Drifters (drifters.co.uk) offers the choice of over 500 canal boats for hire from 40 locations across England, Wales and Scotland, and each year dozens of new boats are added to the fleet. 

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. 

Here's a run-down of Drifters' top 6 new boats for hire in 2025:

1. 'Willow' will be available at Napton

The 61.5ft 'Willow' Regency Class semi-traditional stern* narrowboat for up to six people, will be available to hire from Drifters' narrowboat hire base at Napton, on the Oxford Canal in Northamptonshire.  She will have two king-sized double bed cabins and two bathrooms. The headroom is 6ft 4in throughout. There are TV's and DVD players in both cabins and an extra large TV in the Saloon. There's an extra outside table for alfresco dining and a bike rack is available for the front deck.  'Willow' 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 Napton, boaters can travel to Rugby, Crick or Cropredy; and on a week's break, to Coventry, Banbury, Market Harborough or Leighton Buzzard. 

***2025 prices for 'Willow' start at £1,392 for a week.  Price includes up to four adults and two children, fuel, parking, tuition, towels, bed linen and welcome pack.  There's a compulsory extra £70 damage waiver, pets are charged at £45 each per week and extra adults are charged at £50 each.

2. 'Hill Partridge' will cruise from Anderton

The 66ft 'Hill Partridge' semi-traditional stern* narrowboat for up to six people will arrive at Anderton on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Cheshire.  'Hill Partridge' will have two double cabins that can be made up as singles or doubles (with optional wider beds), and the seating/dining area 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 Anderton, boaters can head to Middlewich or Lymm; and on a week away, they can reach Manchester, Marple, Nantwich or Chester.

***2025 prices for 'Hill Partridge' currently start at £999 for a short break, £1,299 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 £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

3. The 'Little Swift' will navigate from Gayton

The 49ft 'Little Swift' cruiser stern* narrowboat for up to four people will be available to hire from Drifters' narrowboat hire base at Gayton on the Grand Union Canal near Northampton.  The 'Little Swift' will have one cabin, which can be configured either as a double or twins (with optional wider beds), and a seating/dining area which can be converted into a double bed.  She will have a shower/toilet room, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi. ROUTES: on a short break from Gayton, boaters can travel to Cosgrove or Braunston; and on a week's holiday they can reach Crick, Market Harborough, Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard or Coventry.

***2025 prices for 'Little Swift' currently start at £699 for short break, £899 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 £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

4. 'Blackpoll Warbler' will be bookable from Aldermaston

The new 69ft 'Blackpoll Warbler' semi-traditional stern* narrowboat for up to eight people will arrive at from Drifters' base at Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Berkshire.  The boat will have three cabins: one fixed as double; and two which can be configured as doubles or singles.  'Blackpoll Warbler' will have LED lighting, a front deck table, optional wider beds, two shower/toilet rooms, WiFi and two TV's.  ROUTES: on a short break from Aldermaston, boaters can travel to Newbury or Hungerford; and on a week's holiday they can reach Oxford, Pewsey or Windsor.

***2025 prices aboard 'Blackpoll Warbler' currently start at £1,299 for a short break, £1,799 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, collision damage waiver, two pets, car parking and tuition.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £10-15 per day.

5. 'Coral' will be found at Trevor

The 60ft 'Coral' Gem Class cruiser stern* narrowboat for up to six people will be available to hire from Drifters' base on the Llangollen Canal at Trevor in North Wales.  The boat will feature: two double cabins that can be configured either as a doubles or singles; a dinette double; and two toilet/shower rooms.  'Coral' will have a reverse layout, meaning the galley is at the rear and the main sleeping areas are at the front and middle of the boat. ROUTES: on a short break from Trevor, boaters can cruise across the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct to Chirk; and on a week's holiday, they can continue on to Whitchurch or Wrenbury. 

***2025 'Gem' Class prices start at £1,265 for short break, £1,720 for a week.  Price includes bed linen, towels, up to three pets, parking and tuition on arrival.  A fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) is extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day.

6. 'Drake' will be available at Bradford on Avon

The 67ft 'Drake' Admiral Class cruiser stern* narrowboat for up to six people will be available to hire from Drifters' base on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire.  The boat will feature: two double cabins that can be configured either as a doubles or singles; a dinette double; and two toilet/shower rooms.  As well as central heating throughout, 'Drake' will have a multi-fuel stove. ROUTES: On a short break from Bradford on Avon, boaters can travel to Bath or Devizes; and on a week's holiday, they can reach Pewsey or Great Bedwyn. 

***2025 prices for 'Drake' start at £1,370 for short break, £1,870 for a week.  Price includes bed linen, towels, up to three pets, parking and tuition on arrival.  A fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) is 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

Ends

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 500 boats for hire, operating from 40 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  2025 hire prices start at £630 for a short break, £875 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.

*There are two main types of stern (back of the boat) available: the cruiser stern has an open back deck with room for a number of people to stand; while the semi-traditional has a smaller deck/steering area with a seating area that can be enclosed with doors.