Britain’s beautiful inland waterways are a great place to visit in the spring, when the countryside is bursting into new life, with blossom on the hedges and waterside trees, birds busy rearing their young, lambs playing in the fields and bluebells in waterside woodlands.
Drifters (www.drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of over 500 boats from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales. All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition and pets are allowed on board most of their boats.
Drifters’ top 7 Easter breaks for 2025:
1. Boat to Birmingham & visit the World’s biggest Cadbury shop at Cadbury World
From Drifters canal boat hire base at Alvechurch on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove, canal boat holiday-makers can travel lock-free to Birmingham in around five hours, perfect for a short break. Along the way, boaters can stop off at Bournville to find handmade Easter eggs in the World’s biggest Cadbury shop at Cadbury World. With more canals than Venice, canal boats can travel right into the heart of Birmingham and find over-night moorings at Gas Street Basin. From there, it’s a short walk to Brindleyplace and city centre attractions, including the Sealife Centre and Planetarium at Birmingham’s Science Museum Thinktank.
The 58ft ‘Golden Plover’ narrowboat for up to five people is currently available for a weekend break (18-21 April) from Alvechurch for £1,080, saving £119. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition. A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are based on use, approx. £10-15 per day.
2. Join the Easter Gathering at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port
Over the Easter Weekend (18-21 April 2025), the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire celebrates the start of the summer boating season with a large boat gathering and music and activities for the whole family. From Drifters’ base at Bunbury on the Shropshire Union Canal near Tarporley in Cheshire, it’s a 10-hour journey to Ellesmere Port, perfect for a week away. The route travels 21 miles and goes through 12 locks. Along the way, boaters pass through the ancient City of Chester.
The 65ft luxury ‘Carina’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a week (18-25 April) from Bunbury for £1,376, saving £344. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets. A £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week. Charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
3. Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside and visit Drayton Manor Theme Park
On a week-long holiday from Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, narrowboat holiday-makers can cruise to moorings close to Drayton Manor Theme Park. The journey there and back travels 48 miles, passes through 10 locks (five each way) and takes around 22 cruising hours. Along the way, boaters will pass through the Cannock Chase, Fradley Nature Reserve, and a series of villages with canalside pubs. There are visitors moorings between Tolson’s Footbridge and Coleshill Road Bridge on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, and from there it’s a short walk to Drayton Manor Park.
The 67ft luxury ‘Pegasus’ narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a week (18-25 April) from Great Haywood for £1,496, saving £374. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and up to three pets. A £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week. Charge based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
4. Star gaze in the Brecon Beacons
Isolated from the main canal network, the beautiful Monmouth & Brecon Canal runs through Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, designated an International Dark-Sky Reserve. Stretching 35 miles from Brecon to Cwmbran, this peaceful waterway has very few locks, offers canal boat holiday-makers incredible mountain views, a series of historic village pubs to visit and on clear nights, views of the Milky Way. On a short break from our base at Goytre Wharf, near Abergavenny, boaters can cruise lock-free to Llangynidr and back. The journey takes boaters past the Lion Inn at Govilon and the Bridge End Inn at Llangattock.
The 56ft ‘Red Tailed Finch’ narrowboat for up to five people is currently available for a mid-week break (21-25 April) from Goytre for £900, saving £99. Price includes a non-refundable damage waiver, bed linen, towels, car parking, two pets, buoyancy aids and tuition. A fuel deposit of £60 for a short break is payable with the balance of hire. Fuel costs are based on use, approx. £10-15 per day.
5. Float across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ in North Wales
From Drifters’ base at Chirk on the Llangollen Canal in North Wales, the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains can be reached on a short break, with the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to travel across along the way. Standing at 38 metres high above the Dee Valley, this incredible 300-metre long structure consists of a cast iron trough supported by 18 enormous pillars and 19 elegant arches. On reaching Llangollen, boaters can moor up in Llangollen Basin enjoy visiting the town’s independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls.
The 52ft ‘Princess Signature’ luxury narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a weekend break from Chirk (18-21 April) for £1,125, saving £74. Price includes boat hire, non-refundable damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Fuel is charged on return based on use, circa £10-15 per day.
6. Celebrate the Jane Austen 250th anniversary in UNESCO World Heritage Bath
From Devizes in Wiltshire, boaters can travel along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal and reach Sydney Wharf in around nine hours, perfect for a week away at Easter. Along the way, the journey takes boaters past a series of canalside pubs, including the Barge Inn at Seend and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff. There are eight locks to pass through each way. Once at Sydney Wharf, boaters can turn and moor up at Sydney Gardens. From there, it’s a short walk into Georgian Bath’s City Centre attractions, including the Roman Baths and the Jane Austen Centre, celebrating 250 years since this remarkable author was born.
The 45ft ‘Foxcub’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a week’s break from Devizes 18-25 April for £1,200, saving £252. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, bed linen, towels, canal map, life jackets, parking and tuition. Pets are extra, charged at £35 each.
7. Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Shebdon and back
On a short break (three or four nights) from Drifters’ base at Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire, boaters can cruise to the historic village of Shebdon and back. The journey takes around six hours each way and takes boaters through over 13 miles of peaceful Staffordshire countryside, past a series of villages with historic pubs, including the Boat Inn at Gnosall and the Junction Inn at Norbury Wharf. Shebdon is a charming village, home to The Boat Inn and St Luke’s Church, dating back to the 12th century. There’s only one lock to pass through each way, so it’s a great route for beginners.
The 55ft ‘Sir Ulfius’ narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend break (18-21 April) from Brewood for £823. Price includes damage waiver, pets, tuition, fuel, gas, parking, buoyancy aids and bed linen.
For more information about Drifters boating holidays visit www.drifters.co.uk or call 0344 984 0322.
For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk