Day boat hire offers people the chance to experience a day out on Britain’s beautiful canals, stopping off for a picnic or a pub lunch along the way, and seeing what it’s like to take a canal boat holiday.
Full tuition is included so if you are new to canal boating you can learn how to steer the boat, travel through a lock and moor up.
Great British Boating offers day boat hire from nine boat yards across the Midlands, each with a choice of routes available. All our day boats have plates, cups, knives, forks and a kettle and most also have a toilet, cooker and fridge too.
1. Whixall Marina
Llangollen Canal, Shropshire
Cruise along the Llangollen Canal to the historic market town of Whitchurch, with its Brown Moss nature reserve, passing through peaceful countryside and Waggoners Inn at Platt Lane.
Day boat ‘Julia’ offers a day afloat for up to 10 people. Prices are £99 for up to 10 people on a weekday, £140 on weekends and bank holidays.
2. Anderton Marina
Trent & Mersey Canal in Cheshire
Departing from the incredible Anderton Boat Lift (also known as ‘the Cathedral of the canals’), cruise through woodlands and open countryside to historic Middlewich and back.
Day boat ‘Daydream’ can carry up to 12 people. Weekday hire starts at £150, weekends & bank holidays £180.
3. Bunbury
Tarporley, Cheshire
Travel along the Shropshire Union Canal to the historic Nantwich Aqueduct for panoramic views. There are moorings next to the aqueduct and choice of places to eat nearby.
Day boat ‘Bella’ out of Bunbury, offering a day afloat for up to 10 people. Prices are £99 on a weekday, £140 on weekends and bank holidays.
4. Trevor
Llangollen Canal, Mid Wales
Cruise along the Llangollen Canal to the incredible World Heritage Status Pontcysyllte Aqueduct 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, then on to Chirk and a choice of pubs.
Day boats ‘Jacob’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Lotty’, each offer a day afloat for up to 10 people. Prices are £120 on a weekday, £160 on weekends and bank holidays.
5. Blackwater Meadow Marina
Llangollen Canal near Ellesmere
Travel east to the Prees Arm of the Llangollen Canal, cruising alongside the beautiful Blake and Cole Meres, home to an abundance of wildlife and part of the Shropshire Lake District.
Day boat ‘Lazy Days’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £110, weekends and bank holidays £130.
6. Whitchurch Marina
Llangollen Canal in Shropshire
Cruise along the beautiful Llangollen Canal to Bettisfield and back, enjoying a walk and a picnic at Whixall Moss Nature Reserve along the way.
Day boat ‘Day Tripper’ can carry up to 10 people, weekday hire starts at £110, weekends & bank holidays £130).
7. Great Haywood
near Stafford, in Staffordshire
Travel along the Trent & Mersey Canal to the historic market town of Rugeley, passing the National Trust’s beautiful Shugborough Estate, and the ‘Wolseley Arms’ waterside pub along the way. Two Day boats are available to hire here, ‘Daphne’ and ‘Abi’ can carry up to 10 people each.
Weekday hire is £99, weekends and bank holidays £140.
8. Tardebigge
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Cruise north along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to Kings Norton Junction and back, passing through open countryside, wooded areas, two tunnels and the canalside Weighbridge pub at Alvechurch. Day boat ‘Emma’ can carry up to 10 people.
Weekday hire is £99, weekends and bank holidays £140.
9. Alvechurch
Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Travel along the pretty Worcester & Birmingham Canal to the canalside Hopwood House pub and back, passing through two tunnels and remnants of the ancient Forest of Arden along the way. Day boat ‘Away Day’ can carry up to 10 people.
Weekday hire is £110, weekends and bank holidays £140.
10. Wootton Wawen
Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire
Travel south along the Stratford Canal through Shakespeare’s country to the pretty village of Wilmcote, home to the ‘Masons Arms’ pub and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s Mary Arden’s Farm. Day boats ‘Dolly’ and ‘Charlie’ can carry up to 10 people each.
Weekday hire is £99, weekends and bank holidays £140.
13. Braunston
in Northamptonshire
Travel along the rural South Oxford Canal to the pretty village of Napton on the Hill with its historic landmark windmill and two excellent pubs, the canalside pub ‘The Folly’ plus the ‘Kings Head Inn’ in the village. Day boat ‘Water Ouzel’ can carry up to 12 people.
Weekday hire is £145, weekends and bank holidays £175.
14. Union Wharf,
Leicestershire
Cruise through the Leicestershire countryside to Foxton Locks on the Grand Union Canal, and visit the ‘Foxton Locks Inn’ and tiny Boilerhouse Museum to discover the story of the Foxton Inclined Plane Boat Lift. Day boat ‘Moorhen’ can carry up to 12 people.
Weekday hire starts at £150, weekends and bank holidays from £200.
15. Gayton Marina
near Northampton
Cruise gently along the Grand Union Canal to the historic canal village of Stoke Bruerne, home to a choice of canalside pubs and the Canal Museum, where visitors can enjoy a fascinating look at the history of Britain’s canal network. Day boat ‘Day Lark’ can carry up to 12 people.
Weekday hire is £130, weekends and bank holidays £165.
16. Goytre Wharf
Abergavenny, South Wales
Glide through the Brecon Beacons along the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal, enjoying incredible mountain views, and stop for lunch at the popular Star pub at Mamhillad.
Day boat ‘Rooster’ can carry up to eight people. Weekday hire is from £130, weekends & bank holidays £150.
17. Hilperton Marina
Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Cruise along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal to the magnificent Avoncliff Aqueduct and back, passing through the historic town of Bradford on Avon with its medieval Tithe Barn.
Day boat ‘Cheers’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £105, weekends & bank holidays £130.
18. Aldermaston Marina
Kennet & Avon Canal at Berkshire
Cruise east along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal in West Berkshire to Theale and back, stopping at the Spring Inn for lunch, or head west to Thatcham.
Day boat ‘Hey Day’ can carry up to 10 people. Weekday hire starts at £125, weekends and bank holidays £150.