Canal Days Out & Canal Attractions

Day Hire Boats, Trip Boats, Restaurant Boats & other Canalside Attractions.
You don't need to have a week spare and lots of sunshine to enjoy our canals. There are a large number of canalside attractions for all the family to enjoy a few hours, many of which are open even during the winter months.
Canal maps & cruising guides
Canal boat holiday hire routes
Canal boating holiday skills
Canalboat holiday hire boats
Narrow boat holiday hire FAQs
Canal holiday FAQs
British inland waterways FAQs
Skippered hotelboat cruises
Late booking canal holidays
BoatSeeker holiday search
Day boats are a great way to get some fresh air and to sample what a longer canal holiday would be like, lots of people get hooked this way! Skippered trip boats can offer scheduled cruises that you can turn up and join, or chartered cruises for a whole party. They often provide refreshments and catering onboard. Restaurant boats usually combine good food with a canal cruise.
And canalside attractions such as Canal Museums and Visitor Centres make a great day out for all the family. (Right: Anderton Boat Lift near Northwich)
Day Hire Boats - self drive.
Beacon Park Boats offer electric day boats with plenty of space for 6 adults and two children on the splendid Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in South Wales.
Bath Narrowboats have 2 day hire boats, Avon is luxuriously appointed for up to 8 guests and Kennet has space for up to 10 guests to enjoy a days cruising in style!
Boating Days have well equipped 10 person and 4 person day hire boats. Based near Northwich in Cheshire with Anderton Boat Lift just a few hours pleasant cruise away.
John Cale Canal Cruises on the beautiful Basingstoke canal, Party cruises March to December, Self drive day hire for up to 12 people, Public trips, canoes and pedalos for hire.
claymoore navigation Claymoore Navigation close to the junction of the Bridgewater and Trent & Mersey Canals in Cheshire have the stylish and luxurious Mock Turtle for up to 12 passengers.
copt heath wharf Copt Heath Wharf on a delightful stretch of the Grand Union Canal in the West Midlands near Solihull have an 8 person boat for full or part day hire.
Galleon Marine have a self-drive day boat which can carry up to 12 passengers on the clear waters of the Basingstoke Canal. Also available are rowboats, punts & canoes.
Lee Valley Boat Centre based on the Rivers Lee & Stort in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, offer rowing boats, canoes, pedlos and electric boats for hourly hire.
Maestermyn Cruisers on the Llangollen Canal is ideally placed for a lock free cruise through Shropshire’s lake district. Our 6 person day boat is an ideal way to get a taste for canal cruising.
Norbury Wharf. Enjoy the heart of the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal (seven pubs in seventeen lock free miles) aboard one of our two day hire boats, maximum 12 people including steerer.
pennine cruisers Pennine Cruisers at on the Leeds & Liverpool at Skipton in the beautiful Yorkshire Pennines have day hire boats which can take up to 10 passengers.
Rose Narrowboats on the Oxford Canal near Rugby have Rosette, a 32ft tug style narrowboat, which is available for self-drive day trips for up to 12 people.
Enjoy fantastic scenery while cruising the beautiful Leeds & Liverpool canal in one of Snaygill Boats new purpose built 32ft narrowboats. Full or part day hire for up to 10 people.
Sileby Mill Boatyard. Idyllic location in the rural Soar Valley with choice of day hire routes. 2-12 person all weather dayhire narrowboats. Ideal for family outings, parties, or a business development day.
Phoenix is a 40ft day boat available from Whaley Bridge Basin. Ideal for corporate events or family days out. Phoenix can carry and seat up to twelve people (including the steerer).
Your canal attraction could be prominently listed here. Listings in Canal Junction are free for basic contact info to £150pa for this enhanced listing.
Trip Boats & Skippered Day Cruises. Public cruises and Waterbuses run at regular times. Plus charter trips and speciality cruises with catering.
John Cale Canal Cruises on the beautiful Basingstoke canal, Party cruises March to December, Self drive day hire for up to 12 people, Public trips, canoes and pedalos for hire.
River Lee Cruises operate charter cruises on a beautiful stretch of the River Lee in Hertfordshire, offering catered party trips, discos, business lunches, wedding receptions, jazz cruises and outings.
Pennine Cruisers of Skipton: Daily 30-minute trips on 'Leo' up Springs Branch to Skipton Castle. A unique experience in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Runs all year round.
Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre. Take a journey of discovery in a glass roofed guided trip boat into the highest, longest & deepest canal tunnel in Britain. Runs April to October.
