riverboat holidays uk

UK Canal Boating

Nationwide canal boat hire specialists.

Find out what makes our canals and rivers such special places.

We have a good choice of recommended routes, or you can do your own.

See inside the boats, and view the locations with our virtual tours.

Canal Boats

These boats have one cabin with a dinette double.

One or two cabins with a dinette double.

These boats have two cabins with a dinette double.

These boats have two to three cabins with a dinette double.

These boats have two cabins and two dinette doubles.

Holiday Locations

Testimonials

"The stag do was fantastic thanks! We were very happy with the service and everything to do with the boat went very well. A great weekend was had by all. Honestly we can't think of anything to change. Thanks for your help organising it. Cheers. Chris "

Canal Boat hire is ideal for couples, families, groups of friends and stags and hens. Our boats are fully equipped with all the comforts of home. Want to learn more?

Check out our canal boat holiday articles.

We know how important your dog is to you and your family and that is why we welcome pets at all of our canal boating holiday locations.

Check out our frequently asked questions.

• Cheshire Ring
• Four Counties Ring
• Grand Union Canal
• Kennet and Avon Canal
• Leeds-Liverpool Canal
• Leicester Ring
• Llangollen Canal
• London Ring
• Mon and Brec Canal
• Oxford Canal
• Scotland Canals
• Stourport Ring
• Thames Ring
• Warwickshire Ring
• UK Canal Map
• About Narrowboats
• About the Canals
• Canal Holiday FAQs
• Website Help

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Availability Search

Canal Narrowboat Holidays

Book 2024 and 2025 holidays now with amazing savings, we offer the widest range of canal narrow boats in the uk. search over 2000 canal holiday options and book online at best prices any time.

Cruise the canals around London, moor in historic Bath, Oxford or Chester. Travel from Edinburgh via the stunning Falkirk Wheel. Cross the amazing Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales.

The narrowboat is the modern version of the cargo vessels that travelled the canals before the railways.

Now these boats contain every creature comfort and are available for hire across the UK and in Ireland.

These canal boats have modern kitchens, beds which can be left made up, heating, showers and toilets. They can sleep from 2 to 12 people.

Canal Boat Hire

A canal holiday lets you experience the locks to go up or down hill and travel through exciting tunnels. You can cross aqueducts over valleys and rivers - the most famous is 120 feet above the ground.

At 4 miles per hour a canal narrow boat holiday is often described as 'the fastest way to slow down'.

Widest Choice

On this website there is the widest choice of canal boat holidays in the UK. We offer weekend and midweek breaks, week hire or longer. And all at the boat operator's price.

Search and Book

On our website you can search for a boat by size, by date, by canal route, or by cruise area. Then book online for best prices.

Your Shortlist

As you find boats and routes you like just add them to your Shortlist (Shopping Basket). Review and compare at any time!

For boating holidays in Europe see our Boating Holidays website

Popular routes for narrowboat holidays.

Canal Holidays, Bowers Wharf, Skipton, BD23 2PD, United Kingdom

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Drifters standards.

All our canal boat hire operators uphold standards of excellence, find out more here

Welcome to Drifters

Drifters brings you Great British Boating

Drifters is made up of nine professional canal boat holiday operators, handpicked because they uphold the highest standards .

With over 550 narrowboats for hire from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales, Drifters offers the choice of hundreds of narrowboat holiday routes and destinations.

Our operators invest more in new canal boats each year than all the other UK operators put together, ensuring we offer high quality holidays afloat.  We are all independently assessed and accredited by the trade federation for the boating industry British Marine, so you can embark on your canal adventure with confidence.

We work with the Canal & River Trust for the good of Britain’s canal network – and to promote the enjoyment of canal boat holidays.

To find out more about Drifters Standards offering excellence afloat, please  Click here

Try out our Interactive map

Try out our canal boat holiday destinations Interactive map

Sign-up for our free Newsletter

Drifters’ monthly e-newsletter offers subscribers updates on:,  offers, special events, competitions, destinations, boating tips and holiday reviews., click here for details, drifters price promise, means our prices are always competitive., if you see the same holiday elsewhere at a lower price, we will match it..

If you’ve never been on a narrowboat and canal boating holiday before, it’s easy to learn how to drive a boat and all our operators include tuition in their holiday packages.

You don’t need a licence and it’s easy to learn how to drive a boat.

We’ve got lots of advice for beginners, including the best routes, what to pack and how to prepare for a holiday afloat.

Latest news from

Bank holiday rural retreats on a canal boat

New electric day boat launches at Hilperton

Best bank holiday canal boat city breaks

Bingley Five Rise Locks celebrate 250th anniversary

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Canal and Narrowboat holidays

Step back in time and spend a relaxing week or two aboard a modern, purpose-built self-drive craft, designed to provide for your every need..

Use this website to help you to unlock the secret world of Britain’s inland waterways and find the perfect location for a canal boating holiday. Cast off and leave normal life behind as you explore the hidden world of canals and rivers. Your beautifully appointed narrowboat can take you soaring over valleys or delving under hills. Your inland waterway  will visit hidden parts of a countryside you thought had been lost for ever – or go right to the heart of cities buzzing with waterside life.

A canal boating holiday is different from any you’ve had before, with new adventures round every corner of the 2000 mile network of inland waterways. And your narrowboat has all the comforts of home, in a uniquely charming way.

We offer a dazzling choice of over 500 boats from 44 bases on the canals and rivers of England, Scotland and Wales.

Lots of our customers are old-timers, returning again and again because the boating bug has bitten. But many others are new to boating, and if that’s you – don’t worry! Our narrowboats are designed to be easy to handle, and all our bases give comprehensive training as part of your holiday package.

Where do I start?

