary Arden Inn. Then you’ll travel down the flight, going through 16 locks in total before you reach Bancroft Basin in the centre of Shakespeare’s Stratford. There you can moor up and explore this world famous historic town, home of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Shakespeare’s Birthplace.

The journey from Wootton Wawen to Stratford-upon-Avon and back takes around 11 hours and passes through 34 locks (17 each way).

5. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Saltaire in West Yorkshire

On a week’s break from Silsden near Keighley, you can cruise through the Yorkshire countryside to Apperley Bridge and back.  You’ll navigate through the famous Bingley Five Rise Locks, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways.  Soon after you’ll pass close by to the National Trust’s magnificent East Riddlesden Hall, hosting family activities and trails during the school holidays.  Next you’ll reach UNESCO World Heritage Saltaire, where Sir Titus Salt built beautiful Italianate buildings for his mills, and stone houses for his workers. Today Salt Mill is home to shops, restaurants and galleries, including the magnificent David Hockney Gallery.  You can then cruise on to Apperley Bridge, where there’s a fish and chip shop and choice of pubs, including the Dog & Gun.

The journey from Silsden to Apperley Bridge and back takes around 20 hours and passes through 32 locks (16 each way).

6. Boat through the Shropshire countryside to Wrenbury

On a 4-night break from Whixall, you can cruise along the Llangollen Canal to Wrenbury and back. The journey takes you along the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal, transferring onto the mainline close to Whixall Moss nature reserve. There are two lift bridges on the Prees Branch and then another four to go through before you reach the historic market town of Whitchurch.  Soon after Whitchurch, you’ll go through Grindley Brook locks and you can moor up just before Marbury Lock to walk into the village of Marbury, home of the Swan Inn. When you reach Wrenbury, you can moor up to explore the village, where the centre is a conservation area. There are walks to explore and the canalside Dusty Miller pub to visit.

The journey to Whitchurch and back from Whixall Marina travels 26 miles, passes through 20 locks (10 each way) and takes around 18 hours.

7. Travel up the famous Caen Hill flight and through the Vale of Pewsey

On a week’s break from Monkton Combe on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Somerset, you can cruise to Pewsey Wharf and back. The journey takes you through the Bath Valley and across the magnificent Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts.  You’ll go through the historic market town of Bradford on Avon, passing by its medieval Tithe Barn.  With the help of Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keepers, you’ll navigate up the famous 29 locks at Caen Hill at Devizes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways.  Next you’ll cruise through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  At Pewsey Wharf, you can follow the Pewsey Vale Trail and visit the Pewsey Heritage Centre and the Waterfront Bar & Bistro.

It takes around 44 hours to cruise from Monkton Combe to Pewsey and back, passing through 74 locks (37 each way).

8. Explore the ancient city of Chester

On a short break from Bunbury, you can cruise up the Shropshire Union Canal to the ancient city of Chester and back. The route takes you through the beautiful Cheshire countryside and past a series of canalside pubs, including the Shady Oak near Wharton’s Lock and the Cheshire Cat at Christleton. When you reach Chester, you can moor up close to Chester Cathedral to explore the city, including its famous Roman city walls and Chester Rows shops.

The journey from Bunbury to Chester and back takes around 14 hours and passes through 18 locks (9 each way).

9. Navigate to Warwick Castle for Britain’s greatest medieval experience

On a week-long holiday from Wootton Wawen, you can cruise to Warwick and back and visit Warwick Castle. The journey begins heading north along the Stratford Canal through the remains of the Forest of Arden. You’ll pass through the village of Lowsonford, with its Fleur de Lys pub. At Lapworth Junction you take the Lapworth Link and then turn right onto the Grand Union Canal.  You’ll soon reach Rowington, home of the canalside Tom o’ the Wood pub, and then you’ll boat through the 396-metre long Shrewley Tunnel.  Next you’ll come to the top of the flight of 21 locks at Hatton. The Hatton Locks Cafe and Hatton Arms pub are popular places to moor up for a break. In Warwick, moor at the Cape of Good Hope pub to visit Warwick Castle, where you can climb the ramparts, see the Kingmaker exhibition, great hall and state rooms, and take a tour of the castle dungeon.

The journey to Warwick and back travels 28 miles, passes through 76 locks (38 each way) and takes around 23 hours.

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