The Shropshire Steamboat Company runs Lake Cruises on beautiful Bigmere in Ellesmere, only five minutes walk from the Llangollen Canal. Cruise in style on our brand new lake steamer Lady Katherine.
The Pirate Castle for Canal Boat Adventure on London's Canals. Fun for all ages. Work the locks - steer the boat - watch the world go by. Skippered trips for up to 12 passengers.
Restaurant & Catered Function Boats See also Trip Boats above. Some offer catered cruises.
‘The John Rennie’ is Bath’s most luxurious all year centrally heated floating restaurant catering for 10 - 60 guests. Cruises in the Limpley Stoke Valley of up to 5½ hours are available.
Away2dine luxury cruising restaurant based on the Birmingham canals. Evening Dinner Cruises and Sunday Roasts with 3 hour cruises. Also available for Corporate Events and full boat Charters. Operates all year round.
Canalside Attractions - Visitor Centres, museums and canalside accommodation. We list more museums and collections in our Heritage Section.
anderton boat lift Located near Northwich in Cheshire, the Anderton Boat Lift is one of the greatest monuments to Britain's last canal age and known as the "Cathedral of the Canals". Ride the lift on their trip boat.
Away2stay offers all the comforts of home, staying on a canal hotelboat located in Gas Street Basin in the heart of Birmingham, ideal for shopping, sightseeing and for business.
The Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal to Kendal are currently the subject of restoration plans. Even now walkers can enjoy the peaceful scenery. The website has lots of fine photos.
Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre. Take a journey of discovery into the highest, longest & deepest canal tunnel in Britain. New visitor centre packed with information and things to do.
Stone-built two berth cottage set beside the canal at Marple and overlooking the Derbyshire hills. Available weekly or for short breaks. Wheelchair access. All heating and linen included.
You can also find Day Attractions on our Canal Guides
and clicking where you see
Other Canalside Attractions - Click to include your company.
Firm Attraction Location Contact
A&G Passenger Boats Ltd. Passenger boat trips, Heritage trips, Dining cruises, party charter Sheffield, South Yorkshire Tel: 0114 2786314
email: info@sheffieldboats.co.uk
Avon River Cruises Ltd - The Silver Salmon Bath Boat Trips and Private Charter Bath Tel: 0117 904 3671 or 07854 870508
email: avonrivercruises@blueyonder.co.uk
Bath City Boat Trips Boat Trips and Private Charters Bath Tel: 07974 560197
email: bathcityboattrips@btopenworld.com
Bridgewater Heritage Boat Company Boat Trips, Educational Cruises, Children's Birthday Parties Manchester/Worsley Tel: 0161 796 5455
email: daverigby@tesco.net
Brindley's of Stone Narrowboat Restaurant Stone, Trent & Mersey Canal Tel: 01785 812 210
email: geoff@brindleysofstone.co.uk
Brownhills Canoe & Outdoor Centre Canoe activities for school/youth groups, birthday parties, family days out, staff training, etc Wyrley & Essington Canal Tel: 01543452119
email: brownhillscanoecentre@hotmail.com
Budgie Transport Ltd Waterbus from Carnforth to Lancaster & Trip Boat Lancaster Canal Tel: 01524 389410
email: budgietransport@wyrenet.co.uk
Canal Boat Project Canal boat day hire, for community groups and people with disabilities Essex, Hertfordshire Tel: 01279 424444
email: admin@canalboat.org.uk
Canalside Restaurant Restaurant Skipton Tel: 01756 795678
email: ian@canalsideskipton.co.uk
John Cale Canal Cruises Canal cruises and self drive day hire Surrey, Basingstoke Canal Tel: 01252-837165
email: johnmayfly@btinternet.com
website: www.jccanalcruises.co.uk
Chesterfield Canal Trust Charter Trip Boat & Crew Retford Tel: 01246 280660
email: vicki_and_pete@dsl.pipex.com
City Centre Cruises Restaurant boat Manchester Tel: 0161 9020222
email: enquiries@citycentrecruises.co.uk
Clifton Day Boat  Day Boat Hire Rugby, North Oxford Canal Tel: 01788 543570