It’s easy – put simple details into the availability search bar , and you’ll be presented with a list of suggested boats, with prices. On each, you can click for full details of the boat, and places you can explore. And when you find one you like – just click the button, fill in your details and our friendly booking office will take over. They’ll answer any questions before finalising the booking.

Then just sit back and look forward to your boating holiday with Great British Boating!

10 things to discover in the heart of England…….

Want to get started? 

Start planning your trip., find your perfect holiday with great british boating. simply select your preferred start location and date and click on “check availability”. , you can further refine your search by selecting holiday length and berths ., or you can book directly now by calling us on:,  +44 (0) 1252 796 402.

01252 796401

[email protected]

Find Your Perfect Boating Holiday

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Norfolk Broads Boating Holidays, Sailing Yachts & Canal Boat Hire across the UK Waterways.

Hire Boat offers a selection of over 1,800 boats available for hire from over 80 different start locations. Choose from a variety of different boating holidays including cruisers and sailing yachts on the Norfolk Broads or a traditional narrowboat on the Canals & Rivers across the UK including Scotland, Wales and England. Full tuition is provided on arrival so no previous experience is required. Your contract of hire is always with the boat owners of your selected hire boat. Hire terms are always available when clicking the picture of the boat on a results page. No booking fees are charged. Your holiday is always booked at the best price including any special offers or discounts available. Choose your desired location for your boat holiday, your dates, size of the party and check availability to find your perfect hire boat. Then reserve your hire boat online at the direct booking price and we will call you back to discuss your holiday and confirm the reservation. Alternatively, you can call us for advice and to book your boating holiday. We are open between 9am & 5.30pm (UK) Monday to Saturday. Our contact number is 01252 796401 (+44 01252 796401).

Holiday Ideas & Inspirations

Explore the beautiful UK Canals & Rivers...

Hire a boat to explore the scenery across England, Wales & Scotland. Click to find out more about canal boat holidays.

Discover the beauty of the Norfolk Broads...

Cruise the Norfolk Broads on a motor cruiser or a traditional sailing yacht. Find out more about Norfolk Broads boat hire.

Great savings off selected boat holidays...

Check out our great choice of discounted boating holidays from a selection of locations across the UK Canals & Rivers.

Your Hireboat Booking

Please note: Your boat hire is only confirmed once you have received a booking confirmation and paid either a booking deposit of full payment as appropriate. Your booking is direct with the operator of your hire boat and subject to the owners terms and conditions of hire. Hire Boat accept no liability on behalf of any boat hire operator for any holiday bookings, changes of holiday availability or any costs incurred directly or indirectly in the use of this service. All information provided to Waterways Holidays Ltd. trading as Hireboat.com is protected under our Privacy Policy . Continued use of this website explicitly implies the users complete acceptance of the Website Terms of Use .

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Canal and Boating Holidays in the UK, Ireland, and Europe

We hope that you will find your ideal holiday afloat in our pages

Canal holidays in the uk.

Hire a narrowboat and cruise scenic canals in England, Wales and Ireland, and in Scotland near Edinburgh at the Falkirk Wheel. Take a rural route such as the Llangollen Canal in Wales or perhaps explore the canals of Birmingham - reputed to have more waterways than Venice.

Visit historic Bath or Chester . Cruise the Pennines take a city centre break in London , Leeds or Manchester . Get full information and check availability online on our website .

For a completely pampered holiday try a hotel barge holiday for full crewed service.

Boating Holidays in England

Hire a cruiser boat on the famous Norfolk Broads or the historic River Thames. UK boating holidays started on the Norfolk Broads , and this area of rivers and waterways is probably the UK's leading boating region with a wide variety of nature and wildlife. The Royal River Thames from London to Oxford is a superb boating holiday location, with sights such as Windsor Castle and riverside towns like Henley .

Use our availability search facility to find your ideal boat, and book online or call us for independent specialist advice.

Boating Holidays in Scotland

Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal form one of the most scenic areas of the UK. You can hire a cruiser boat from our bases at Inverness or Laggan midway between Inverness and Fort William. Cruise the whole length of the canal in a week and search for the elusive 'Nessie', the Loch Ness monster.

Search our website for boats available in Loch Ness or perhaps choose a narrowboat at Falkirk between Edinburgh and Glasgow .

Boating Holidays in Ireland

Explore the waterways of Ireland on an Irish boating holiday . From our 8 boating bases in Ireland cruise the River Shannon and its many loughs, mooring at waterside towns to investigate the famous Irish 'craich'. Perhaps explore further north into the lakes and bays of the Shannon-Erne waterway with its huge cliffs and fine scenery.

We offer a wide range of cruiser boats , penichette barges and canal narrow boats from our bases in Ireland.

Boating Holidays in Europe

Visit our Europe Boating Holidays website to explore the rivers and canals of France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Poland. Cruise the famous Canal du Midi in France or explore the wine regions of Burgundy . Check out the canals of Holland , or cruise around Venice . Sample the clean waters in the German lake district or unspolit Poland . Cruise the canals at Bruges .

Choose from cruiser boats or the distinctive Penichette barges from boat bases throughout Europe.

Find Your UK Holiday

UK Canal Boat Availability Search

UK Cruiser Boat Availability Search

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• Welcome to Hotel Boat Cruising
• Canal & River Cruise Choices
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Late Booking Cruises

How to Book Your Cruise

PREFER A SELF DRIVE BOAT?

Cruising the canals and rivers of england, scotland and wales .

Britain has over 2000 miles of navigable waterways. Until the middle of the twentieth century they were trade routes, carrying goods around the country. When roads were poor or non existant they were the most efficient method of transport. However over the last 50 years they have become used almost entirely for leisure and holidays, presenting a relaxed way to see the hidden countryside of the real Britain, away from the motorways and frantic holiday 'hot-spots'.

