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Skippered trip boats, charter boats.

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Canal Attractions

Canal trip boats & party charter boats

Canal trip boats & restaurant boats

Skippered canal trip boats run short scheduled canal pleasure cruises, usually lasting an hour or two, that you can often just turn up and join. Usually it makes sense to contact them first to check that they are working on the day you want (many are seasonal) and for departure times. They have a skipper and crew and will often be able to provide onboard food & refreshments. Some are based at popular visitor centres. Usually an onboard guide will give a cruise commentary.

Many canal trip boats also offer chartered cruises that can be booked in advance for a whole party. Sometimes they have programmes designed for schools or business users. Some will offer wedding receptions and party cruises complete with catering and entertainment.

Canal restaurant boats usually combine good food with a canal cruise. We've also separate pages of listings of canalside attractions, visitor centres and waterways museums and day hire canal boats. 

Please note: We provide all contact details as an information service. We rely on traders to keep us informed so can't guarantee that details are accurate or up to date. It is prudent to check all businesses you wish to deal with. See our Terms of Use.

Trip Boats & Skippered Day Cruises

Away2Canal

Away2canal, a new trip boat in Birmingham City Centre bringing Country in the City, available for Private and Corporate Charters offering a range of options in drinking and eating for 50 people.

John Cale Canal Cruise

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.

Pennine Cruisers of Skipton

Enjoy a relaxing holiday with 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.

River Lee Cruises

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.

Standedge Tunnel & Visitor Centre

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.

Stoke Bruerne canal trips

Stoke Bruerne Boat Co. Skippered regular 'booking not needed' public trips from outside the famous Stoke Bruerne Museum, plus skippered charters and school trips. Also skippered evening cruises and day boat hire.

Swan Canal Cruises

Swan Canal Cruises Take a relaxing, picturesque little adventure on the elegant "inspection" narrow boat on the Stratford Canal and River Avon for up to eight guests.

Pennine Cruisers of Skipton

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.

