Example boat
Our premium collection
Elite
Thoughtful comfort and a little more indulgence for your time away.
- Sleeping
- King-size bed options
- Bathrooms
- Extra bathrooms on selected boats
- Outside
- Deck dining on selected boats
MAKE TIME FOR A REAL HOLIDAY
Narrowboat holidaysNapton Marina · Autherley Junction
Plan my holiday✓ No experience needed✓ Dogs welcome aboard✓ Fuel included
MORE THAN A BOAT. A HOLIDAY.
Your holiday. Your pace.
Trade busy days for open water, good company and a new view around every bend.
What does your escape look like?
Take the scenic way.
Drift through leafy stretches, walk the towpath and stop when somewhere catches your eye. There’s time to enjoy the journey.
One great holiday. Three boat collections.
Find your home on the water.
Three boat collections. Three ways to make the canal your own.
Explore the whole fleetSwipe to compare the collections
Example boat
Example boat
Comfort & adventure
Discovery
Bring your favourite people. Settle in, share the journey and enjoy the view.
- Sleeping
- Doubles or twins
- Bathrooms
- Two full bathrooms
- Outside
- Rear deck dining
Example boat
Freedom to explore
Explorer
An inviting floating home for simple pleasures and days of discovery.
- Sleeping
- Classic cabin layouts
- Bathrooms
- Shower & toilet
- Outside
- Deck space to unwind
The essentials, on every boat.
- Equipped kitchen
- Shower & toilet
- Central heating
- Bedding included
- Fuel included
Photos show example boats. Layouts, bed sizes and equipment vary by boat. Check your chosen boat before booking.
THE JOURNEY IS PART OF THE HOLIDAY
Find your canal adventure
Choose your starting base and explore 29 canal adventures, from village escapes to longer cruising rings.
Choose a route above or browse the holiday cards below
BrewoodMarket DraytonTixall WideKinverBrewoodMarket DraytonNantwichKinverStourportGreat HaywoodFradleyBirminghamMarket DraytonNantwichMiddlewichStoke-on-TrentGreat HaywoodMarket DraytonNantwichChesterKinverStourportBirminghamKinverStourportStourbridgeBirminghamGreat HaywoodStoke-on-TrentLeekFroghallMarket DraytonNantwichWrenburyBraunstonRugbyWarwickBraunstonRugbyHawkesburyAshby CanalCropredyBanburyThruppWarwickStratford-upon-AvonWarwickBirminghamFazeleyHawkesburyRugbyBraunstonBraunstonNorton JunctionWeedonStoke BruerneCropredyBraunstonNorton JunctionCrickCropredyOxfordLechladeHenleyOxfordHenleyLondonStoke BruerneBraunstonBraunstonCrickLeicesterRiver SoarRiver TrentHawkesburyWarwickStratford-upon-AvonEveshamTewkesburyStourportBirminghamRugbyHawkesburyGreat HaywoodStoke-on-TrentLeekFroghallBraunstonNorton JunctionBraunstonNorton JunctionWeedonBraunstonCrickMarket Harborough
Napton MarinaAutherley Junction
Starting baseSelected journeyOther journeys
Your canal escape
Autherley to Market Drayton
3–4 nightsVaried cruising
Village stops, wooded cuttings and a market-town turnaround. A compact escape with plenty to enjoy along the way.
Places along the way
Brewood · Norbury Junction · Market Drayton
Your canal escape
Autherley to Tixall Wide
3–4 nightsVaried cruising
A countryside journey through Penkridge to the open water of Tixall Wide. Make space for a walk, a village stop and an evening aboard.
Places along the way
Penkridge · Tixall Wide · Countryside stops
Your canal escape
Autherley to Kinver
3–4 nightsActive cruising
Head south for locks, green surroundings and time in Kinver. A short holiday for a crew who enjoy getting involved.
Places along the way
Wightwick · The Bratch · Kinver
Your canal escape
Autherley to Nantwich
7 nightsVaried cruising
Follow the Shropshire Union through Brewood and Audlem to Nantwich, then enjoy your favourite stretches again on the way home.
Places along the way
Audlem · Nantwich · Shropshire villages
Your canal escape
Autherley to Stourport
7 nightsVaried cruising
Wind south through Staffordshire to the canal basins at Stourport. A journey of lock-side moments, towns and countryside.
Places along the way
Kinver · Stourport basins · Canalside towns
Your canal escape
Black Country Ring
7 nightsActive circuit
Country mornings and city afternoons: a circuit linking Tixall Wide, Fradley, Birmingham and the Black Country.
Places along the way
Tixall Wide · Fradley Junction · Birmingham
Your canal escape
Four Counties Ring
10–11 nightsActive circuit
A full canal adventure through Audlem, Cheshire, the Potteries and Tixall Wide. Each stretch brings another change of scenery.