The waterways vary in character from wide rivers to narrow manmade canals, connecting historic towns and villages but also crossing some of our most beautiful countryside. 

Over 200 years they developed a culture and history of their own, unusually much of this has not been destroyed by 'progress'. Cruising these canals and rivers on a skippered hotelboat can carry you back to a place and way of life that was almost lost. 

How to find the 2024 hotelboat cruise you want

We have over 300 different hotelboat cruises to choose from, exploring more than 40 canals and rivers across the UK. To make it easier to find the cruise you want we have split the waterways into 4 geographical areas. Pick your prefered area or waterway and see which hotelboats are there.

NORTHERN ENGLAND CRUISES ;

• Aire and Calder
• Ashton Canal
• Huddersfield Narrow Canal
• Leeds & Liverpool Canal
• Macclesfield Canal
• Peak Forest Canal
• River Trent
• Rochdale Canal
• Sheffield & S. Yorkshire Navs.

WALES & NORTH WEST CRUISES ;

• Bridgewater Canal
• Caldon Canal
• Erewash Canal
• Llangollen Canal
• Montgomery Canal
• Manchester Ship Canal
• River Weaver
• Shropshire Union Canal
• Staffs & Worcs Canal
• Trent & Mersey Canal

MIDLANDS & WEST  CRUISES ;

• Ashby Canal
• Birmingham & Fazely
• Birmingham Canals
• Coventry Canal
• Droitwich Canal
• Gloucester & Sharpness
• G.U. Leicester section
• River Severn
• Stratford upon Avon Canal
• Worcester & Birmingham

SOUTHERN ENGLAND CRUISES ;

• Basingstoke Canal
• Grand Union Canal
• Kennet & Avon
• Oxford Canal
• Rivers Lee & Stort
• River Thames

The Wessex Rose 5 Star luxury canal hotel boat is the perfect choice for your next waterway holiday, travelling the Kennet and Avon Canal, River Thames and Grand Union Canal

The Kennet and Avon Canal

The most spectacular and architecturally wonderful inland waterway anywhere in the British Isles.

Why not venture off the boat for a little while and explore some of the most beautiful and gentle countryside in Britain

It goes without saying that Inland Waterways are a wonderful place to see nature first hand and the Kennet and Avon is no exception.

• Fully Inclusive Cruising
• Wessex Rose Gift Vouchers
• Canal Heritage

2024 Cruises

• Travel Arrangements
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Environmental Policy
• Guest Book 2023
• Guest Book 2022
• Guest Book 2021

Welcome to The Wessex Rose Luxury 5 Star Hotel Boat

Cruise Schedules and Booking

We are pleased to offer you our 2024 cruise schedule. Here you will find details about all our available routes, dates and cruise itineraries.

Your hosts Roland and Steph welcome you aboard the Wessex Rose.

Find out more about the Wessex Rose, the very latest in luxury, design, quality and innovation.

View a selection of images from our travels on the Wessex Rose.

Amazing Spaces

View our segment on George Clarke's Amazing Spaces and see the Wessex Rose Hotel Boat come to life.

The Waterways

Some of the most spectacular and architecturally wonderful inland waterways anywhere in the British Isles.

Fine Dining

We will serve you interesting, varied and satisfying food with exceptional quality.

Excellent food - a delightful surprise every day. A lovely boat for a wonderfully relaxing holiday. Thank you Steph and Roland, you are brilliant! Chris & Malcolm Douglas - July 2021

Yet again a fantastic week, this being our fourth time! Can't wait to book the next one! Karen Gillingham (guest July 2019)

Canal cruising holds something for everyone, offering the perfect opportunity to unwind and experience a thoroughly tranquil pace of life. A time to relax and enjoy the tremendous views, appreciate enchanting nature and wildlife, wonder at the ingenious Georgian engineering on which the canal was built, walk the towpath or simply enjoy a social break or occasion in unique and comfortable surroundings.

Our Gallery

Narrowboat Holidays & Boat Hire on the Thames Take a canal boat on a memorable trip on the waterways.

Discover the thames or enjoy the oxford canal or kennet & avon canal  on a relaxing narrowboat holiday. "we significantly beat the big comnpanies on price"                                no extra charge for bank holidays                                     .

Welcome to River Holidays

We are a small family business currently in our 4th year. we offer reasonably priced holidays with a high quality personal service. as people who love boating ourselves we aim to give you an enjoyable holiday on the water on our well kept hire boats.

                              Free secure onsite parking

"We are significantly better value than the big boys!"

We've won awards!

It's been a great year.

We're very pleased to announce we've won 4 awards in 2023!

Camping&Boating Combo

Fancy a bit of both.

We also offer luxury camping at our beautiful location in Sutton Courtenay. If you fancy a weeks holiday split between boating and camping then this is available upon request. Subject to availability

Book your Holiday

Weekend, midweek and full week breaks..

Departing from our mooring in Sutton Courtenay, South Oxfordshire you can travel either south towards London or north towards Oxford on an amazing stretch of The Thames. 

Holidays are available for a weekend break (Friday - Monday midweek getaway (Monday - Thursday) or full week ( Friday-Friday). We have 6 and 8 berth boats.

Enjoy a beautiful stretch of the Thames 

Rustic and natural scenery.

Start your journey in the beautiful village of Sutton Courtenay , S Oxfordshire and take in Oxford, Abingdon, Dorchester, Goring, Pangbourne, Windsor and many other lovely towns. Or you may prefer the peace and tranquility of mooring in the quieter spaces between surrounded by nature. Accessible are the Oxford Canal and Kennett and Avon as well as the Thames.

Town and Country.

Waterway to have a good time.