Other trip boats and party charter boats
Firm Attraction Location Contact
A&G Passenger Boats Ltd. Passenger boat trips, Heritage trips, Dining cruises, party charter Sheffield, South Yorkshire 0114 2786314
info@sheffieldboats.co.uk
Airedale Cruising Skippered Narrowboat Day Cruises Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Skipton, N. Yorkshire 07760 481 821
davidfitch@ymail.com
Avon River Cruises Ltd - The Silver Salmon Bath Boat Trips and Private Charter Bath 0117 904 3671 or 07854 870508
avonrivercruises@blueyonder.co.uk
Bath City Boat Trips Boat Trips and Private Charters Bath 07974 560197
bathcityboattrips@btopenworld.com
Birmingham & Midland Day Trips and short breaks Birmingham & the Midlands 07527 727169
mail@bm3co.co.uk
Boatel Party Cruises Party cruises Chorley, Lancashire 01257 273269
info@boatelpartycruises.com
Bonny Barge Boat Trips & Private Hire Forth and Clyde Canal, Falkirk 07720 866 397
bonnybarge@hotmail.co.uk
Bridgewater Heritage Boat Company Boat Trips, Educational Cruises, Children's Birthday Parties Manchester/Worsley 0161 796 5455
daverigby@tesco.net
Brownhills Canoe & Outdoor Centre Canoe activities for school/youth groups, birthday parties, family days out, staff training, etc Wyrley & Essington Canal 01543452119
brownhillscanoecentre@hotmail.com
Budgie Transport Ltd Waterbus from Carnforth to Lancaster & Trip Boat Lancaster Canal 01524 389410
budgietransport@wyrenet.co.uk
Central Boat Parties Party Cruises Gas Street, Birmingham 01922 722949
info@centralboatparties.co.uk
Chesterfield Canal Trust Charter Trip Boat & Crew Retford 01246 280660
vicki_and_pete@dsl.pipex.com
Cosgrove Narrowboat Company Trips, Charter and Day Boat Hire Milton Keynes, Grand Union Canal 01525 372853
enquires@cosgrovenarrowboats.co.uk
Daydream Canal Trips Day Trip Boat Stone, Staffs 01785 811321
admin@daydreamcanaltrips.co.uk
Duchess Countess Trust Boat Trips/Visitor Centre Montgomery Canal, Llanymynech 01938 552817
fredaatvillas2002@yahoo.co.uk
Dudley Canal Trust Boat Trips Dudley - West Midlands 01384 236275
ajp@dudleycanaltrust.org.uk
Forth and Clyde Canal Society Trip boat Glasgow Road bridge, Kirkintilloch 01417721620
tnlawton@yahoo.co.uk
Foulridge Canal Cruises Ltd. Trip Boat & Private Charter Foulridge. Leeds & Liverpool Canal 01282 844033
info@boattrips.info
Freedom Boats Limited trip boat, day & week hire Macclesfield, Cheshire 01625 420042
mal@freedomboats.co.uk
Grebe Canal Cruises Day Boat Hire, Charter & Public Trip Boats Pitstone, Grand Union Canal 01296 661920
enquiries@grebecanalcruises.co.uk
Guildford Boat House Limited River Trips, Rowing Boats River Wey, Guildford Tel: 01483 504494
info@guildfordboats.co.uk
Kennet Horse Boat Company Ltd Trip Boat Operator Newbury/Kintbury - Kennet & Avon Canal 01488 658866
kennethorseboat@btconnect.com
Key Ferry Cruises & River Trips River trips, Private Charter, Parties etc River Nene, Peterborough 0845 22 609 22
mail@keyferrycruises.co.uk
Kittywake Canal Cruises Public boat trips/private charter Wigan Pier 01942 204928
bookings@kittywake.co.uk
Lancaster Canal Packet Boats Trip boat, private cruises, corporate activities Lancaster Canal 01524 389410
budgietransport@wyrenet.co.uk
Lancaster Canal Trust Free skippered boat trips (Easter - October) Crooklands, Lancaster Canal, Cumbria 07504 710 351
tripboat@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk
London Canal Cruises Exclusive Private Charter Daytrips London, Regents Canal 020 8440 8962
info@londoncanalcruises.com
Maritime Leisure Cruises Boat Trips Boston, Lincs 01205460595
sarah@bostonbelle.fsnet.co.uk
Messing About On The River Ltd Disabled access charter boat, day boat hire, tea gardens Hanham, Bristol 0117 9475500
info@messingaboutontheriver.co.uk
Party Boats Party & Scenic Canal Cruise Garstang, Lancaster Canal 07748324221
dan.bolton@party-boats.co.uk
Pennine Boat Trips Canal cruises - public cruises & private charters for weddings, parties, corporate events Skipton, Yorkshire Dales 01756 790829
info@canaltrips.co.uk
PoshboatzPeterborough Skippered Boat Trips River Nene, Peterboroug 08456448633
bob@currell.org.uk
River Stour Trust Boat Trips Sudbury & Flatford 01787 313199
administrator@riverstourtrust.org
SaltisfordCanal Centre Self steer day hire & trip boat Warwick 01926490006
info@saltisfordcanal.co.uk
Seagull Trust Cruises Boat Trips for Disabled Falkirk, Ratho, Highlands, Kirkintilloch 0131 - 333 - 0322
seagulltrust@btinternet.com
Spalding Water Taxi Co. Ltd. River Taxi / Trips Spalding, Lincolnshire 07970 832131
simondeas1@btconnect.com
Standing Waves Leisure Canoeing/kayaking Hire & trips Falkirk Wheel & Scottish canals 07747 621177
mail@standingwaves.com
Stourport Steamer Company Passenger boat hire and public river trips Stourport-on-Severn 01299 871177
trevor1may@yahoo.co.uk
Swan Lane Wharf Trip/party boat Coventry 02476258864
eutaclinch@aol.com
The Electric Barge Private hire for events London 0207 266 8247
info@theelectricbarge.co.uk
Tiverton Canal Co Day Boat Hire and Horse-Drawn Barge Trips Grand Western Canal, Tiverton 01884 253345
info@tivertoncanal.co.uk
Wey & Arun Canal Trust Skippered Canal Boat Trips Loxwood West Sussex 01403752403
office@weyandarun.co.uk
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