A self drive day hire canal boat

Day Hire self drive canal boats

Self drive day hire canal boats are a great way to get some fresh air with friends or family and to sample what a longer canal holiday would be like. Lots of people get hooked this way!

Self drive day hire canal boats is offer a unique way to explore the countryside. The canals often wind their way through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, offering stunning views and a chance to see wildlife up close. You can take your time and enjoy the scenery at your own pace, stopping whenever you like to take photos or explore the local area.


The Key Facts About Self DriVe Day Hire Canal Boats

  • Day hire boats can usually be booked for self drive canal trips for a day, part of a day or evening.
  • You don’t need any boating experience or qualifications to take one out.
  • They usually have toilet and simple cooking facilities (many people take picnics) but no sleeping accommodation. Most have outside seating and room inside for passengers if it rains!
  • Day hire narrowboats usually take between 6 and a maximum of 12 passengers.
  • Hirers will suggest suitable routes for your hire time, but you can also check out our Canal Maps & Guide pages.

Beacon Park Day Boats

Beacon Park Day Boats Based in Llangattock, enjoy a day out cruising the beautiful Mon and Brecon Canal as it winds its way through the stunning scenery, surrounded by wildlife. Choose from an easy-to-drive electric day boat, two-person cycle boat, canoes or paddle boards.

CanalAbility

CanalAbility Have a great day out on one of our accessible canal boats, fully adapted for disabled people. Sit back and relax as you cruise the River Stort through the idyllic Hertfordshire countryside.

Farncombe Boat House Day Hire

Farncombe Boat House Our purpose-built day boats are ideal for entertaining. Each boat can accommodate up to ten people and is fully equipped. Explore the Godalming to Guildford stretch of the river with open meadows and fields with grazing cattle, swans, ducks and geese along your way. 

Honeystreet Boats

Honeystreet Boats Our lovely day boat situated in the middle of a 15 mile lock free length of the Kennet and Avon Canal. Day hire from £159 up to 8 people, Sun Downer 5-7pm from £70.

Inland Navigators

Inland Navigators 10 passenger day boat from our wharf near Weedon. Cruise this idyllic stretch of tranquil waterway without canal locks to negotiate. Self drive or skipper. Evening skippered cruises.

Lee Valley Boat Centre

Enjoy a relaxing holiday with Lee Valley Boat Centre based on the Rivers Lee & Stort in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, offer rowing boats, canoes, pedalos and electric boats for hourly hire.

Norbury Wharf

Norbury Wharf Enjoy the heart of the beautiful Shropshire Union Canal aboard a ten seater day boat, situated just 15 minutes from junction 14 M6, or junction 3 M54, a day to remember!

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.

Worsley Day Boat Hire

Worsley Day Boat Hire Worsley Day Boats is a family owned hire business situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Worsley. Ideally located for a leisurely days cruise we are within easy reach of RHS Bridgewater gardens or central Manchester.

Our Listings

We provide contact telephone and email details free of charge for canal based companies, click for details.
Please note: We provide all contact details as an information service. We rely on traders to keep us informed about these listings so we can't guarantee that details are accurate or up to date. Please see our Terms of Use.

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Ashby Canal
Bosworth Marina
Bosworth Marina, Carlton Rd, Market Bosworth, Nuneaton CV13 6PG.
Day Boat Hire


Ashton Canal
Portland Basin Boat Hire
Lower Alma St, Dukinfield SK16 4SQ.
Day Boat Hire


Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Debbie’s Day Boats Ltd
Coleshill Rd, Fazeley, Tamworth B78 3RY.
Day boat hire and mobile marine services


Bridgewater & Taunton
Somerset Boat Centre
Maidenmead Moorings, Banklands, North Newton, Bridgwater TA7 0DQ.
Day boat hire and skippered cruises with refreshments or meals on narrowboat Somerson along the beautiful Somerset canal.