Enjoy the best of both worlds on the rivers and canals. One night you can be moored in the centre of such towns as Oxford or Windsor enjoying the restaurants, pubs and shopping or you may prefer the peace and tranquillity of mooring in the quieter spaces between surrounded by nature.

Where we are

Easily accessible location with off street secure parking

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Making life better by water

Hotel boat holidays

Hotel boats are one of the best-kept secrets of the canals. Step on-board for a unique opportunity to enjoy the delightful scenery and relaxing pace of the waterways, without needing to cook meals or drive the boat.

Like hotels on dry land, each hotel boat has its own distinctive character and charm. Shop around to find one that suits what you want from a holiday.

Size of boat

If you like the idea of a more intimate break, some hotel boats are run similarly to a small B&B or homestay, accommodating just one or two guests who share living space with the owners.

Larger boats will have a number of cabins for separate groups of guests. Some are run in the same way as a traditional cruise holiday, with optional excursions during the day, sit-down dinners and evening entertainment.

Meals and things to see

Meals are usually freshly prepared on the boat, by a chef or the owner, leaving you free to relax and watch the views. You might also have the option of a picnic, afternoon tea or cocktails.

Any hotel boat that is cruising, rather than being permanently moored, will give you the opportunity to stop off at places of interest. You'll also benefit from the knowledge of the owners or crew, who may be able to tell you about the local area, wildlife, the history of the boat and the waterway you're on.

The cruising routes a hotel boat does will depend on the size of the boat. Smaller craft can take you onto narrower canals, whereas bigger boats will stick to rivers and wider canals. However, all will offer something different, from visiting cities to more peaceful stretches of water.

(Photo: The Wessex Rose cruises the Kennet & Avon and Grand Union Canals and the River Thames)

Depending on the waterway the boat is on, you might have the choice of a circular route or a journey with different start and finish points. This gives you the chance to travel further and see something new every day.

Moored hotel boats

In canals running through major cities, you may find static or permanently moored hotel boats. Here you can enjoy the ambiance of staying on a boat, knowing you're free to get off and explore the area whenever you like.

Want to find out more?

We're encouraging more hotel boat operators to add themselves to our boating directory , but you can also search online for 'hotel boat holidays UK' and 'canal and river cruises UK'.

Before you book, make sure your chosen operator has a Canal & River Trust business licence (it might be on their website or you can just ask). To receive a licence, businesses have to prove to us that their boat is in excellent condition, that they have the correct insurance, that they're trained to drive the boat safely, and more.

Another good quality mark to look out for is accreditation from VisitEngland or VisitWales , who assess accommodation and award a star rating of one to five.

Looking at previous guest reviews, either on the hotel boat's website or an independent holiday review site, will give you a better idea of what your holiday will be like. You'll usually be able to see images and possibly video tours of the boat on the website or on social media.

If you don't have time to stay overnight on a hotel boat, you can hire a boat for an afternoon or join a trip

Last Edited: 21 September 2020

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Blue Water Holidays

Blue water holidays is the uk’s leading specialist in small ship cruising, boating and touring holidays..

Based in the picturesque market town of Skipton in the Yorkshire Dales, our team of friendly experts has been booking the right holidays for our discerning customers for over 17 years, offering a wealth of experience and knowledge to ensure customers get the best value for money.

As the UK’s leading agents for all major river cruise lines and small ship, luxury and sailing cruises, we offer unique cruises and exclusive discounts. Visit our award-winning websites to find thousands of cruises, the latest special offers, unbiased advice, customer cruise reviews, detailed deck plans and images for thousands of river and small ships.

Our Escorted Tours website features the most comprehensive collection of guided tours from the world’s leading companies. We offer a fantastic range of tours including small groups, solo travellers, family adventures, cruise tours and rail journeys.

We also offer the best collection of self-drive boating holidays in the UK and Europe, with thousands of boating holidays available from bases all over the UK, France, Portugal, Canada, Ireland, Holland, Italy, Germany and Poland.

Sailaway January 2024

Exclusive Southern Africa Safari Cruise

It's your last chance to save up to 50% with APT!

ABTA and ATOL bonded for your protection, you can trust Blue Water Holidays to find and book your ideal small ship or river cruise holiday. Call us on 01756 701199 ( +44 1756 701199 from outside the UK) to embark on your cruise experience!

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office issues advice to UK travellers on destinations, including information on passports, visas, health, safety and security and more. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

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Thames Boating Holidays

The River Thames is known the world over as the river passing London’s famous landmarks – the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, and the unique Tower Bridge.

A Thames cruise takes you close by some of England’s best attractions – Windsor Castle , Hampton Court Palace , Eton , Henley , and Legoland near Windsor. It passes historic towns, typical English villages, and riverside pubs set in beautiful green countryside.

From West London the River Thames can be cruised for 200km on a non-tidal section via Oxford to rural Gloucestershire. Allow 2 weeks for London to Oxford and back.

Our two boat bases on the River Thames give you a full range of boating holiday options – you can cruise one-way between our bases at Chertsey and Benson near Oxford, or out-and-back from these bases. Short break cruises pass many of the sights.

The locks on the River Thames are normally operated by lock keepers, with moorings in towns and villages mostly free. There are many riverside eating places, with Michelin star restaurants operated by celebrity chefs.

East of our Chertsey base is Hampton Court , Henry VIII’s riverside palace, open daily. Don't miss the gardens and the famous maze. Cruise past Runnymede with its memorial to President Kennedy. Kingston-on-Thames offers shopping, theatres and restaurants, whilst world-famous Kew Gardens are not far.

Going west, reach Windsor and its famous 900 year-old castle, open except when the Queen is at home. Perhaps see the ‘Changing of the Guard’. Nearby is the leading family theme park of Legoland and the elite Eton College .