Places along the way
Audlem · The Potteries · Cheshire countryside
Your canal escape
Chester & Ellesmere Port
10–14 nightsVaried cruising
Build a longer holiday around Cheshire villages, historic Chester and the waterways heritage at Ellesmere Port.
Places along the way
Audlem · Chester · Ellesmere Port
Your canal escape
Stourport Ring
10–14 nightsActive circuit
Canal basins, a stretch of the Severn, Worcester and Birmingham. A rewarding circuit for an energetic crew.
Places along the way
Stourport · Worcester · Birmingham
Your canal escape
Stourbridge Ring
7–11 nightsActive circuit
Combine a visit to Stourport with a return through Stourbridge and Tipton. A holiday rich in canal heritage and locks.
Places along the way
Kinver · Stourport detour · Stourbridge
Your canal escape
Caldon Canal
10–14 nightsActive cruising
Travel through Stone and the Potteries to the Caldon. Give this varied journey extra time for the Staffordshire countryside.
Places along the way
Stone · The Potteries · Caldon countryside
Your canal escape
Shropshire Union to Wrenbury
10–11 nightsVaried cruising
Cruise through Shropshire and Cheshire towards Wrenbury. Confirm the permitted turning point with our team before choosing this trip.
Places along the way
Audlem · Nantwich · Wrenbury
Your canal escape
Napton to Rugby
3–4 nightsGentle cruising
Ease into canal life through Braunston, open countryside and Hillmorton. A gentle short escape with time to enjoy your boat.
Places along the way
Braunston · Hillmorton · Rugby
Your canal escape
Napton to Warwick
3–4 nightsActive cruising
Make the locks part of the adventure on a journey towards Leamington Spa and Warwick. A lively break for a hands-on crew.
Places along the way
Long Itchington · Leamington Spa · Warwick
Your canal escape
The Ashby Canal
7 nightsGentle cruising
Follow a rural route towards Snarestone, with few locks across the complete journey. Settle into the rhythm of the countryside.
Places along the way
Braunston · Rural Ashby Canal · Snarestone
Your canal escape
The Oxford Canal & Thrupp
7–11 nightsVaried cruising
Meander south through Cropredy and Banbury towards Thrupp. Explore Oxford from there, or discuss a longer cruise into the city.
Places along the way
Cropredy · Banbury · Thrupp
Your canal escape
Napton to Stratford-upon-Avon
7–14 nightsActive cruising
A lock-filled journey through Warwickshire towards Shakespeare’s town. Choose extra days if you want more time to explore ashore.
Places along the way
Warwick · Lowsonford · Stratford-upon-Avon
Your canal escape
Warwickshire Ring
7–11 nightsEnergetic ring
A full circuit of Warwickshire: country canals, Warwick and Hatton, Birmingham and the Coventry Canal, returning through Rugby and Braunston.
Places along the way
Warwick Castle · Birmingham · Braunston
Your canal escape
Napton to Stoke Bruerne
3–7 nightsVaried cruising
Cruise east through Braunston and Buckby, then through Blisworth Tunnel to the canal village and museum at Stoke Bruerne. Return the same way.
Places along the way
Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne · Blisworth Tunnel · Braunston
Your canal escape
Napton to Cropredy
3–4 nightsRelaxed short break
Follow the winding South Oxford Canal through the Napton locks and open countryside to Cropredy, then return with time for village walks and waterside pubs.
Places along the way
Cropredy · Fenny Compton · Napton-on-the-Hill
Your canal escape
Napton to Crick
3–4 nightsLocks & tunnels
A short adventure through historic Braunston, the Watford locks and two canal tunnels, with Crick as your turning point.
Places along the way
Crick · Braunston Tunnel · Watford Locks
Your canal escape
Oxford and the Thames
14 nightsCanal & river adventure
Follow the South Oxford Canal, then choose one Thames adventure: west towards Lechlade or downstream towards Henley. Return to Napton along your chosen route.
Places along the way
Oxford · Lechlade · Henley-on-Thames
Your canal escape
Thames Ring
14 nightsEnergetic ring
A demanding two-week circuit through Oxford, the Thames, Windsor and Brentford, returning north on the Grand Union through Stoke Bruerne and Braunston.
Places along the way
Oxford · Henley-on-Thames · Windsor
Your canal escape
Leicester Ring
10–14 nightsVaried ring
Circle through Crick, Foxton and Leicester, follow the Soar and Trent, then return through Fradley, the Coventry Canal and Rugby. Extra days give more time ashore.
Places along the way
Foxton Locks · Leicester · Shardlow
Your canal escape
Avon Ring from Napton
14 nightsEnergetic canal & river ring
Cruise to Stratford, follow the Avon through Evesham to Tewkesbury and the Severn to Worcester, then climb Tardebigge and return via Kingswood and Warwick.