Bridgewater Canal
Thorn Marine
164A London Rd, Stockton Heath, Warrington WA4 6LE.
Day Boat Hire
Worsley Day Boat Hire
Dayboat Office, Worsley Dry Docks, Worsley, Manchester M28 2WN.
Day Boat Hire
enquiries@worsleydayboats.co.uk
www.worsleydayboats.co.uk


Chichester Ship Canal
Chichester Canal Centre
Canal Wharf, Basin Rd, Chichester PO19 8DT.
The Trust’s two canal boats offer scheduled and charter trips throughout the year along a beautiful stretch with excellent views


Grand Union Canal
Cosgrove Narrowboat Company
Cosgrove Wharf, Lock Lane, Cosgrove, Milton Keynes MK19 7JR.
Trips, Charter and Day Boat Hire
Foxton Boat Services
Gumley Rd, Foxton, Nr Market Harborough LE16 7RA.
Day hire, boat trips and holiday hire as well as boat services.
Grebe Canal Cruises
Grebe Canal Cruises, Pitstone Wharf, Pitstone, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9AD.
Day Boat Hire, Charter & Public Trip Boats
Inland Navigators
Day Boat Hire
07815 312317
boat@inlandnavigators.co.uk
www.inlandnavigators.co.uk
MK Afloat
Waterside, Peartree Bridge, Milton Keynes MK6 3BX.
Day Boat Hire


Grand Union Leicester Line
Union Wharf Narrowboats Ltd
Union Wharf, Market Harborough LE16 7UW.
Day Boat Hire


Grand Union Mainline
Lazy Days Day Boat Hire
The Boatyard, High St, Weedon Bec, Weedon NN7 4QD.
Day Boat Hire


Grand Western Canal
Tiverton Canal Co
Canal, The wharf, Canal Hill, Tiverton EX16 4HX.
Day Boat Hire and Horse-Drawn Barge Trips


Kennet and Avon Canal
Honeystreet Boats
day hire for upto 8 people
01672 851166
honeydays@honeystreetboats.co.uk
www.honeystreetboats.co.uk
The Boatyard
5 Hammond Way, Trowbridge BA14 8RS.
Dayboat Hire & short break
Wessex Narrowboats
39 Frome Rd, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 2EA.
Day Boat Hire


Lee Navigation
CanalAbility
Lock View, Burntmill Ln, Harlow CM20 2QS.
Accessible canal boats specially adapted for disabled people and available for exclusive hire through idyllic scenery along the River Stort
hello@canalability.org.uk
www.canalability.org.uk
Lee Valley Boat Centre
Day Boat Hire
01992 462085
leevalleyboats.co.uk


Leeds and Liverpool Canal
Ellerbeck Narrowboats
Rawlinson Ln, Heath Charnock, Chorley PR7 4DE.
Day and evening boat hire
Pennine Cruisers
19 Coach Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
Day Boat Hire
01756 795478
Info@penninecruisers.com
www.penninecruisers.com
Skipton Boat Trips
The Wharf Office, 3 Coach St, Skipton BD23 1LH
Cruise down the stunning Leeds & Liverpool Canal on a leisurely boat trip: public trips, dinner cruises, guided tours, self


Llangollen Canal
Whittington Wharf Narrowboats
Ellesmere Road, Welsh Frankton, Oswestry SY11 4NU.
Day Boat Hire


Macclesfield Canal
Bollington Wharf
Grimshaw Lane, Bollington, Macclesfield SK10 5NB
Day boat hire, but steerers can be provided.
Heritage Narrow Boats
Station Road Scholar Green, Stoke-on-Trent, Scholar Green, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 3JZ.
Day Boat Hire


Mon & Brec Canal
Beacon Park Day Boats
Day boat hire
01873 858277
enquiries@beaconparkboats.com
www.beaconparkdayboats.co.uk
Country Craft Narrowboats
The Old Lock House, Llangynidr, Crickhowell NP8 1ND.
Day Boat Hire
Dragonfly Cruises
Canal Rd, Brecon LD3 7EW.
Day Boat Hire
Goytre Wharf
Old Abergavenny Rd, Abergavenny NP7 9EW
Goytre Wharf is brimming with history and offers activities ranging from boating to fishing, cycling, and woodland walks. There is
Pontymoile Marina
F, Pontypool NP4 8ER.


