Skippered Boat Trips
Cromford Wharf, Trip Boat NB Birdswood
Cromford, Matlock DE4 3RQ.
Skippered Boat Trips
#21 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Southern England has a rich network of historic waterways that have shaped its landscape, economy, and culture for centuries. This includes the iconic River Thames, a vital commercial artery since Roman times, and the Kennet and Avon Canal, completed in 1810, connecting the Thames at Reading to the Bristol Channel through picturesque countryside and historic towns like Bath. Other significant waterways include the River Medway in Kent, the Hampshire Avon in Salisbury, and the Wey Navigation in Surrey, one of Britain's oldest artificial waterways from 1653.
Canal trips have become a popular leisure activity in the UK, offering a relaxing way to explore historic waterways. Day boat hire is available across England, Wales, and Scotland, with no license or experience needed—operators provide basic training. These self-drive adventures are ideal for families, friends, or couples, as narrowboats cruise slowly past countryside, villages, and industrial sites. For a more luxurious option, restaurant and hotel boats serve gourmet meals while gliding along the canals. Major routes include the Kennet and Avon, Oxford, Llangollen, and Caledonian canals, each with unique scenery. Longer holidays are also available, letting guests create their own itineraries and stop at waterside pubs and villages, making canal boating a distinctive and tranquil British holiday.
Southern England Waterways's Best Canal Trips in 2026
Skippered Boat Trips
#22 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#23 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
Wey & Arun Canal Trust
Canal Centre behind the Onslow Arms, High St, Loxwood, West Sussex, RH14 0RD
Museums and Skippered Boat Trips
#24 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Museums and Skippered Boat Trips
Kennet & Avon Trust – Devizes
The Wharf, Couch Lane, Devizes, SN10 1EB
Skippered Boat Trips
#25 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#26 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
Thames River Boats
Westminster Millennium Pier, Victoria Embankment, London, SW1A 2JH
Skippered Boat Trips
#27 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
The Boat Inn – Boat Trips
Bridge Road, Stoke Bruerne, Northants, NN12 7SB
Skippered Boat Trips
#28 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
Kennet & Avon Trust – Hungerford
Hungerford Wharf, High Street, Town Centre, Hungerford, RG17 0DN
Skippered Boat Trips
#29 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
Thames Clippers
Eye (Waterloo) Pier Boarding Point, 3 Queen's Walk, London SE1 7PB.
Skippered Boat Trips
#30 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
