When looking for a more unusual break away that is a little different from a hotel or holiday park, many people will consider taking to the water, and when it comes to canal boats, England has a rich history of using them for both work and pleasure.
The Wyvern Shipping Co has one of the largest choices of boats for hire no matter whether you are looking to take your whole family on a fantastic adventure, or you fancy a romantic getaway for you and your partner, you cannot go wrong when booking a holiday with us!
Perfect for families, couples or a group of friends, our canal network offers miles of beautiful, historic waterways that are teeming will local wildlife. A gentle potter along our canals on a comfortable narrowboat can really let you connect with nature on a level that you simply cannot get from any other type of holiday.
Explore over 200 years of history
Before the invention of the motor engine, narrowboats and barges were the backbones of the UK transport system. Even today there are over 3000 miles of waterways that network the country where you can take canal boat holidays and discover historic towns, cities and villages that relied on the canal network and allowed their economies to thrive.
Taking holidays onboard canal boats in England offers you the chance to visit beautiful ancient waterside villages and hamlets that are well away from any major road network. Canals are lined with miles of open countryside that are simply stunning, and you can enjoy all of these things from the comfort of your own luxury narrowboat.
You don't even need to worry about steering your boat if you have never done this before. Our friendly and dedicated team of instructors will give you full instructions on how to safely navigate your boat, so you don't need to have any previous boating or sailing experience at all.
There will be plenty of time for you to ask questions and go over anything that you are not sure of, and our team will be happy to run through all the information you need until you feel completely confident. You don't need a skippers licence and you don't even need to know how to drive a car!
For those new to the idea of taking a canal boat holiday in England, it is a fantastic outdoor adventure that you will never forget!
If you want to you can learn how to navigate locks, tunnels and swing bridges, although there are many routes where you do not encounter any of these. If you love to go fishing, as long as you have a rod licence you can fish from the comfort of your own boat and reach areas of the water that would be difficult from the bank.
Because you can access a lot of different waterways with our canal boats, you can explore lots of rural routes and we can supply you with waterway maps and guides to follow on your journey. Don't forget that the canals were built for transportation, so there will be plenty of opportunities to stop off along the way.
You can moor up anywhere along the towpath side of the canal as long as you are not obstructing anything. This gives you the chance to stop off and explore any interesting places or take a leisurely picnic in a beautiful spot next to the canal.
If you fancy visiting a few different pubs along your chosen route, you will be spoiled for choice! Waterside pubs are very common as they were the mainstay for canal workers back in the day. You will find many historic pubs that were built to serve the canal traffic and take care of the horses that towed the barges up and down the waterways.
If you are bringing the family dog, most canal-side pubs are dog friendly and will welcome your pooch into the pub and beer garden.
Don't forget that we also offer our quaint and pretty Waterside Holiday Cottage for those who love watching the canal boats, but would rather keep their feet on dry land. This could be an excellent base for a family holiday where you can relax by the water and watch the world go by and share the use of one of our boats to go exploring the waterways.