Britain’s 3,000-mile network of inland waterways takes canal boat holiday-makers through the countryside and into historic towns and cities. There are places to moor up in quiet backwaters for the perfect rural retreat, as well as moorings close to attractions and amenities in towns and cities, like Linlithgow and Bath.
Drifters offers the choice of 500 boats from 40 locations across England, Scotland and Wales. All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition, and canal boat holidays are pet-friendly.
There are hundreds of rural and urban destinations to choose from. Here’s a guide to Drifters’ top 9 May 2026 bank holiday weekend destinations:
1. Navigate the Kennet & Avon Canal to Georgian Bath and back
From the base of the Caen Hill flight of locks at Devizes in Wiltshire, boaters can travel along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal to Bath and back. As well as 16 locks (eight each way), the journey takes boaters through a series of swing bridges and over the magnificent Bath stone Avoncliff and Dundas aqueducts. Canalside pubs to enjoy along the way include the Barge Inn at Seend, the Canal Tavern at Bradford on Avon and the Cross Guns at Avoncliff. There are places to moor alongside Sydney Gardens, and from there it’s a 15-minute walk into Bath city centre, home to world famous attractions, including the Roman Baths and the Royal Crescent. The journey to Bath and back travels 38 miles, passing through 16 locks (eight each way) and takes around 20 hours.
2. Cruise the Rochdale Canal to Hebden Bridge
On a weekend break from Sowerby Bridge, boaters can cruise through the West Yorkshire countryside to Hebden Bridge and back. The journey begins with three locks, including Tuel Lane Lock, the deepest in the country. At Luddenden Foot boaters can stop to visit the Lord Nelson pub, set within a Conservation Area. The route then passes through Mytholmroyd, birthplace of Ted Hughes, then Fallingroyd Tunnel. In Hebden Bridge there are places to moor up in the centre of town, where there’s a good choice of pubs, restaurants, cafes and independent shops. There are also some fantastic walks from Hebden, including up to Heptonstall and along Hardcastle Crags. The journey to Hebden Bridge and back travels 14 miles, passes through 20 locks and takes around 11 hours.
3. Travel along the Union Canal to Linlithgow
From Falkirk at the Junction of the Union and Forth & Clyde canals, boaters can cruise through the Scottish Lowlands to Linlithgow and back. This route begins with the passage through a manned lock into the canal basin, and then up the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first rotating boat lift. After that, the journey takes boaters through Roughmute Tunnel, followed by another two manned locks. Now on the Union Canal, the route travels through Falkirk Tunnel and across the massive Avon Aqueduct. After enjoying miles of peaceful countryside, boaters reach the historic town of Linlithgow, where they can visit the beautifully preserved remains of Linlithgow Palace on the shores of Linlithgow Loch, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Linlithgow has some excellent eateries, including the award-winning Four Marys pub. The journey to Linlithgow passes through six locks (three each way) and back takes around eight hours.
4. Navigate the Grand Union Canal to Cosgrove
On a weekend break from Weedon on the Grand Union Canal, boaters can cruise to Cosgrove and back. This route travels through the Northamptonshire countryside, passing the Narrow Boat pub at Stowehill Wharf and the Bakers Arms in the village of Bugbrooke. Soon after boaters enter the 1.74-mile long Blisworth Tunnel, emerging into the picturesque ‘canal village’ of Stoke Bruerne, home of the Canal & River Trust’s Canal Museum and a choice of canalside pubs. There are then seven locks to go through before reaching Thrupp Wharf and the Navigation Inn. At Cosgrove, boaters can moor up to explore the Ouse Valley Park, the site of Wolverton Medieval Village and the Barley Mow pub. The journey to Cosgrove and back travels 36 miles, passes through 16 locks and takes around 16 hours.
5. Float across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in North Wales
On a weekend break from Chirk, canal boat holiday-makers can cruise the 11-metre section of the Llangollen Canal designated a UNESCO World Heritage site to the Eisteddfod town of Llangollen, on the edge of the Berwyn Mountains. Along the way, boaters will cross the 38-metre high Pontcysyllte Aqueduct experiencing stunning views of the Dee Valley below. On reaching Llangollen, boaters can moor up in Llangollen Basin and enjoy visiting the town’s independent shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as its Steam Railway and Horseshoe Falls. Canalside pubs to visit along the way include the Aqueduct Inn at Froncysyllte and The Sun at Trevor. The journey to Llangollen and back travels 14 miles and takes around six hours.
6. Boat through the Northamptonshire countryside to Hillmorton
From Stockton on the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, it takes just over six hours to cruise to the village Hillmorton. The route takes boaters past Napton-on-the-Hill, where the village store sells products from the nearby Buffalo Farm, including buffalo burgers, sausages, meatballs, steaks and ice cream. Napton Village Stores also sells bakery and deli products, veg boxes, homemade meals, cider and homemade cakes. Continuing through the countryside, boaters will next reach the village of Braunston, where there’s a choice of pubs including the canalside Admiral Nelson. Heading on north up the Oxford Canal, boaters soon reach the village of Hillmorton, home of the Stag & Pheasant pub. The journey to Hillmorton and back travels 30 miles, passes through 12 locks (six each way) and takes around 12.5 hours.
7. Travel through the Leicestershire countryside to Stoke Golding
From Springwood Haven on the Coventry Canal, it takes around six hours to cruise to the historic village of Stoke Golding. At Marston Junction, boaters transfer onto the lock-free Ashby Canal and travel on through the Leicestershire countryside, passing through Sutton Cheney, home of the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park. Then on past Dadlington and the Dog & Hedgehog pub. Stoke Golding has one of the most beautiful churches in England and there’s a choice of pubs, including the White Swan. Before heading out, boaters can stock up on local produce at the Poplars Farm shop and café near Nuneaton, selling fruit, vegetables, honey, local cheese, eggs, poultry and jams. The journey to Stoke Golding and back travels 27 miles and takes around 12 hours. There are no locks on this route.
8. Cruise through the Staffordshire countryside to Shebdon
From Brewood on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire, it takes just over five hours to reach the village of Shebdon, surrounded by beautiful countryside. The journey takes canal boaters through miles of scenic countryside and woodland, and a series of villages, including Wheaton Aston with its Hartley Inn and Gnosall with its Boat Inn. Canal features encountered along the way include Stretton Aqueduct, a lock at Wheaton Aston, Cowley Tunnel, Shelmore Embankment and the atmospheric Grub Street Cutting. At Shebdon, boaters can moor up to visit the canalside Wharf pub. The journey there and back travels 27 miles, through two locks and takes around 11 hours.
9. Navigate through Cannock Chase to Fradley
On a weekend break from Great Haywood on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Staffordshire, boaters can cruise to Fradley Junction and back, passing through Cannock Chase Forest along the way. Before heading out, the Canalside Farm Shop at Great Haywood is perfect for stocking-up on local produce, including sausages, fruit, vegetables, free range eggs and baked products. At Fradley, boaters can visit the Swan pub and walk along the wooded trails at Fradley Pool Nature Reserve. The journey to Fradley and back travels 25 miles, through 10 locks (five each way) and takes around 12 hours.