The river continues west to Maidenhead and its historic railway bridge built by Brunel. Pass Cliveden House and Cookham village before reaching elegant Marlow and Henley-on-Thames, noted for its famous Regatta in July.

Reading the Kennet and Avon Canal meets the River Thames. The river becomes more peaceful as it winds through Wallingford to our boat base at the riverside village of Benson .

From there is is a short trip via the ancient market town of Abingdon to Oxford . Home to the historic University, Oxford is the city of 'dreaming spires'. Perhaps go punting on the river or seek out Inspector Morse TV locations.

Above Oxford, the Thames flows through rolling countryside with more frequent locks to reach Lechlade . Narrowboats from our canal boat bases near Oxford can travel the river (Thames licence is payable) or continue northwards on the Oxford Canal to Cropredy and Banbury.

A boating holiday on the River Thames takes you on an unforgettable cruise through some of England’s most scenic and historic highlights.

Route Information

Area Highlights

Highlights of the river thames.

• Windsor Castle
• Hampton Court Palace and Cliveden House
• Kew Gardens
• The Palace of Westminster
• Legoland Windsor Resort

Useful Information:

• All the locks on the River Thames are automatic and manned by lock-keepers. There is no charge to use them and they are open on bank holidays.
• Cruising beyond Teddington Locks towards central london is not permitted.

Cruiser Base Map of the River Thames

One way cruises are available between bases of the same colour.

Suggested Routes from our cruiser bases on the River Thames

Boat holidays from benson.

This large, attractive village lies at the foot of the beautiful Chiltern Hills and it home to the main marina on the Thames. There is a village adjacent with a small supermarket, off licence and an attractive pubs serving good food.

Boat Search by Start Base

Start Base: Benson

One Way Routes

Benson - chertsey.

Short Break One Way • 4 Days • 96km • 20 Locks • 16hrs

View Benson - Chertsey one-way route in Google Maps

Out and Back Routes

Benson - oxford - henley-upon-thames.

Return Trip • One Week • 186km • 30 Locks • 32hrs

From Benson it is a short cruise through the market town of Abingdon to the spires of Oxford churches and university colleges. Explore the delights of Oxford, and maybe go punting on the river. Then turn back downriver through riverside towns to Henley-on-Thames, noted for its annual Regatta.

View Benson - Henley-upon-Thames out and back route in Google Maps

Benson - Windsor

Return Trip • One Week • 155km • 36 Locks • 30hrs

South from Benson cruise past ancient riverside towns, through the city of Reading and henley-on-Thames to reach Windsor. On the banks of the river, Windsor Castle is still used as a Royal residence, the Queen's standard flying when she is there. Nearby landmarks include Eton, the famous boys' school.

View Benson - Windsor out and back route in Google Maps

Benson - Marlow

Short Break Return Trip • 4 Days • 75km • 28 Locks • 14hrs

Henley-on-Thames offers a postcard-perfect scene — rowing crews in sleek craft, and colourful waterfront pubs and shops look inviting. Perfect for a lunch of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding washed down with a pint of local ale!

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Boat holidays from Chertsey

Chertsey is one of the oldest towns in England, founded in 666AD. These days this picturesque village, with its antique shops and restaurants. Chertsey also host an annual country fair dating back to 1883. In contrast, it is also home to Thorpe Park, the UK's leading Theme Park.

Start Base: Chertsey

Chertsey - Benson

View Chertsey - Benson one-way route in Google Maps

Chertsey - Windsor - Kingston-upon-Thames

Return Trip • One Week • 70km • 14 Locks • 10hrs

Standing in front of the stately Hampton Court Palace near Kingston-upon-Thames, you think about King Henry VIII, who once lived there. You spend time sightseeing, and then cruise on the Thames to incredible Windsor Castle. Along the way, sample waterside pubs with traditional ale and food.

View Chertsey - Kingston upon Thames out and back route in Google Maps

Chertsey - Henley-upon-Thames

Short Break Return Trip • 3 Days • 75km • 18 Locks • 16hrs

The easygoing pace of a River Thames boat hire relaxes you almost immediately, and the villages with waterside pubs and pretty greens tempt you to stop. Perhaps cycle into the countryside for a real taste of England, and sightseeing is unforgettable in Royal Windsor.

Call us on : 01756 701200 (+44 1756 701200)

Boating Holidays, Bowers Wharf, Skipton, BD23 2PD, United Kingdom

10 Surprising Facts About St. Patrick’s Day

S t. Patrick’s Day on March 17 is often marked in the U.S. by quirky traditions, such as Chicago dyeing its river emerald green , but the holiday has historical and religious roots in its origin country of Ireland.

Here are 10 surprising facts you may not have known about how St. Patrick’s Day started, its legendary symbols, and how it’s still celebrated today.

St. Patrick’s Day’s namesake was not born Irish

People often wonder: “What is the true story of St. Patrick’s Day?” The holiday is named after St. Patrick, a Patron Saint of Ireland, who died around the fifth century.

However, St. Patrick is thought to have been a Roman citizen in Britain who was enslaved and taken to Ireland, either escaped or was released, then returned as a priest and converted Druids to Christianity, Marion Casey, a clinical assistant professor of Irish Studies at New York University, previously told TIME.

If you have also found yourself querying, “Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17?” it’s because that is believed to be the day that he died.

St. Patrick’s Day began as a Catholic Feast Day 

If you’re ever asked, “What is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated for?” it was originally started in 1631 by the Catholic Church as a Feast Day honoring St. Patrick—one of many church holidays.

However, the holiday, imported to the U.S. by Irish immigrants, morphed into a show of Irish-American pride and worldwide celebration of Irish culture.

