
Boating holidays
Slap on the sunblock and grab a lifejacket because taking to the high seas – or lake, canal, river or broad – on a narrowboat holiday provides an exciting way to view our amazing coastline and explore our peerless countryside. Most of our major towns and cities were built on rivers as trading ports and their history comes to life before our eyes from a watery vantage point on a boating holiday. Row along the River Thames, take a canal boat through The Fens, kayak through white-water rapids in the Lake District and sail the Solent amidst the gentle waves of a perfect summer’s day.
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Enjoy a boat trip on Canal River Trust's Waterways
Spend your weekend exploring Cheshire’s incredible waterways, at Anderton Boat Lift and the National Waterways Museum.
Location: Anderton, Cheshire
Glide through the waterways of unspoilt Cheshire
Take in quaint villages, welcoming country pubs, majestic industrial heritage sites and even castles on a boat trip through the county’s canals.
Location: Audlem, Cheshire
See the light at the end of the tunnel
Standedge Tunnel, in the heart of the Pennine countryside, is the longest canal tunnel in Britain.
Location: Marsden, Yorkshire
Take a trip on one of England’s last horse-drawn barges
Explore the Grand Western Canal on one of England’s last horse drawn barges, and enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding Devon countryside.
Location: Tiverton, Devon
Take a relaxing boat ride along the River Avon
Enjoy the tranquil waters of the River Avon by boat, as many have been doing for over 100 years.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Explore a living canal village
The Grand Union Canal at Stoke Bruerne is like an outdoor museum with historic canal features to explore.
Location: Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire
Kayak the River Dart
Have some family water fun in South Devon this summer.
Location: Tuckenhay, Devon
Take a wildlife safari in The Broads National Park
From the reeds to the trees, get up close to nature and see an incredible 11,000 species, the highest concentration of rare wildlife in England.
Location: Strumpshaw Fen, near Norwich, Norfolk
Discover a different Yorkshire on the river
Discover a new world with Shire Cruisers - steering a beautifully fitted narrow boat with everything you need, past ever-changing Pennine scenery.
Location: Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire