There are over 35,000 canal boats on Britain's 3,000-mile inland waterways network, and around 1,000 of these are holiday hire narrowboats. 

Today's narrowboats are fully equipped with all the essential mod cons, including central heating, hot water, televisions, fully-equipped kitchens, showers and flushing toilets.  And some offer extras like king-sized beds, drinks fridges, larger showers, baths, deck tables, solid-fuel stoves, underfloor heating and WiFi.

Drifters offers the choice of over 550 boats from 45 bases across England, Wales and Scotland.  Each year dozens of new boats are added to their fleet.  Here's a run-down of Drifters' Top 9 new boats for hire in 2023:

1. 'Lyra' will be available from Falkirk – the 47ft 'Lyra' Princess Signature Class canal boat for up to four people, will be available to hire from Drifters' Falkirk base on the Scottish Lowland canals from March 2023. She will have a permanent double bed in the forward cabin, and an option to convert the dining area into a double or single bed.  The kitchen areas are larger in the new Signature Class fleet, with more worktop space, a microwave, multiple USB charging points.  She'll have black-out blinds and bespoke mattresses to ensure a good night's sleep. ROUTES: On a weekend break from Falkirk boaters can cruise to Ratho, Linlithgow or the Kelpies.  On a mid-week or week-long break, they reach Edinburgh or Glasgow.  ***2023 prices for the Princess 2 Signature start at £849 for a short break, £1,249 for a week. Price includes boat hire, damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Diesel is extra, charged based on use on return, circa £15-20 per day. An additional licence is required to cruise from Falkirk, priced at £15 for three days, or £25 for longer.
2. 'Rebecca' will be available at Autherley – from next Spring, the new 60ft Discovery Class narrowboat for up to eight people, 'Rebecca' will be available to hire from Drifters' narrowboat hire base at Autherley, near Wolverhampton. She has three double cabins (which can also be made up as twins), two full bathrooms, and an extra outside table for alfresco dining.  She has a reverse layout, so the galley is at the back of the boat.  The interior dining area can be converted into a double bed.  ROUTES: On a short break from Autherley, boaters can travel to Norbury, Market Drayton, Kinver or Tixall Wide.  On a week's break, boaters can travel to the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port, Stourport-on-Severn or complete the Black Country or Stourport rings.  2023 prices start at £995 for a short break, £1,495 for a week. Price includes up to six adults, fuel, diesel, parking, tuition and bed linen.  There's a compulsory extra £60 damage waiver, pets are charged at £45 each per week and extra adults are charged at £50 each.
3. 'Hemplow' will navigate from Braunston – the new 69ft narrowboat for up to eight people 'Hemplow' will be available to hire from Drifters' canal boat hire base at Braunston on the Grand Union Canal in Northamptonshire from May 2022. 'Hemplow' will have three double bedrooms (which can also be made up as twins), two toilets, two bathrooms and a large saloon area where the dining area can be converted into an extra double bed.  She will have a Semi Trad rear deck with seating.  ROUTES: Braunston is in the heart of the canal network where the Grand Union Canal meets the Oxford Canal, providing a variety of route options.  For example, on a short break from Braunston, narrowboat holiday-makers can travel up the North Oxford Canal to Rugby and back.  On a week's break, they can travel on the beautiful Ashby Canal, a haven for wildlife.  ***2023 prices for 'Hemplow' start at £950 for a short break (three or four nights), £1,360 for a week. Price includes diesel, gas, damage waiver, cancellation protection, parking, tuition and first pet. Second pet is charged at £25 per week.
4. The 'Fairy Tern' will depart from Anderton - the 70ft 'Little Tern' cruiser stern narrowboat for up to 10 people will be available to hire from Drifters' narrow boat hire base at Anderton in Cheshire. She will have a front cabin that can be configured as one double or two singles.  The rear cabin will have two single beds, with a bunk above each. The two seating areas can be converted into a double or twins (with optional wider beds). She will have two shower/toilet rooms, LED lighting, two televisions, WiFi and a front deck table. ROUTES: On a short break from Anderton, narrowboat holiday-makers can travel gently through the countryside to Lymm and back, and on a week's break they can travel on to Manchester. ***2023 prices start at £1,399 for a short break, £1,999 for a week. Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £50 deposit is taken for a short break, £90 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.
5. The 'Terek Sandpiper' will depart from Hilperton – the new 66ft 'Terek Sandpiper' narrow boat will offer flexible accommodation for up to six people, from Drifters' base at Hilperton on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire. The boat will have two cabins, which can be configured either as doubles or twins (with optional wider beds), and a seating/dining area in the saloon which can be converted into a double bed.  She will have two shower/toilet rooms, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi.  ROUTES: on a short break from Hilperton, boaters can travel to Bath and back, and on a week's break they can reach Hungerford.  ***2023 prices start at £1,399 for a short break, £1,999 for a week. Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £50 deposit is taken for a short break, £90 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.