Legend says St. Patrick used the shamrock to teach Christianity

Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaf clover, to teach the Christian doctrine of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one. Irish botanist and cleric Caleb Threlkeld described the connection in 1726, when he also wrote that the shamrock was the emblem of the holiday and the country’s national symbol.

However, historians say the story is likely fiction, as the plant itself is mythical and not linked to a scientific species , according to National Geographic. The shamrock became associated more broadly with Ireland as a symbol during rebellions against Britain in the 18th century.

Green became connected to St. Patrick’s Day after Irish rebellions 

Green as an Irish color has political origins. Timothy McMahon, Vice President of the American Conference for Irish Studies, previously told TIME the color dates back to the Great Irish Rebellion of 1641 , where Catholic local leaders revolted against the English crown, using a green flag with a harp as an emblem.

Green was worn again during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 . The Irish forces promoted the nationalistic ballad “ The Wearing of the Green, ” which immortalized the color’s connection with Ireland.

Before these rebellions, blue was traditionally associated with Ireland, Smithsonian Magazine reported.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in the U.S. 

The first recorded parade on the Catholic Feast Day of St. Patrick was held on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in modern-day St. Augustine, Florida. More than a century later, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in Boston in 1737 and in New York City in 1762.

St. Patrick’s Day was promoted by the Irish government 

Inspired by Irish-Americans, Ireland’s National Agricultural and Industrial Association organized a parade in Dublin in the early 1950s to showcase Irish industry, according to the National Museum of Ireland. Dublin Tourism took over the parade from 1970, until a St. Patrick’s Day Committee was established in 1995, which grew the festival into a weekend and then a week.

The government established the weeklong St. Patrick’s Day Festival in 1995, Irish news outlet The Journal reported. The holiday was boosted that year by an Irish government campaign .

Leprechauns originated in Irish folklore  

The supernatural fairies, or sprites, were thought to bring good luck and protection to humans, or to mess up their plans. The oldest written reference to leprechauns was in a medieval story about three magical fairies, or sprites, who drug the King of Ulster into the ocean, according to National Geographic.

The legend gained popularity in the 19th century, when leprechauns were painted as grouchy shoemakers who guarded gold. Walt Disney’s depiction of a more cheerful leprechaun kicked off the current commercialized image.

“Lucky” four-leaf clovers are real—but rare

Although common three-leaf clovers are most closely associated with the saint and his holiday, much ado has been made about “lucky” four-leaf clovers. Vincent Pennetti, a doctoral student at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, told the Associated Press that it takes a recessive trait to develop a fourth leaf, so although the plants are rare, they’re real.

An American union started dyeing the Chicago River green decades ago

One of the most iconic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S. is Chicago temporarily dyeing the river that shares its name green using about 40 pounds of environmentally friendly dye.

Starting in 1955, city workers used green dye to help identify the source of sewage in the river, NPR reported . The inspiration to dye the entire river came after Stephen Bailey, the business manager for the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union, noticed a plumber’s white overalls stained with bright green, per chicagoist. The tradition began in 1962 when the Plumbers Local Union dyed the river green with 100 pounds of dye for a week, according to Illinois’ tourism website , and continues today.

On March 16, ahead of the official St. Patrick’s Day 2024 celebrations, Chicago dyed its river emerald green as spectators looked on.

Corned beef and cabbage is an Irish-American invention 

The dish is not common in Ireland, news outlet IrishCentral reported. Instead, Irish immigrants to the U.S. reportedly found a less expensive alternative to the meat more common in their home country—bacon—in beef. They cured the beef using corn-sized crystals, hence the moniker “corned.” The beef was then paired with cabbage, one of the cheapest vegetables available. So while people in the U.S. may see corned beef and cabbage on themed St. Patrick’s Day menus, it’s highly unlikely people in Ireland will be offered the delicacy.

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6 reasons why a luxury river cruise is the best way to taste the flavours of Bordeaux

Delicious fine dining, charming scenery and the world’s best wines await

And while Paris might be France's most famous spot, we think Bordeaux makes a very compelling case as one of the country's best city break destinations , especially when it's experienced from the sybaritic luxury of a sleek river cruising ship.

Located in south-west France, the region is just a short flight from the UK. Warm summers and mild winters, as well as the sandy, gravelly soil, create the perfect terroir (conditions) for vines. This is why Bordeaux is home to many of the best-known wine producers in the world: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Margaux, to name but a few.

Three major rivers run through this famous region, and where the Dordogne and the Garonne meet, they form the Gironde estuary. This body of water lends itself particularly well to a river cruise, so that’s where we embarked on our seven-night sailing adventure.

We stepped aboard the five-star Scenic Diamond in the historic centre of Bordeaux at Port de La Lune, before heading to the Left Bank moorings at Fort Médoc and Cadillac, and the Right Bank towns of Libourne, Bourg and Blaye. Punctuated by charming medieval towns and endless vineyards, this route was the perfect way to explore Bordeaux.

As for when to visit, early September is particularly pleasant, when the heat gives way to a milder climate (ideal for touring wineries) with grapes hanging plump on the vines and the excitement of the impending harvest filling the air. That said, the summer months are blissful here too, and from May to October the days tend to be long, warm and sunny.

Read on to discover why a river cruise on Scenic Diamond is the best way to discover Bordeaux…

Taste incredible wines

The city of Bordeaux is vibrant, the countryside is idyllic and there’s even an impressive rugby team but, let’s be honest, the highlight of any visit is likely to be the wine. For oenophiles and casual drinkers alike, Bordeaux is one of the greatest regions in the world.

On this cruise, each new mooring opens up easy access to nearby appellations and during tours and tastings (all included in the price), the vineyards will let you into their world and share their secrets. In a region with some seven thousand wineries, we learned about the difference between Left Bank and Right Bank, the five (occasionally six) grape varieties that can go into a Bordeaux blend, and the historic Grand Cru Classé classification.

