Stretching across southern England, the Kennet and Avon Canal is a popular choice for beginners. It connects the River Thames with Bristol, passing through enchanting countryside, charming villages and historic sites such as Bath and Bradford-on-Avon.
Those boats floating down the Mon and Brec are not only subjected to some of the quietest canals in Britain but also some of the most beautiful. The canal is almost entirely located in the Brecon Beacons National Park and is only 35 miles long – easily achievable by narrowboat in a week.
For a relaxing short canal holiday, head to the Llangollen Canal in Wales. Starting from our Chirk Base you can enjoy a two-day trip to the head of this canal, then return with no locks to travel through. This is an easy canal route that suits beginners or those looking for a relaxing canal boat holiday.
Wardle Lock Branch: The UK's shortest canal, the Wardle Lock Branch of the Trent & Mersey Canal, features just one lock measuring 72 feet in length, accompanied by a small stretch of canal on either side.
The Llangollen Canal is renowned as one of the UK's most picturesque waterways. Spanning the border between England and Wales, you can expect to see endless rolling countryside, filled with countless historical artifacts and heritage sites, from steam railways to traditional horse drawn barges.
From deepest to steepest on the longest canal the country, it's Bingley Five Rise Locks on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal (above). One of our seven wonders of the waterways, this staircase lock rises an incredible 18 metres over a distance of just 98 metres.
Grand Union canal. The longest canal in the UK at an impressive 137 miles, the Grand Union canal brings plenty of choice for potential holiday routes, especially if you start near the junction with the Oxford canal (just south of Rugby).
The Panama Canal is one of the most famous and strategically important canals in the world. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama.
Hiring a narrowboat for one week can cost between £600 - £2560 for a boat or between £109.5 - £945 per person, short 3 night weekend breaks start at £77.25 per person, the price depends on multiple factors such as the time of year, size of the boat and the starting location or hire base.
Is it hard to drive a narrowboat? Most people get the hang of driving a narrow boat in just a couple of hours. At the start of your canal boat holiday we'll give you a hands-on lesson of how to operate the boat, and we'll stay with you until you are feeling confident.
The average UK canal depth varies from canal to canal, and lock to lock. However, most of the UK's canals were initially constructed to take fully-laden freight carrying vessels of six-foot draft – as, originally, canal boats were in fact horse-drawn.
Can you travel the whole of the UK on a canal boat?
As you may have guessed from the name, this canal route links the cities of Liverpool and Leeds. It includes 91 locks along its main line and is 127 miles in total. If you carry on your journey even further past Leeds to the Aire and Calder Navigation, you can travel across the UK from coast to coast.
The Grand Union Canal was once a busy industrial waterway connecting London with the Midlands. Connecting the River Brent to the rest of our canal system, today, Hanwell's flight of seven locks is a great place for a country walk - in the middle of London!
Tuel Lane Lock is a canal lock, situated on the Rochdale Canal in Sowerby Bridge, England. It was built in 1996 as part of the canal's restoration, and replaces two previous locks, locks 3 and 4, from the original canal system. With a fall of 19 feet 8.5 inches (6 m), it is the deepest lock in the United Kingdom.
How far can I travel? During the summer months, when the days are longer and the weather is (usually) better, you can expect to cruise for anywhere between four and seven hours a day. Travelling at 3-4mph daily will mean you cover around 80 to 100 miles in a week.
The Lancaster Canal is 41 miles long from Preston to Tewitfield. The original northern section reaches Kendal but is no longer navigable due to the M6 motorway construction.
Most self drive hire boat prices include diesel fuel, gas for cooking and heating, parking, tuition, bed linen & towels. Some boats will allow pets but there may be a small surcharge. Check with the hire or hotelboat company before booking.
Most canal hire firms won't hire to a single handed boater because of the risks. Canal holidays on your own can be hard work and difficult, best for experienced boaters. Hotelboats encourage single travellers, often with single cabins or single rates.
Just living on a boat does not entitle you to pay council tax. If you're a continuous cruiser, and have no link to a mooring where you have a permanent right to return, you do not need to pay council tax. In a residential mooring, you are required to pay council tax as it is your permanent address.
