Our Boats brings together 25 family run English, Scottish & Welsh canal hire firms.

Our Boats provide great activity holidays on UK canals for friends, families, & pets!

You get quality service from family firms because these really are our boats. Deal directly with us.

No big holiday chains and their managers here, just independent family firms and our boats!

We personally make sure that our boats offer you a great value & enjoyable holiday!

Just click on the company name to see the company website, routes, boats and full booking information.
See another website by clicking on 'Family hire firm listings' at the top of each screen. Visit as many as you like, all offer something different!

V5a
Family owned,
Family run hire firms

Central & Southern
Foxhangers Canal Holidays on the Kennet & Avon Canal below the famous Caen Hill Locks, modern 12 boat fleet of 2-9 berth narrowboats. Comfortable cruising to Roman cities of Bath & Bristol.
Excellence Afloat at Valley Cruises, a family business offering luxury 5 star narrowboats, beautiful marina setting, wide variety of cruising routes and level of customer service that we feel is astonishing!
College Cruisers are a long established hire fleet based right in the centre of the historic City of Oxford. Routes include the peaceful Oxford Canal and the beautiful River Thames.
Oxfordshire Narrowboats. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the beautiful, rural and friendly South Oxford Canal with its Cotswold stone villages and pubs. London is less than an hour's drive.
Rose Narrowboats  are a family firm with a fleet of 23 luxury narrowboats for weekly or shortbreak rental in the heart of the Midlands canal system. On-line brochure here now.
The Wyvern Shipping Co. have 2 to 8 berth luxury narrow boats on the Grand Union Canal. Weekend and short breaks a speciality. Transport arranged from all London airports.
Fox Narrowboats run 4 and 5 star boats in the Cambridgeshire fens. Visit Ely, Cambridge or Peterborough. The Fox family have operated a hire fleet for over 35 years.
Lee Valley Boat Centre's East London base on the Rivers Lee & Stort offers unique views of London and the Thames or a welcome escape to the countryside.
Willow Wren offer a range of boats on the North Oxford Canal, from high specification boats for families and couples to specialist 12 berth craft for larger groups.

Wales & West
Maestermyn Cruisers have 2 to 10 berth narrowboats on the beautiful, historic and exciting Llangollen Canal for weekly & short break hire. Narrowboat Restaurant  /Inn on site for early arrivals.
Norbury Wharf. Independently managed, privately owned luxury narrowboats on the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal. Enjoy the country pubs, the freedom and heritage of the canals. Short & long term hire available.
Chas Hardern Boats, family run for over 30yrs offering a fleet of excellent value, well equipped 2 to 6 berth boats for all year cruising. Ideal for Shropshire Union, Llangollen & adjoining canals.
Starline Narrowboats are a small, friendly, family-run company based at Upton-Upon-Severn. Cruises include the majestic River Severn, Shakespeare's River Avon to Stratford or the scenic West Midlands canals.
Bidford Boats are a long established family firm, based on the beautiful River Avon in Shakespeare's 'Heart of England'', midway between Stratford-upon-Avon and Evesham.
Cambrian Cruisers, highest graded quality assured narrowboats on lovely Monmouth & Brecon canal in stunning Brecon Beacons National Park. Weekly hire/ short breaks for up to 6 people. Novices welcome.
Beacon Park Boats Cruise through the National Park on the beautiful Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. 5 star luxury narrowboats, unique with private cabins, large beds, two bathrooms, hot tub/Jacuzzi etc.

North & Scotland
Snaygill Boats are based in Skipton on the peaceful and beautiful Leeds & Liverpool canal, crossing the Pennine Hills and Yorkshire Dales. Full details in their online brochure.
Canal Cruising Company are the oldest family hire company established 1948. Located in Stone on the Trent and Mersey offering wide choice of routes, 2 to 8 berth all VisitBritain graded.
Marine Cruises offer well equipped 4 star 2 to 10 berth boats on the Scottish Lowland canals, on the  Trent & Mersey Canal and the Llangollen Canal.
On a Canal Boat Cruises holiday on the Leeds & Liverpool canal there's no rush! Luxury 6 & 8 berth boats based at Riley Green in the idyllic Lancashire country side.
Claymoore Canal Holidays has routes to suit everyone. Experience the Cheshire and Four Counties Rings. Cruise to Llangollen or historic Chester. VisitBritain graded boats, friendly staff. Expert tuition for beginners.
Andersen Boats has been a family business for over 25 years, located in Middlewich convenient for the Cheshire and Four Counties Rings and the Llangollen Canal. Well equipped comfortable boats.
Shire Cruisers give you the chance to explore the spectacular scenery of Pennine Yorkshire’s uncrowded waterways. Their boats are quality graded by VisitBritain. Helpful staff give a specially thorough handover.
Middlewich Narrowboats are a small family company who hire boats with 'character' including some fine traditional style craft with brasswork and boatman's cabin. Strategically located base on 4 Counties Ring.