Stay in a floating five-star hotel

River cruising has come a long way since its introduction in the late 1960s and Scenic Diamond is a trailblazer in the world of luxury cruising. This ‘Space-Ship’ is the smart way to discover the city, its vineyards and the estuary – and all with the comfort and style of a great five-star hotel.

Our Balcony Suite on the Diamond Deck was unexpectedly spacious and elegantly furnished. We loved the full-length window and outdoor balcony with a nifty glass panel to open or close depending on the weather. We watched the appellations float by (corny but that’s what you do on a river cruise) with a morning coffee or glass of chardonnay cheerily delivered by our stateroom’s butler.

On board, there’s a wellness space, a hot tub on the sun deck and nightly entertainment in the swanky Panorama Lounge and Bar. One evening we were joined by Jérémy Dupouy, a street singer who was invited on board by the captain seven years ago and has now become a regular fixture serving up classic hits by The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Simon and Garfunkel.

Get under the (grape) skin of the region with local guides

Scenic’s included excursions will take you on a carefully planned journey through the region’s wineries. You’ll explore everything from the cobbled medieval streets of Saint-Émilion and the traditional Château Siaurac, to the boutique 82-hectare Château Gruaud Larose, with its high-tech tower and black box that can evaporate clouds to prevent hail from destroying the vines.

A highlight of the week was our visit to Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, a winery owned by luxury glassmaker Lalique, which is famed for producing exceptional sweet Sauternes wines. It also has a two Michelin-starred restaurant and is home to the world’s only full-size crystal wine barrel. It takes a day or two to get used to tasting wine after breakfast, but you’ll certainly get into the swing of things as the local guides bring it all to life.

Enjoy exquisite fine dining and classic dishes

Hats (or berets) off to Executive Chef Julian Grigore and his team – the all-inclusive food on Scenic Diamond is among the finest served on river ships. The elegant Crystal Dining Room is the main space for all meals, with the River Cafe offering daytime snacks and lighter lunches.

Meanwhile, French restaurant L’Amour serves a delicious tasting menu with accompanying fine wine by invitation. Our culinary highlight happened mid-week; the duck breast and duck leg confit à l’orange with a red cabbage spring roll and sautéed vegetables was truly a triumph.

But it's not all about eating on Scenic Diamond – you’ll also get to pick up some cooking tips. We booked a class at the intimate Scenic Culinaire, where the chef demonstrated how to make the perfect coq au vin. With walnut oil, chanterelle mushrooms and veal stock on the shopping list, the recipe is tucked away ready to impress house guests.

On our final afternoon, back at Port de La Lune, guests got to taste delicate oysters from Bassin d'Arcachon, which are harvested on the sun-drenched coast to the west and washed down with a zesty glass of Crémant De Loire, a fine sparkling wine.

Moor up and go off-piste in pretty French towns

Although tempted to join every excursion on offer, or enjoy the ship’s excellent facilities, we chose to explore the small Right Bank town of Blaye ourselves. The Citadel is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This military complex has ramparts to explore, village streets and stunning estuary views. Back down in the town we visited a mid-week market, watched French life pass us by with a Café au lait and had an impromptu tasting of Merlot-dominant reds at the fabulous La Petite Cave – all before lunch.

Bordeaux is the French city that has it all

Move over Paris! We found Bordeaux easier to navigate and with a milder climate, we think it’s the perfect French city to explore year-round. Moored centrally at Port de La Lune, join one of Scenic’s excursions or borrow an e-bike to see the city at your own pace. With art galleries, museums, shopping streets and riverside walks you can make a stay in Bordeaux your own.

On our Cruise Director’s recommendation, we made our way to Les Bassins des Lumières for an immersive art exhibition of the works of Salvador Dali. This spine-tingling experience takes place in a WWII submarine base and is set to the music of Pink Floyd. Back on theme, we visited La Cité du Vin, an interactive museum of wine in an impressive building inspired by the swirl of wine in a glass.

Browse Bordeaux and more French river cruises from Scenic.

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Buyers mis-sold holiday caravans as full-time homes

• Published 11 March

People are being tricked into buying homes on holiday parks where they have no right to live, the BBC has found.

Buyers told BBC One's Panorama they were cheated out of their life savings after being falsely promised they could live full-time on the sites.

An undercover reporter secretly filmed one salesperson falsely claiming year-round living was permitted on a holiday park in Lancashire.

Site owner David Welch says contracts clearly state it is a holiday park.

In the UK, there are more than 170,000 residents living permanently in mobile homes. The majority do so legally, as they are living on residential parks that have planning permission and residential licences.

However, thousands more people are thought to be living unofficially on holiday parks. It is usually a breach of planning laws for anyone to live full-time on a site that only has a holiday park licence.

'Heartbreaking'

Delivery driver Mike Chesworth, 59, found himself trapped in this situation when he bought a home on Wyre Country Park for £180,000.

Located on the banks of the River Wyre just outside Blackpool, Lancashire, it appealed to Mr Chesworth as a pleasant place to retire with his wife.

The contract they signed in 2019 says the caravan is for holiday use only. But they say the site owner, David Welch, promised them they could stay in the park permanently.

Now they're stuck in a home where they are not supposed to live.

The couple say they were threatened with eviction after complaining to Mr Welch. They could also be evicted by the local council for breaching planning rules and the site owner could face enforcement action.

Mr Chesworth says he is now working six days a week to save money as he believes he may have to fight Mr Welch in court.

"It's heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking, and that's why I want to raise money, and that's why I want to fight these people, because they've got to be stopped."

Panorama spoke to five other residents at Wyre Country Park who also said they had been falsely promised they could live on the site full-time by Mr Welch and then threatened with eviction when they later complained.