6. The 'Sedge Warbler' will cruise from Alvechurch - the new 69ft 'Sedge Warbler' narrowboat for up to eight people will be available to hire from Drifters' base at Alvechurch on the Worcestershire & Birmingham Canal near Bromsgrove. The boat will have three cabins, two of which can be configured as one double or two singles (with optional wider beds).  The mid cabin next to the second bathroom will have a fixed double bed. She will have LED lighting, a front deck table, two shower/toilet rooms, WiFi and two TV's.  ROUTES: on a short break from Alvechurch, boaters can travel into central Birmingham in just five hours.  On a week's break, boaters can tackle the popular Stourport Ring.  ***2023 prices aboard 'Knot Sandpiper' start at £1,599 for a short break, £2,299 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £50 deposit is taken for a short break, £90 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.
7. The 'Arabian Lark' will navigate from Aldermaston – the 66ft 'Arabian Lark' for up to six people will be available to hire from Drifters' narrow boat hire base at Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal in West Berkshire. She will have two cabins, which can be configured either as doubles or twins (with optional wider beds), and a seating/dining area in the saloon which can be converted into a double bed.  She will have two shower/toilet rooms, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi. ROUTES: on a short break from Aldermaston, boaters can travel to Newbury or Hungerford.  On a week's holiday they can reach Oxford, Pewsey or Windsor. ***2023 prices start at £1,399 for short break, £1,999 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £50 deposit is taken for a short break, £90 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.
8. 'Onyx' arrives at Whixall – from 3 April 2023, the new 60ft Gem Class 'Onyx' narrowboat for up to six people will be available to hire from Drifters' canal boat rental base at Whixall, on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire. The cruiser stern 'Onyx' will have a reverse layout – with the galley at the rear and main sleeping areas in the middle and at the front of the boat.  'Onyx' will feature two shower/toilet rooms, full central heating, a well-equipped galley and flexible accommodation in two cabins, ranging from two doubles to four singles.  The dinette area can be converted into a double bed.  On a short break from Whixall, boaters can travel to Ellesmere in the heart of the Shropshire Lake District.  On a week's holiday, they can continue on to Llangollen, crossing the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct along the way.  ***2023 prices start at £865 for short break, £1,200 for a week. Price includes bed linen, towels, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival.  A £50 non-refundable damage waiver and fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) are extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day.
9. 'Citrine' arrives at Oxford – from 27 May 2023, the new 60ft Gem Class 'Citrine' narrowboat for up to six people will be available to hire from Drifters' canal boat rental base on the River Thames at Oxford. The cruiser stern 'Citrine' will have a reverse layout – with the galley at the rear and main sleeping areas in the middle and at the front of the boat.  'Citrine' will feature two shower/toilet rooms, full central heating, a well-equipped galley and flexible accommodation in two cabins, ranging from two doubles to four singles.  The dinette area can be converted into a double bed.  On a short break from Oxford, boaters can travel to Lechlade or Wallingford, and on a week's holiday, they can reach Henley or Banbury.  ***2023 prices start at £865 for short break, £1,200 for a week. Price includes bed linen, towels, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival.  A £50 non-refundable damage waiver and fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) are extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day.

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk

For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

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For Drifters press enquiries contact Debbie Walker on 01628 618069 mb 077486 40577 walker.debbie@sky.com

Notes to editors

Drifters Waterway Holidays is made up of nine hire boat companies: ABC Boat Hire, Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Countrywide Cruisers, Foxhangers, Kate Boats, Napton Narrowboats, Shire Cruisers and Union Canal Carriers.  Between them they offer over 550 boats for hire, operating from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  2023 hire prices start at £590 for a short break, £815 for a week on a boat for up to four people.  Narrowboats range from 32ft to 70ft and can accommodate up to 12 people.  All Drifters operators provide hirers with life jackets and boat steering tuition. Drifters holidays are pet-friendly.