18th January 2025
Finding the right holiday gets trickier as you get older. You want something relaxing, not exhausting. Somewhere peaceful, not packed with crowds. A trip that's easy to plan and even easier to enjoy. Most holidays feel like they're designed for younger travellers with too much walking, tight schedules and noisy resorts.
Canal boat holidays are much slower, flexible and wonderfully stress-free. You control the pace, skip the boarding queues and enjoy proper peace and quiet. It's a holiday that actually feels like a break.
Canal boat holidays remove everything that makes modern travel stressful. There's no rushing between hotels, no packed itineraries and no feeling like you're on a timetable. You wake up, decide what you fancy doing and go at whatever pace suits you. Want to stop for lunch? Moor up wherever looks nice. Fancy a quiet afternoon? Stay put and watch the world drift by.
Our boats are designed for comfort. You've got a proper kitchen, comfortable beds and a cosy living space that's yours for the week. No sharing facilities with strangers or dealing with rowdy hotel corridors.
The canals take you through quiet countryside, away from traffic and crowds. But if you want something more active, you can head to the cities. The world is your oyster, and you still get to escape whenever you like.
Best of all, it's wonderfully simple. Simple to organise and simple to boat.
As most narrowboats are restricted in space, navigating the inside may be more challenging for wheelchair users. If you or someone you’re travelling with uses a wheelchair, check the size of the boat so it suits you. Give us a call on 0808 159 5070 (Free UK calls) and we’ll help you.
The best wheelchair option is a day boat hire at Goytre. Call us for more info.
For those who would rather not have to drive the canal boat themselves, there are Hotel Boats available. Think of a Hotel Boat as a floating hotel, where there is an entire crew to drive the boat and cater to your needs. They offer the same level of service you would expect at a hotel, just on the water.
Not only does this mean you’ll have more time to relax, depending on the size of the narrowboat hotel you choose, you’ll know exactly how many other guests you’ll be sharing with. You could bring the whole family, from oldest generations to newest, as they house up to 12 people. So, if you have any other friends or family keen on a narrowboat holiday, you could share a Hotel Boat experience with them.
You don't need any experience to drive a canal boat. Before you set off, our team gives you a full briefing covering everything you need to know. We'll show you how to steer, moor up and navigate safely, as well as provide you with emergency contacts and resources should you feel wary on the water.
The boats move at walking pace, around 4mph maximum, so there's no rushing or pressure. Steering uses a tiller at the back, which is simpler than it sounds. You just need to remember that boats drive on the right (opposite to British roads) and give yourself plenty of time to slow down, as there aren't any brakes.
Mooring is straightforward too. You approach the bank slowly, step off with the ropes and tie up to the rings or posts provided. Most moorings along the canals are free, so you can stop wherever takes your fancy, but it’s always worth checking in advance that you’re not on private land.
It’s pure relaxation for a holiday. There's no traffic to worry about, no complicated manoeuvres and plenty of space. If you can drive a car or ride a bike, you can handle a canal boat.
Everything you need for a comfortable getaway comes with the boat. You've got a fully equipped kitchen with a cooker, fridge, kettle and all the pots, pans and utensils you'd expect at home or a kitted-out apartment abroad.
There's a proper bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower. The beds have mattresses and pillows; you just need to bring your sense of adventure!
Birmingham and Return - Alvechurch Marina
This short break is completely lock-free, which means no fiddling with gates and less hopping on and off. You'll cruise for around five hours a day through Birmingham's canal network and back again. It's a relaxed three-night trip where you can focus on enjoying yourself rather than worrying about technique.
The route takes you past Cadbury World if you fancy a chocolate fix, and you can moor up to explore Edgbaston's Botanical Gardens. Brindley Place offers plenty of waterside restaurants if you’d like a night off from cooking.
Lymm Return - Anderton Marina
Just two locks on this route, so it's almost as easy as the Birmingham trip. You'll drift through quiet countryside with the occasional tunnel to keep things interesting. The slower pace means you can actually take in the scenery without feeling rushed.
Stop off at the Lewis Carroll Centre in Daresbury to learn about the author's childhood and the origins of Alice in Wonderland. The real highlight is the Anderton Boat Lift, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways and genuinely impressive to see working.
This Welsh route only has a handful of locks spread across the week. It's wonderfully peaceful. Simply proper countryside with very little traffic or noise.
Goytre Wharf sits on the edge of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so there's plenty of history to explore. Brecon is known for outdoor activities, so you can moor up and spend time cycling, hiking or kayaking between stretches on the water.
Canal boat holidays offer the kind of break that's hard to find – genuinely relaxing, simple and entirely at your own pace. No stress, no crowds and no recovering afterwards.
We're here to answer any questions you might have. Whether it's about accessibility, which route suits you or what's involved in steering, just give us a call. Browse our boats and routes online, check dates and book when you're ready. You can always start with calling our team, and there's never any pressure to book, just honest advice from people who know the waterways inside out.