email: info@cliftoncruisers.com 
Cosgrove Narrowboat Company Trips, Charter and Day Boat Hire Milton Keynes, Grand Union Canal Tel: 01525 372853
email: enquires@cosgrovenarrowboats.co.uk
Dudley Canal Trust Boat Trips Dudley - West Midlands Tel: 01384 236275
email: ajp@dudleycanaltrust.org.uk
Farncombe Boat House Day Boat Hire Godalming, River Wey Tel: 01483 421306
email: enquiries@farncombeboats.co.uk 
Forth and Clyde Canal Society Trip boat Glasgow Road bridge, Kirkintilloch Tel: 01417721620
email: tnlawton@yahoo.co.uk
Foulridge Canal Cruises Ltd. Trip Boat & Private Charter Foulridge. Leeds & Liverpool Canal Tel: 01282 844033
email: info@boattrips.info
Freedom Boats Limited trip boat ,day & week hire Macclesfield, Cheshire Tel: 01625 420042
email: mal@freedomboats.co.uk
Grebe Canal Cruises Day Boat Hire, Charter & Public Trip Boats Pitstone, Grand Union Canal Tel: 01296 661920
email: enquiries@grebecanalcruises.co.uk
Guildford Boat House Limited River Trips, Rowing Boats River Wey, Guildford Tel: 01483 504494
 email: info@guildfordboats.co.uk 
Keepers Lock . Write and perform songs and stories from the Great Era of Canals Country wide Tel: 01773 836122
email: suzie@keeperslock.com
Kennet Horse Boat Company Ltd Trip Boat Operator Newbury/Kintbury - Kennet & Avon Canal Tel: 01488 658866
email: kennethorseboat@btconnect.com
Key Ferry Cruises & River Trips River trips, Private Charter, Parties etc River Nene, Peterborough Tel: 0845 22 609 22
email: mail@keyferrycruises.co.uk
Kittywake Canal Cruises Public boat trips/private charter Wigan Pier Tel: 01942 204928
email: bookings@kittywake.co.uk
Lime Farm Marina Day boat hire Rugby Tel: 01788 570131
email: info@limefarmmarina.co.uk 
Lock 27 Bar & Restaurant Anniesland, Glasgow Tel: 0141 958 0853
email: management@lock27.com
website: www.lock27.com
London Canal Cruises Exclusive Private Charter Daytrips London, Regents Canal Tel: 020 8440 8962
email: info@londoncanalcruises.com
London Canal and River Cruises Boat Trip Cruises & Charter Hire in London London Tel: 07915339779
email: ssirriuss@yahoo.com
London River and Canal Cruises London River and Canal Charters London Tel: 00447915339779
email: info@londonriverandcanalcruises.com
Lymm Day Boats Day Boat Hire Lymm, Bridgewater Canal Tel: 01925 752222
email: enquiries@cheshireboats.co.uk
M&I Marine Ltd Day Boat Hire Wincham Wharf, Northwich, Cheshire Tel: 07813906633
email: mimarine.ltd@ntlworld.com
Maritime Leisure Cruises Boat Trips Boston, Lincs Tel: 01205460595
email: sarah@bostonbelle.fsnet.co.uk
Messing About On The River Ltd Disabled access charter boat, day boat hire, tea gardens Hanham, Bristol Tel: 0117 9475500
email: info@messingaboutontheriver.co.uk
MK Afloat Day Boat Hire Milton Keynes Tel: 07721 025325
email: mkafloat@hotmail.com
Pennine Boat Trips Canal cruises - public cruises & private charters for weddings, parties, corporate events Skipton, Yorkshire Dales Tel: 01756 790829
email: info@canaltrips.co.uk
Portland Basin Boat Hire Day Boat Hire Dukinfield, Cheshire Tel: 01613303133
email: sandra.holding@portlandbasinmarina.co.uk  
Puppet Theatre Barge Puppet shows on a barge theatre Little Venice, London & River Thames Tel: 02072496876
email: puppet@movingstage.co.uk
The Pump Shed Canal side refreshments Lock 11, K & A, (adjoining Pulteney Gardens) Widcombe, Bath email: enquiries@thepumpshed.co.uk
The Raft Cafe Boat Cafe Bathampton, Kennet & Avon Canal Tel: 07733 336989
email: theraftcafe@fsmail.net
Spalding Water Taxi Co. Ltd. River Taxi / Trips Spalding, Lincolnshire Tel: 07970 832131
email: simondeas1@btconnect.com
Standing Waves Leisure Canoeing/kayaking Hire & trips Falkirk Wheel & Scottish canals Tel: 07747 621177
email: mail@standingwaves.com
Stourport Steamer Company Passenger boat hire and public river trips Stourport-on-Severn Tel: 01299 871177
email: trevor1may@yahoo.co.uk
Swan Lane Wharf Trip/party boat Coventry Tel: 02476258864
email: eutaclinch@aol.com