Great British Boating offers the choice of over 40 canal boat rental departure points, and most are located within a reasonable train or taxi ride from an international airport. Transfers can easily be arranged.
To find out more about the different canal vacation options available, please use our interactive map below.
Canals and rivers of England
There are over 2,000 miles of scenic canals and rivers to explore in England by boat. They take you through rich and varied landscapes, including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, heritage centres and nature reserves. England’s navigable canals and rivers also take into some of Britain’s best loved towns and cities.
Our most popular canal boat vacation destinations in England:
- UNESCO World Heritage Bath and the Caen Hill flight at Devizes on the Kennet & Avon Canal
- Oxford on the River Thames and the Oxford Canal in Oxfordshire
- Cambridge on the Fenland waterways in East Anglia
- Chester on the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire
- Shakespeare’s Stratford on the River Avon and the Stratford Canal
- Birmingham on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and the Birmingham Canal Navigations
- The Yorkshire Dales, Skipton Castle, Leeds and UNESCO World Heritage Saltaire on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Yorkshire
- The Battle of Bosworth Heritage Centre on the Ashby Canal in Leicestershire
- Warwick Castle and Royal Leamington Spa on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire
- The Calder Valley and the Pennines on the Rochdale Canal in West Yorkshire
- World of Wedgewood, the Shugborough Estate and Cannock Chase Forest on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire
- Worcester on the River Severn and Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Worcestershire
- The Special Area of Conservation on the Montgomery Canal in Shropshire
- The Shropshire Lake District on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire
- The Anderton Boat Lift (also known as ‘The Cathedral of the Canals’) and Roman Middlewich in Cheshire
Canals of Wales
There are 76 miles of canals in Wales to explore on a narrowboat. There are world heritage sites, castles and other historic sites to visit along the way, as well as quaint villages with traditional pubs and cafes serving cream teas.
Our most popular canal boat vacation destinations in Wales:
- The UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Chirk Castle on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales
- UNESCO World Heritage Blaenarvon and the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in South Wales
The Scottish Lowland Canals
The Lowland Canals in Scotland stretch for 39 miles, connecting Glasgow in the west with Edinburgh in the east. There are some magnificent canal structures to experience, including the world’s first rotating boat lift the Falkirk Wheel and the Avon Aqueduct.
Our most popular canal boat vacation destinations in Scotland:
- Linlithgow, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile on the Union Canal
- The Kelpies, the Roman Fort at Auchinstarry, the River Kelvin Valley, Kirkintillock, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum and the Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery in Glasgow on the Forth & Clyde Canal
Best routes for beginners
Journeys without too many locks are great for canal boat vacation first timers. Here’s a guide to some of our most popular beginner routes and destinations:
- UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Somerset, Bath, Monkton Combe, Bradford on Avon, Hilperton, Devizes
- Edinburgh on the Union Canal in Scotland, Falkirk
- Worcester on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Worcestershire, Worcester, Stoke Prior
- The Shugborough Estate and Cannock Chase Forest on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, Great Haywood, Gailey
- The Brecon Beacons National Park and Crickhowell Castle on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in South Wales, Goytre
- The Battle of Bosworth Heritage Centre on the Ashby Canal in Leicestershire, Springwood Haven
- The Yorkshire Dales and Skipton Castle on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in West Yorkshire, Silsden
- The UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Chirk Castle on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, Trevor, Chirk, Blackwater Meadow
- Market Drayton on the Shropshire Union Canal in Shropshire, Brewood
- Ellesmere in the Shropshire Lake District on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, Whixall, Blackwater Meadow, Whitchurch