E

ngland’s ideal for a bit of messing around on the river . If you’re new to the thrill of boating holidays then head east to the Norfolk Broads , where you’ll find the 125-miles of waterways are wide, meandering and lock-free.

They’re peaceful too, or at least the rivers are. The banks, however, are teeming with rare butterflies, swans and the odd slippery otter – his coat shining in the sun. It’s easy to see why Victorian industrialists loved their boating holidays in this part of the world; in fact, as you glide past elegant windmills and picturesque villages, things don’t seem to have changed all that much since.

The same can’t be said about London's Regents Canal , however. Originally used to transport coal and cargo through the metropolis, today the waterway is purely for pleasure. On a canal boat holiday in the capital, you can gaze into the chic Georgian houses of Little Venice, hear the market-traders’ shouts as you sail through Camden – and peer in on the bustle of the City’s office blocks. But, with 13 locks along the way, all this is done at a rather leisurely pace.

If you’re looking to up the tempo, why not try the River Wye – for a riverboat holiday with a dash of adventure thrown in. The fast-flowing downstream currents need a steady hand on the rudder and a keen eye for what’s ahead. Watch out for the pretty waterside pub while you’re negotiating that patch of shingle. Well, you are on holiday after all…