Britain's beautiful 3,000-mile network of inland waterways weaves through the countryside into some of our best-loved towns and cities.

Drifters (www.drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of 550 boats from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  All Drifters operators provide hirers with boat steering tuition and canal boat holidays are pet friendly. 

To celebrate the forthcoming May bank holidays, Drifters has published a guide to the best bank holiday boating city breaks:

1. Worcester – this beautiful Cathedral City on the River Severn is connected to the canal network at Diglis Junction. Drifters offers canal boat holidays from Worcester Marina. From there, boaters can complete the Droitwich Ring on a short break. This 20-mile circuit takes boaters through Worcester along the River Severn, along the Droitwich Canals and a section of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. There are 33 locks and it takes around 16 hours. 

***The 60ft 'Mandarin Duck' narrowboat for up to six people is currently available for a mid-week from Worcester 6-10 May 2024 for £1,105, saving £194. 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 approx. £15 per day.

2. Bath - from Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal on the edge of the Cotswold Hills in Wiltshire, boaters can cruise to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath and back.  The six hour journey to Sydney Wharf on edge of the city centre travels nine miles through the Avon Valley, passing through three locks along the way.  Boaters can moor up at Sydney Wharf and take a 15 minute into Bath City Centre to visit attractions including the Roman Baths and Royal Crescent.

***The 48ft Princess Signature narrowboat for up to four people is available for a weekend break from Bradford on Avon 25-28 May 2024 for £1,350, saving £149.  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 per day.

3. Edinburgh – on a four-night break from Drifters canal boat rental location at Falkirk where the Scottish Lowland canals meet, boaters can cruise to Edinburgh Quay and back.  The route starts at the site of the Falkirk Wheel, the world's first rotating boat lift.  The journey along the Union Canal goes through the Falkirk Tunnel, across the magnificent Avon Aqueduct and through the villages of Linlithgow and Ratho.  Once in Edinburgh, boaters can moor up in Edinburgh Quay and walk into the City Centre to visit attractions including Holyrood Palace and Mary King Close.

***The 58ft Duchess narrowboat for up to four people is available for a mid-week break from Falkirk 25-28 May 2024 for £1,530, saving £169.  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 per day. An additional licence is needed for Scottish Canals. £15 for a short break.

4. Oxford – from Drifters base on the River Thames, boaters can reach Oxford in around three and a half hours, passing through four locks along the way. There are places to moor up near Hythe Bridge, a short walk into the city centre.  Places to visit include Oxford Castle, the Bodleian Library and Ashmolean Museum.

***The 65ft 'Trossachs' narrowboat for up to four people is currently available for a weekend break from Oxford 4-7 May 2024 for £980. Price includes boat hire, gas, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen towels and first pet.  There's a compulsory non-refundable £50 damage waiver and diesel is extra – a £70 deposit is taken for short breaks (three or four nights), £110 for a week.  Charge based on use, circa £15 per day. 

5. Cambridge – on a short break from Drifters base on the River Ouse at Ely, boaters can cruise to the world famous historic city of Cambridge and back.  There are moorings just below Jesus Green Lock on the River Cam. From there, boaters can explore Cambridge, including King's College Chapel and quaint streets filled with antique shops, museums, art galleries, restaurants and tearooms. The journey from Ely to Cambridge and Wicken Fen and back travels 38 miles, passes through six locks (three each way) and takes around 13 hours.

***The 48ft Princess Signature narrowboat for up to four people is available for a weekend break from Ely 3-6 May 2024 for £1,080, saving £119.  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 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.  2024 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.