Panorama, The Mobile Home Swindle

Reporter Rory Carson meets the caravan park residents who say they have been mis-sold their properties and falsely promised they could they could live in them all year round.

Watch now on BBC iPlayer (UK Only) or on BBC One at 20:00 on Monday 11 March (20:30 in Wales and Northern Ireland)

Panorama sent an undercover reporter to Wyre Country Park to pose as a buyer. They made it clear they were looking for somewhere to live full-time.

The reporter first spoke to Mr Welch on the phone and was told the park had a "residential" area, where she could live all year round.

The reporter was later taken round the park by the sales manager, who said most of the residents lived on site full-time. "They've chosen probably, for this to be, potentially, their last home," she said.

Even when the reporter raised the issue of the holiday licence, the sales manager still insisted people could live on the site 12 months a year.

Consumer lawyer Dean Dunham, who viewed the footage, says buyers are being misled like this in parks around the UK.

"I think this is a really big issue because there are so many people who have fallen down this trap. I'm not saying I've heard from one or two people who have lost their life savings. I've heard from countless people who have lost their life savings."

Site owner David Welch denies misleading buyers, and says the site's signs and sales agreements clearly state that it is a holiday park.

"We have not received any formal complaints about how the park is managed. We totally reject any allegations of intimidation or threats to 'evict' holidaymakers," he said.

The sales manager did not respond.

Panorama has discovered that people can also be misled when buying mobile homes on residential parks.

Even when a park has a full residential licence - meaning people can live there all year round - the site owner may not have planning permission for all of the homes.

Alfie Best owns 90 residential parks through his company Wyldecrest Parks and he is the star of a TV documentary called Gypsy Billionaire.

He was ranked number 232 in last year's Sunday Times Rich List, which valued his wealth at £745m.

In 2015, one of his companies sold a mobile home without planning permission at Bayworth Park in Oxfordshire.

The local council started enforcement action over the planning breach in 2016.

When the owners found out their home did not have the necessary permission, they took legal action and Alfie Best's company eventually bought it back in January 2020.

But that was not the end of it.

Louise Hopkins was looking for a new start and thought that Bayworth Park would be the perfect spot.

When she was shown the same mobile home on the same plot, Alfie Best's company did not say anything about the planning dispute.

She paid £165,000 in October 2020 and then discovered her home did not have planning permission.

"I was knowingly sold a home that did not have planning permission. I think it's fraud. I absolutely think it's fraud."

The following year Wyldecrest was fined £75,000 for breaching planning rules. The judges said the company's conduct had been dishonest and deceitful.

But Ms Hopkins could still lose her home as, without planning permission, she has got no right to live on the site.

"It sounds like madness now that I didn't engage a lawyer," she says. "I feel quite foolish, I feel quite angry. A very rich and influential man has treated me appallingly."

Alfie Best says what happened to Louise was not his fault, because Wyldecrest had sold the same home to another resident before it was sold on to her and site owners are not allowed to interfere in sales by residents.

"We did not sell Mrs Hopkins a home. She purchased the home from the previous owner of that home, not us."

Mr Best says he has offered to buy back the home from her. But a price has not been agreed with Louise.

The British Holiday and Home Parks Association, which represents site owners, says it is important that customers understand exactly what they can expect for their money.

It said: "Many thousands of people buy a holiday caravan or residential park home each year - the vast majority of whom have a positive experience, and go on to enjoy all the holiday and lifestyle benefits that come with ownership."

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Tycoon who sold houseboats worth £3.5m with illegal moorings on Thames convicted of fraud

Prosecutors say they will pursue confiscation proceedings to force Myck Djurberg to pay back money from sales at Richmond marina

A property tycoon sold luxury houseboats worth £3.5 million on the Thames to people who had no right to live in them , a court heard.

Myck Djurberg, 64, who bought the Hampton Riviera Boat Yard in Richmond in 2011, was convicted on Tuesday at Kingston Crown Court of fraudulently selling houseboats without appropriate planning permission.

The court was told Djurberg built a number of expensive boats and assured the buyers they could live on board.

But when they moved in, they found the moorings did not have planning permission for residential stays.

A police investigation found that Djurberg had only acquired planning permission for leisure mooring, not residential, and had not even paid the Environment Agency for that licence.

The local authority, Richmond council, served several enforcement notices to Djurberg, attended the location and removed some of the unlawful pontoons.

Andrew West, a specialist prosecutor for the CPS, said: “Djurberg did not have planning consent in place to use boats for residential purposes, as dwellings nor for commercial business occupation.

“Despite this, he fraudulently sold five houseboats, financially gaining from the misfortune of his customers.

“Following this conviction, we will pursue confiscation proceedings to ensure that Djurberg pays back the money he gained through this criminal operation.”

Djurberg will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

The developer was previously before the courts when he chased a tenant at the marina with a roofer’s tool, threatening him with violence.

Klaus Beversluis, 52, had rented mooring space for five years before Djurberg demanded more cash for “additional and unwarranted” charges.

The landlord assaulted his disgruntled tenant after he went to the office to discuss the surprise charges.

‘I’ll break your head,’ tycoon told tenant

Djurberg hit his tenant in the back of the head with his orange and khaki gardening gloves, shouting “I’ll break your f-----g head” and brandishing a lead dresser.

He was convicted of assault by beating and using threatening words and behaviour with the intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence.

He was given a 12-month community order and ordered to pay costs of £345 for the assault by magistrates in April 2021.

Djurberg previously lived at the boatyard in a Grade II listed authentic Swiss chalet which was imported from Switzerland in 1882.

Originally used as a boathouse for a larger house, it was converted into a luxurious family home. It was back on the market last year, priced at offers above £3.5 million.

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