Norfolk Broads
Bank’s Boats
Staithe Cottage Wayford Bridge Norfolk, NR12 9LN
Barnes Brinkcraft Day Boat Hire
The Rhond, Hoveton, Norwich NR12 8UE.
Holiday hire, dayboat hire and waterside accommodation.
Broads Tours
The Bridge, Wroxham, Norfolk, England, NR12 8RX
Broads Tours offer river trips and day boat hire on the Norfolk Broads, offering everyone the chance to relax on
Martham Ferry Day Boat Hire
Riverside, Martham, Great Yarmouth NR29 4RG.
Dayboat hire and coffee sho


Oxford Canal
Clifton Cruisers – Boat Hire & Cafe
Clifton Wharf, Clifton upon Dunsmore, Rugby CV23 0EY.
Holiday & day boat hire. Cafe.
Lime Farm Marina
Cathiron Ln, Rugby CV23 0JH.
Day Boat Hire
Oxfordshire Narrow Boats
Station Rd, Lower Heyford, Bicester OX25 5PD.
Day hire, holiday hire and wharf
Union Canal Carriers Ltd
Dark Ln, Braunston, Daventry NN11 7HJ.
Day Boat Hire


Peak Forest Canal
Phoenix Day Boat Hire
Whaley Bridge, Basin SK23 7LS.
Day Boat Hire


River Avon
Bidford Boat Services
Riverside House, 4 The Pleck, Bidford-on-Avon, Alcester B50 4BB.
Dayboat hire
Free Spirit Cruising
Bredon Rd, Tewkesbury GL20 5BY.
Day Hire


River Cam
Cambridge Narrowboats
36 Lovell Rd, Cambridge CB4 2QR.
Day boat and holiday hire


River Nene & Cambridgeshire Waterways
Fish & Duck Marina
Popes Corner Marina, Holt Fen, Little Thetford, Ely CB6 3HR.
Day Boat Hire


River Soar
Sileby Mill Boatyard
Mill Ln, Sileby LE12 7UX.


River Thames & Lee Navigation
Chertsey Meads Marine Boat Hire
Meads Boatyard, The Meads, Chertsey KT16 8LN.
Lee & Stort Boat Co. Ltd
Ware Priory, Town Quay, High St, Ware SG12 9AL.
Waterbus trips and swan pedalos.


River Trent
Gunthorpe Leisure Boats Ltd
3, 3 Trentside, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7FB.
Day Boat Hire


River Wey
Farncombe Boat House Day Hire
Catteshall Rd, Godalming GU7 1NH.
Day boats that can accommodate a upto of ten people
info@farncombeboats.co.uk
farncombeboats.co.uk/day-boat-hire


Rochdale Canal
Bronte Boats
New Rd, Hebden Bridge HX7 8AD.
Boat Hire, day boats and repairs


Shropshire Union Canal
Cheshire Cat Narrowboats Ltd
Overwater Marina, Coole Ln, Nantwich CW5 8AY.
Day Boat Hire
Chester Day Boat Hire
Newton Ln, Chester CH3 9NE.
Day Boat Hire
Nantwich Canal Center
Marina, Basin End, Chester Rd, Nantwich CW5 8LB
Norbury Wharf
Day Boat Hire
01785 284292
www.norburywharfltd.co.uk


Stratford Canal
Lyons Boat Yard
Limekiln Ln, Birmingham B14 4SP.
Day Boat Hire


Trent and Mersey Canal
Boating Days
Day Boat Hire
Karen’s Day Boat Hire
Boothstown, Marina, 14 Quayside Cl, Boothstown, Worsley, Manchester M28 1YB.
Day Boat Hire
M&I Marine Ltd
220 Manchester Rd, Lostock Gralam, Northwich CW9 7NT.
Day Boat Hire


UK Wide / Various Locations
Drfiters Day Boats
Various locations
UK wide booking agency for day boats and holiday boats
Great British Boating
Alvechurch, Birmingham B48 7SQ.
Holiday and day boat hire


Warwick and Birmingham Canal
Warwick Wanderer Dayboats
At Nicholas park, A425, Warwick CV34.
Day Boat Hire

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