Places along the way
Shakespeare's Birthplace · Tewkesbury · Worcester Cathedral
Your canal escape
Caldon Canal from Napton
14 nightsLong countryside adventure
A long adventure north through Rugby, Fradley, Stone and the Potteries to the Caldon Canal. Explore the Leek and Froghall branches, then return to Napton.
Places along the way
Cheddleton Flint Mill · Churnett Valley Railway (Consall Station) · Leek
Your canal escape
Napton to Norton Junction
3–4 nightsShort canal escape
A compact cruise through Braunston’s canal village, lock flight and tunnel to Norton Junction. Turn there and enjoy the rural stretch back to Napton.
Places along the way
Braunston · Braunston Tunnel · Norton Junction
Your canal escape
Napton to Weedon
3–4 nightsLocks & countryside
Travel through Braunston Tunnel and the Buckby locks to Weedon, then return along the same canal. A short break with village stops and satisfying lock work.
Places along the way
Weedon Bec · Braunston · Braunston Tunnel
Your canal escape
Napton to Market Harborough
7 nightsLocks & rural cruising
Explore the Leicester Line through Crick and Husbands Bosworth to Foxton’s staircase locks and Market Harborough, with an optional Welford Arm detour on the return.
Places along the way
Foxton Locks · Market Harborough · Husbands Bosworth
No routes match this holiday length. Choose All routes to explore this base.
The Elite experience
The Elite difference.
Pick a feature. See what makes an Elite holiday feel special.
Included on Imogen
Stay a little more connected.
Starlink satellite Wi-Fi is included on Imogen, our Elite narrowboat for two from Autherley Junction. Share a favourite moment, plan your next stop or keep in touch with home.
- Starlink satellite Wi-Fi included
- Currently fitted to Imogen
Starlink is currently fitted to one boat: Imogen. Connection and speeds vary with sky visibility, surroundings and service availability.
Elite comfort
A proper night’s sleep.
Stretch out after a day on the water, with king-size doubles and comfortable sprung mattresses.
- King-size double beds
- Sprung mattresses
Bed arrangements vary. Most cross doubles fold away during the day.
On selected Elite boats
Start with a little celebration.
A bottle of champagne or sparkling wine makes your arrival feel like the start of a proper holiday.
- A welcome bottle
- Champagne or sparkling wine
Welcome drinks depend on your chosen boat and package.
Every boat · Every tier
Fuel included. Enjoy the journey.
Your holiday fuel is included whichever boat you choose. From a short escape to a longer canal adventure, it’s one less thing to budget for.
- Elite, Discovery & Explorer
- Napton Marina & Autherley Junction
Holiday fuel is included on every boat from both departure bases.
On selected Elite boats
Keep the conversation flowing.
With the kitchen and lounge at the rear, it’s easy to chat, make a cuppa and step out onto the deck.
- Kitchen and lounge at the rear
- An easy link to the deck
Available on selected designs, including our Regency boats.
Choose by boat
Beautifully finished. Ready to explore.
Explore the newer designs in our Elite collection, with refined interiors and sociable deck options.
- Refined interior designs
- Sociable deck options
Photograph: Michelle, an Elite Regency 8. Check each boat’s layout and equipment before choosing.
THE MOMENTS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memories made along the way.
Unhurried breakfasts, a toast together and time to enjoy the view.
Make your own memories
HOLIDAYS WORTH TALKING ABOUT
Worth coming back for.
A few words from past guests.
“Honestly the best narrow boat holiday ever!”
“This holiday exceeded all our expectations”
“We didn't want to hand the boat back!”
Before you step aboard
Ready for your time away.
Fuel is included on every Elite, Discovery and Explorer boat, from both departure bases.
Your floating home comes ready for a holiday
- Holiday fuel
- Equipped galley
- Bed linen
- Central heating
- Standard base parking
- Handover & guidance
Optional extras, pet charges and boat-specific equipment are confirmed with your booking.
What should we bring?
Pack food, drinks, rubber-soled shoes and waterproofs. Bed linen is provided. Bring towels unless your booking confirms they are supplied. Check your chosen boat for its exact equipment.
Is this suitable for a first canal holiday?
You do not need previous boating experience. Our team explains steering, mooring and locks before you set off. Pick a route with a pace and number of locks that suits your crew.
How do I check prices or request a particular boat?
Choose your dates, length of stay, guests and base. Our booking search confirms availability and prices. For a particular named boat, send an enquiry for the team to confirm. Selecting dates here does not reserve a boat.
Who can help with an existing booking?
For booking questions, changes or cancellation, contact the Napton office on 01926 813644. Cancellation charges and any refund depend on your booking terms.